Total sales for the first five months of the year rose by 31 per cent on a constant currency basis or 28 per cent in sterling terms. Of that increase 16.3 per cent was contributed by the newly-acquired European Motor Holdings and 11.6 per cent by other acquisitions and new openings. Like-for-like sales for the first five months are up 3.1 per cent on a constant currency basis.

The poor performance of Inchcape's Singapore business was offset by improvement in other emerging markets. Acquisitions in Lithuania and Latvia, which total £73.5m, and several non-core UK disposals totaling £24 million helped boost trading. Inchape's interim results for the first six months of the year will be released later this year. The giant dealer group said it was confident in its prospects for 2007.