Dixon Motors plc today posted record results for 2001, with pre-tax profit up 54.9% to £12.06m on turnover up 16.4% to £817m.

Total car sales rose to 71,548 units, from 63,991 in 2000, and sales from the Carnell and Motorcycle City businesses soared by 68.5% to 23,061 units.

Jamjar Cars, Dixon's online car retailing joint venture with Direct Line sold 5,851 cars last year. The company said it had taken more than 1,100 orders in January this year.

Paul Dixon, Dixon Motors chief executive, said: 'Our focus on volume car brands is working – these are outstanding results.

'We have invested time and resource into innovative new concepts in all areas of the business, such as our unique distribution infrastructure, online offering, investment in CRM and our partnership with Direct Line. In light of proposed changes to the market, they place the group in an excellent position for the future.

'We anticipate a strong performance in 2002 and beyond.'