Pre-tax profits surged by more than £100m while revenue passed the £2bn mark at Greater Manchester-headquartered car retail giant Lookers during the first half of its financial year.
The listed group has reported profits of £50.7m for the six months to the end of June 2021, up from a loss of £50.4m during the same period in 2020.
The company has also confirmed its revenue increased from £1.5bn to £2.1bn.
In a statement to the London Stock Exchange, Lookers said its half-year trading has been "exceptionally strong" despite the closure of its showrooms due to Covid-19 restrictions during the first quarter.
It added that trading had been "underpinned by robust consumer demand and an improved omni-channel customer proposition".
Lookers has also confirmed it intends to repay all of the furlough money it received from the Government during the period, a total of £4.1m, before the end of 2021.
In a separate announcement, Lookers announced the appointment of Ian Bull as its new non-executive chairman from October 1, succeeding Phil White.
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Mr Bull was most recently CFO at Parkdean Holidays and prior to that CFO at Ladbrokes and Greene King.
Earlier in his career, he held a variety of financial and operational roles with BT Group, Walt Disney Co and Whitbread.
The group has also confirmed the hiring of Oliver Laird as its new chief financial officer from November 15.
Since 2017, he has been CFO at CPP Group, the listed multinational financial services business.
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Previously, he was finance director with First Direct Bank, Cooperative Insurance and 海角视频 General Insurance.
Chief executive Mark Raban said: "We have delivered a record performance in H1 despite significant Covid-19 related disruption.
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"We have been able to capture this demand and outperform the market through continued improvements to our omni-channel customer experience which allows customers to purchase cars with us however they wish.
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"The rapid growth of electric vehicles continues apace, and we are well positioned to maximise this exciting growth opportunity alongside our other strategic growth pillars.
"Whilst we are mindful of various short-term pressures, particularly around supply, with a refreshed board, a restructured business and an enhanced digital proposition, there is much to look forward to."