Scots car groups hits £650k profit 26 | 04 | 2012

BARNETTS MOTOR GROUP, the Dundee-based company, has bucked the trend by posting a profit close to £650,000. And the figures for 2011 came despite the multi-franchise family-owned business recording a 34% slump in Mazda sales.

Barnetts, which also holds franchises for Peugeot, Volkswagen and Volvo, admitted Mazda was its "greatest challenge" last year. The cause for the drop in sales was put down to Mazda's “declining market share and lack of new product”.

The Dundee company though did highlight that Volkswagen had been “particularly good for us”.

Read our roadtest of the all-new Volkswagen up!

Barnetts' bosses also predicted another profitable year in 2012, boosted by launches such as the Peugeot 208 hatchback and VW Up! city car (pictured).

According to accounts registered with Companies House, Barnetts made a profit of just below £650,000 in 2011, down from £752,000 a year earlier. Overall turnover fell by 4.7% to £42.9m.

“The trading climate will be challenging during 2012," the company, which also increased its staffing levels by five, to 131, said, "but we are very confident of another profitable and cash generative year in 2012.”

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Jim McGill