Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions has announced a profitable end to its financial year, despite difficult trading conditions in both its car and commercial vehicle markets.

The Vehicle Solutions division of Hitachi Capital, including its newly acquired subsidiary The Driving Instructor Centre (DIC), reported profit before tax of £3.2 million for the financial year ending March 2009.

The company attributes the positive result to its “prudent management of risk and the mitigation of residual value losses through extending contracts and expanding alternative sales channels for its used vehicles”. Four months trading from DIC has also bolstered profits.