Williams in top gear as profits hit £5m
WILLIAMS Motor Group, the family-owned BMW, MINI and Land Rover dealership company, hit top gear last year as profits rose 8% to £5m.
The Bolton-based firm, which has six sites in the region, said it had benefitted, along with the wider industry, from a surge in consumer confidence which boosted sales.
Williams’ sales rose 4.1% to £320.7m in 2013 amid strong demand for
the Range Rover Evoque model and the new Range Rover in particular.
BMW performed well with growth in sales of 6.3%, the increase was driven by corporate sales as increased support was made available by the manufacturer.
Williams said: “In virtually every aspect 2013 has been one of the most successful years for the UK motor industry in recent times. Not only did output from car plants increase by 4.5% over the previous year, but new car registrations grew consecutively for 21 months in succession.
“Rising consumer confidence drove up UK volumes, assisted by low rate finance deals, to 2.26 million units in 2013, up 10% on 2012.
The group’s used car sales saw solid growth of 6.4% as it reported a “strong market for almost new vehicles”.
Williams said it expects 2014 to be another good year: “Profitability should benefit from sales of the new Range Rover Sport, which is already forward-sold for the full-year.”
It is the only North West dealership selling the new all electric BMW i3 and is soon to take delivery of its ‘big brother’ the i8, an electric-powered sports car costing more than £100,000.
The company’s £1.5m refurbishment of its Liverpool new and used car showroom at Great Howard Street, is due to complete in the coming weeks while its Manchester-based BMW motorcycle dealership is also ear-marked for an overhaul this year.
The group said it had taken on more than 30 new staff during 2013 and now employs 614 people across Liverpool, Manchester, Rochdale, Stockport and Bolton.
