Scottish dealer group John Clark has flagged a 17% increase in full year sales to £258 million.

The company, which has 13 dealerships for franchises including BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda, achieved revenue growth in 2007 despite the economic downturn.

New car sales achieved 6% growth, used sales increased by 17%, service by 13% and parts by 18%.

Profits for the year would be around £2 million, said the company. Full accounts have yet to be audited and published.

The group, which is hoping to make two acquisitions this year to take turnover near the £300 million mark, predicts another smaller increase in 2008, fuelled by northern Scotland's booming oil industry. Six of its sites are in Aberdeen.

Chairman John Clark said: "While the on-going strength of the oil sector within the Grampian economy was a key factor, all of our operations in Aberdeen, Dundee, Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh made progress.

"The fourth quarter did show some signs of an economic slowdown, due to reduced consumer confidence, but our results held up well overall."

Clark said the results were helped by major investments in facilities in 2006 and the addition of a Seat franchise, giving John Clark the full portfolio of Volkswagen Group's mainstream brands in Aberdeen.