9:10 am, December 11, 2025
The UK arm of automotive investment firm Marubeni has reported heavy losses for 2025.
Accounts recently filed with Companies House show that Marubeni Auto Investments (UK) Limited made a pre-tax loss of £8.41m in the 12 months to the end of March.
The figure represents a massive 246% drop off on the previous year, when the outfit made a profit before tax of £5.74m.
Bosses have not expanded on the reasons behind the slump, nor do the accounts reveal the group’s turnover for the year.
However, one of the outfit’s biggest subsidiaries –HPL Motors – did make a healthy profit for the period.
Documents published via Companies House show that the used car supermarket group reported a pre-tax profit of £4.93m – down 4% on the previous year.
Meanwhile, turnover declined by 14% to £118.16m, although the drops can largely be attributed to a longer 2024 accounting period, which lasted 17 months rather than 12.
Throughout the year, the used car supermarket grew significantly, with employee numbers swelling from 132 to 173, largely as a result of its fourth used car site opening in Stockport.
Reflecting on the year, said HPL directors said they were ‘pleased’ with the firm’s performance, despite challenges in the used car market.
Secretary Fumihito Ando wrote: ‘Used vehicle prices are susceptible to market conditions.
‘Over the past few years the short supply of new vehicles had caused increased demand on a lower volume of used vehicle and as a result used vehicle prices increased significantly.
‘This has pushed used vehicles prices up considerably in that period. As new car supply continued to return to normal levels, used vehicle pricing began to drop aggressively during 2023 and stabılıse in early 2024.
‘Purchasing the right volume of stock at competitive prices remains a challenge.’
Throughout the year, HPL spent £5.98m on wages and salaries, contributing to total staff costs of £6.66m.
Meanwhile, back at parent company Marubeni, shareholders were paid a dividends totalling £1.6m, despite the major losses.
As well as HPL, the company also owns RRG Group and Norton Way in the UK.
