The company, which represents 31 vehicle brands in the UK and Ireland, added that it was extending its investigation across all its operating divisions after initial indications showed some balance sheet accounts were not "fully reconciled".

Lookers could take more charges after extending the investigation across all its divisions, it added.

($1 = 0.8109 pounds)

(Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)