‘Record’ third quarter for Lookers

MANCHESTER car dealership Lookers has reported an “excellent” third quarter.

In a management statement covering the three months to the end of September, the group said it had achieved a record result, significantly up on the same period last year.

Its like-for-like new car sales were up by 11.7%, ahead of the market at 10%.

Fleet sales volumes grew by 19.5%, more than double the growth in the wider market which rose by 8.2%. Used car sales were up by 5.4% and margins grew too. Turnover from after sales rose by 6.3%

In a statement Lookers said: “The company produced an excellent trading performance in the quarter to September 30, in particular during the important month of September, and the board is very pleased to yet again report a record result for the period. These strong results were both ahead of budget and a significant improvement on the corresponding period in 2013.”