Strong fleet, business and commercial vehicle sales helped push Patterson Motor Group to a new record in 2005.

Despite a generally tough market for the trade, the Newcastle-based Ford and Seat retailer –listed at No 39 in the November 2005 AM100 update, sold 15,800 new and used cars and vans, 16% up on sales in 2004.

Sales of fleet and business cars increased 31% to 2,800, vans were up 14% to 8,000, and used cars and LCVs up 3% to 2,900 units. A total of 4,800 new cars, business and retail were sold in the year, which represented a 0.5% improvement on 2004.

The performance from its three outlets took Patterson’s group turnover through the £200m barrier for the first time at £215m – 8% higher than in 2004. A pre-tax profit figure was unavailable as AM went to press.

Managing director Ashley Winter says 2005 was a difficult year for all motor retailers, and adds: “I expect the market to be equally competitive in 2006, but I’m confident we’ll achieve our objectives.”

The company’s bodyshops at Shiremoor and Newcastle also made a solid contribution to the group’s turnover in 2005: £3.8m, a rise of 13%.