(Sharecast News) - Power Probe said on Wednesday that trading in 2026 had started encouragingly and remained in line with management expectations, as the automotive diagnostics tool maker prepared to hold its first annual general meeting as a listed company.

The AIM-traded group said it was continuing to make good progress with its strategy and remained on track to launch further new products during the second half of 2026, in line with guidance given at its full-year results in April.

Power Probe said its focus on branded products and its higher-margin private brands business, alongside pricing initiatives introduced this year that had been well absorbed by the market, had supported a strong recovery in group gross margin.

The company said the planned timing of new product launches remained unchanged and that 2026 revenue was expected to be weighted towards the second half, as previously indicated.

Power Probe said it continued to monitor the conflict in the Middle East, but had not experienced any material impact on operations to date, with import routes via the Pacific Ocean and Panama Canal unaffected by any significant disruption.

The group said it would issue a trading update for the first six months of 2026 ahead of its interim results.

Chief executive officer Chema Garcia said Power Probe had made an encouraging start to the year, with trading in line with expectations.

"Against a backdrop of continuing macroeconomic uncertainty, our team has been working hard to deliver excellent strategic progress as we move towards the launch of a number of exciting new products in the second half of 2026," he said.

"We look forward to the opportunities in the year ahead with confidence."

At 0828 BST, shares in Power Probe were flat at 69p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

See latest RNS on Investegate