Donnelly Group noticed pre-tax earnings fall by 10.2% to £5.3m final yr and is predicting a dampening of the brand new automobile market resulting from electrical automobiles (EV).

The Northern Eire-based group posted its account for 2022 to Firms Home and reported a 4.5% drop in turnover to £252 million and an working revenue efficiency that was down by 12% to £5.7m.

Regardless of the drop in efficiency, the group’s administrators described 2022 as a “very passable yr” regardless of the challanges on car provide, client demand and diifficult financial circumstances.

The enterprise has a number of places throughout Northern Eire and represents 16 manufacturers together with Jaguar, Land Rover, Volkswagen, Suzuki, Vauxhall, Toyota, Citroen and Peugeot.

The administrators mentioned: “Whereas reported web revenue confirmed a decline of £600,000 in contrast with 2021, when adjusted for one off helps in 2021 underlying buying and selling revenue improved by 10% year-on-year”.

The group additionally noticed an extra discount in financial institution debt of £3.3m and an general web debt discount of £5.8m in 2022.

NI charging infrastructure “not on the stage required”

The administrators are predicting a tough 2023, significantly as a result of truth the tempo of rollout for charging infrastructure in Northern Eire “shouldn’t be on the stage required to help expertise transition”.

In an announcement included within the firm’s annual accounts, the director mentioned: “We take into account different gasoline expertise will dampen the general demand for brand spanking new automobiles and the the market in Northern Eire within the medium time period can be 30% decrease than histroical traits.

“We anticipate 2023 to be a difficult yr, with provide contraints and lack of obtainable used inventory as a consequence persevering with to dampen the market already impacted by the financial impression of excessive inflation and rising rates of interest.”

With all this mentioned, the administrators mentioned they’re “assured the enterprise can continnue to show its resilience and adapt to the market”.

Profitabiltiy within the first 4 buying and selling months of 2023 “is consistent with group expectations”.