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Aberdeen based John Clark Motor Group has seen profits rise to record levels for the year ended 31 December 2010.
Pre-tax profits increased by 82.3 per cent from £1.7m to £3.1m on turnover which increased 10 per cent from £254m to £281m,
The multi-franchise group, rated 29 in the Motor Trader Top 200, making it the fourth biggest in Scotland, saw new car sales rise by 5 per cent in 2010 to 5,901 (2009: 5,642) units. Used sales fell by 4 per cent to 5,995 (2009: 6,405)with the group saying it achieved improved year-on-year margins.
“These results build on the achievements of 2009. We ended 2010 with a record profit for the group and much improved liquidity. This puts us in a strong position for further development in the business,” Commenting on the results, said John Clark (pictured), chairman and managing director.
Clark said the results saw the fifth successive year of turnover growth and attributed it to growth across its service, body repair and parts operations. He also highlighted the role played by staff training.
“Much of this success can be credited to the performance of our dealership staff and the management team. Over the years we have maintained a continuing commitment to apprenticeship schemes and training programmes and, in 2010 we became the first Scottish group to implement the Institute of the Motor Industry’s management accreditation programme. Through this we are already investing in the next generation of our management team.
Clark said the group will continue to focus on the north and east of. During 2010 it was awarded the Skoda franchise for Dundee and opened a new Skoda site in Aberdeen in January 2011. Both sites operate under the Specialist Cars banner. During 2010 it also took on the Land Rover franchise for the whole of Edinburgh and the Lothians. It is currently working on a new £6m Land Rover dealership in Newbridge which will open by the end of this year.
“Looking towards the end of the current year we expect the market to remain challenging but the group’s performance to date has been satisfactory. Over the last two years our balance sheet has been strengthened giving us both the structure and the financial resources to take advantage of any future opportunities,” he said.
The group represents BMW, Mini and Audi in Aberdeen and Dundee, Volkswagen in Aberdeen and Fife, Skoda in Aberdeen and Dundee, Seat in Aberdeen and Land Rover in Edinburgh. In addition the group holds the Volkswagen van franchises in Edinburgh and in Aberdeen which has recently been relocated to the Clark Commercials site in Dyce.