Pendragon has delivered a constructive set of buying and selling outcomes revealing pre-tax income rising 10.6% to £36.4 million within the six months to June 30.

The proprietor of the Stratstone, Evans Halshaw and Automobile Retailer manufacturers stated like-for-like revenues elevated 15% in a powerful first half, which it stated got here “regardless of what stay difficult financial circumstances, with strain from larger rates of interest and ongoing elevated ranges of price inflation”.

Invoice Berman, Pendragon chief govt, famous that first half income and income have been up throughout all divisions regardless of these buying and selling challenges with its automobile retailers managing to ship robust quantity progress for each new and used vehicles in the course of the interval. Automobile retailing total delivered a 13.3% progress in income and a rise of 23.7% in underlying working revenue. 

Whereas the general new automobile market continues to be nicely under pre-pandemic ranges, Pendragon stated it had seen an enchancment in provide in the course of the first half because the market grew total by 18.4%.

Pendragon noticed gross sales of recent automobiles enhance 18.3%, in keeping with the whole market and nicely forward of the retail market. Along with the brand new car quantity progress new car gross revenue per unit of £2,779, was up 7.9% or £203 in comparison with the primary half of 2022, with the mixed influence of each quantity and margin will increase leading to a 25.2% enhance in new car gross revenue.

Pendragon stated that it was about to launch a flagship showroom in London’s Mayfair following the launch of its partnership with BYD forward of the debut of Chinese language producer’s second mannequin within the UK.

“Whereas model consciousness stays low, we anticipate that this can proceed to develop as new merchandise are launched and BYD enhance their model advertising and marketing over time,” stated Pendragon which additionally famous its new partnership with Genesis, throughout north-east and central England the place the primary Genesis showrooms are anticipated within the first quarter of 2024.

It reported that used car provide stays tight, with the knock-on influence of how manufacturing ranges for the reason that pandemic leading to fewer almost new automobiles. Regardless of this, adjustments it made in 2022 continued to underpin Pendragon’s efficiency, with used car volumes up 7.2% in opposition to market progress of 4.1%. 

Aftersales income grew within the interval, up by 8.7% – a rise of 18.6% on a like-for-like foundation – with additional enchancment within the gross margin of 20bps to 51.5% in opposition to first half 2022 margin of 51.3%.

Berman stated Pendragon had continued to make progress with its technique to enhance efficiency and unlock worth throughout its automobile retailers by means of accelerating large information digital innovation, driving operational excellence and embedding constant finest apply, supported by a lean and environment friendly price base.

In the course of the second half of 2023 Pendragon stated it might roll out a brand new rate-for-risk finance mannequin to supply extra engaging bespoke finance propositions tailor-made to particular person credit score profiles along with focused buyer communications utilizing information analytic instruments.

“We’re persevering with to develop the potential alternative that may be harnessed by means of information science and machine studying,” the enterprise stated, including, “and we’re at present trialling the optimisation of pricing on a localised geographic foundation utilizing market traits for particular person automobiles and client shopping for behaviours.” 

Pendragon had stated final week that it might promote its UK motor and leasing companies to US motor group Lithia Motors for £250 million, valuing Pendragon at 27.4p a share. A shareholder assembly on October 6 is already scheduled on this deal which plans to promote all its motor companies to Lithia and depart Pendragon’s Pinewood software program enterprise as a standalone, persevering with publicly-listed firm. Two new bidder teams have since emerged.

Reporting on the primary half efficiency of the Pinewood software program enterprise, Pendragon famous that 90% of Pinewood’s revenues are derived on a recurring foundation.

“While Pendragon stays an essential buyer to Pinewood, as Pinewood has grown, Pendragon’s proportion of the Pinewood whole consumer base has been diluted to round 17% with intra-group charging maintained at a aggressive market charge.”

In the course of the first half of the yr, consumer numbers elevated by 7% in comparison with the identical interval final yr, ending the primary six months with over 32,800 customers.  

Internationally, there was a 12% enhance in common consumer numbers at 6,500.  “All worldwide markets grew consumer numbers, with Pinewood benefiting from the launches in Singapore and the Center East on the finish of 2022,” it stated.  Pinewood stated it’s now additionally making ready to launch within the Japanese market.

“There has additionally been good additional progress by way of OEM assist at a world degree,” it stated. ”Pinewood continues to construct a powerful partnership with Volkswagen and Porsche, which has enabled constructive dialogue with massive worldwide vendor teams in each the European and Asia Pacific markets.”

Leasing enterprise Pendragon Car Administration in the meantime reported elevated income in comparison with the identical time final yr which was generated by a small enhance in gross sales values together with larger income in brief time period rent.

“Revenue on disposal per unit stays at larger ranges in contrast with pre-pandemic comparators as used car costs have remained at elevated ranges, with disposals within the half nonetheless based mostly on residual values set earlier than these value will increase occurred,” Pendragon stated.

“That is underpinned by the continuing scarcity of top quality used vehicles. There’s elevated demand for brand spanking new car leases within the company sector and regardless of new car lease deliveries growing by 23% within the first half in comparison with the primary half of 2022, the extent of automobiles on order for our prospects stays at larger than regular ranges, with over 2,000 orders excellent.”

Producer provide constraints easing barely on automobile provide has resulted in new car supply lead instances reducing in comparison with lead instances in 2022.

Pendragon’s Berman stated driving operational excellence and finest apply will proceed to be a key administration focus with efficiency measures and peer benchmarking utilized on an actual time foundation throughout the division, serving to to drive efficiency. 

“We stay aware of the potential influence that exterior pressures could have on client sentiment and disposal incomes, nevertheless we stay assured within the group’s capability to proceed to construct on our strategic progress within the second half,” he stated.