SANDERSON Bramall Motor Group has announced pre-tax profits for 1997 of £14.05m - 14% up on 1996 - helped by strong car sales. Chairman Tony Bramall said that in a year which saw total new car registrations rise by just over 7%, the company's car division advanced its profit contribution to 19.9%.

Van sales were also well ahead of 1996, rising 7%, and Bramall said the company had also benefited from selling 62.5% of its rental division Thrifty Car Rental, back to the management. Contract hire business was also boosted by the acquisition of rival motor group Charles Sidney, including its contract hire operations BMG Contracts and Extra Leasing, late last year. The move brought Sanderson Bramall's fleet to 4,500 units.