Electric vehicle firm Sevcon has posted an operating loss of £577,000 for the year ended September 30.
This compares to profits of £740,000 in 2012.
The Gateshead company’s revenues also dropped from £21.5m to £19.6m because of a sluggish first half to the year’s trading.
Improving economic conditions in the Eurozone, however, led to sales and profit picking up in the fourth quarter.