Continued investment in its dealerships has helped accelerate profits by 33% at Cambria, the Swindon-based franchised motor retailer.
The firm, which owns 28 dealerships, representing 45 franchises and 18 brands, including Swindon Motor Park, achieved pre-tax profits of £5.3m on sales up 14 at £450.1m in the year to August 31. 
And it said it expected sales to continue to rise as the UK car market motors ahead, adding that while there had been 32 consecutive months of year-on-year growth in new car registrations in the UK, it did not believe that the market was yet at its peak.
The £10.5m Jaguar and Land Rover business it acquired in Barnet in July was already contributing to sales while it also invested a further £6.5m in its freehold property estate during the year.
Cambria said its medium-term ambition remained to create a £1bn turnover business producing attractive returns on both capital and equity invested.
It was set up in 2006 with the aim of creating a balanced independent UK motor retail group through a self-funded ‘buy and build’ strategy, focused on turnaround opportunities.
It has since built a balanced portfolio of luxury, premium and volume dealerships spanning England from the North West to the South East in Kent and South West in Exeter.
These are autonomous businesses trading under local brand names such as Dees, Doves, Grange, Invicta, Motorparks and Pure Triumph.
Its brand portfolio includes Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Citroen, Dacia, Ford, Fiat, Honda, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Mazda, Nissan, Renault, Seat, Triumph, Vauxhall and Volvo.
It said: “The management’s success in turning around under-performing dealerships has allowed Cambria to build a strong balance sheet. As a result, the group is in a position to acquire valuable premium operations, like the recently acquired Jaguar Land Rover business in Barnet, which are immediately earnings enhancing and directly in line with the group’s strategy to further enhance the brand portfolio.
Chief executive Mark Lavery said: “The new financial year has started strongly with the group’s performance in the first two months being both ahead of our business plan and significantly ahead of the year under review.
“I am pleased with the progress that we are making across our established businesses; I am excited by the potential of the newly acquired Jaguar Land Rover business in Barnet; and I am confident that Cambria can maintain this momentum and deliver further improved performances across all it departments in the current financial year.”
