Car parts makers across the North East have talked about a range of performances with some seeing improved revenue and profitability.
Fresh accounts for many of the region's tier 1 automotive suppliers have been published in recent weeks, covering a year in which the sector continued to face a number of challenges from regulatory constraints in the transition to electric motoring to cost inflation. Key suppliers representing hundreds of jobs in the North East reported gains despite a year in which overall UK car production plummeted by 11.8%.
In Washington, interior trim specialist Kasai UK saw turnover drop from £72m to £69.7m but operating profits grew from £663,000 to £1.74m and pre-tax profits were boosted from more than £759,000 to £1.82m. The Japanese-owned firm, which provides doo