Williams UK Sales, Stock, Locations and Ranking 2024

Dealer History

Early days

The Williams Group was originally a servicer of carriages. The group, led by John Henry Williams, began its initial servicing business across the North West of England in 1909. The company's original headquarters were in Cornbrook, Manchester but was moved to Trafford Street in 1922. The company has been involved in the maintenance of motor vehicles since 1926, and there is a fascinating historical anecdote tied to its name. Apparently, it was Williams who drove and worked on the service of the first broken-down truck in all of Manchester. In the whirlwind of World War II, Williams operated in the service of the state. At that time, the Williams Group functioned as an auxiliary military workshop, gathering the most prominent engineers as well as mechanics.

The period after the Second World War

With the end of the war came the success as well as some major changes. The group was given a workshop in Fazakerley, Liverpool, where it was stationed until 1985. The Williams Motor Company Walton , formed in the same city , was soon moved to Scotland Road. They began trading on the BMW market under the name ''Williams Motor Company'', and shortly after that, the company changed its name to'' Williams Liverpool''. The hard, enthusiastic and dedicated work of the company's leaders led to the opening of the first car showroom in Deansgate in 1960. The company was selling new and used vehicles under the Rootes franchise at the first opening location. Ten years later, Williams also bought a BMW agency in Manchester. In the early 1970s, Williams moved from Trafford Street to Hadfield Street, and even nowadays, fifty years after the relocation, the headquarters remain the same.

Recent History

The facility on Upper Brook Street in Manchester was built in 1984, and just a year later it became a showroom for used BMW cars. Land Rover, another world-famous brand, became part of the Williams Group in 2000 . Just a year after this event, the MINI showroom in Liverpool shared the premises with BMW. The construction of the company's property in Rochdale cost seven million pounds, and the grand opening took place in 2006. A year later, the Williams Group received another flattering accolade for Best BMW and MINI Dealer of the Year. The Manchester branch won the award for the best-used car dealer five times in a row! Whereas BMW Manchester won the prize for the best national used car dealer three times in a row. The celebratory atmosphere on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the company was marked by the purchase of Holmes BMW and David Holmes MINI in Stockport in 2010. The digital age has brought many changes globally. In 2015, the group acquired their first Jaguar franchise in Manchester.
To meet all the needs of the market, the Williams Group is forming the first two locations of electric BMW cars in the country, the first one being in Manchester and the second one being in Liverpool.