Premium car manufacturer Volvo Group has announced it secured a record level of profits in 2015 and is now forecasting this positive momentum will lead to its strongest ever annual sales result in the coming year.

The firm broke its all-time sales record last year of 503,127 vehicles sold and has now predicted it will go on to break this record again in 2016. It was the first time in the company's 89-year history that more than half a million models were sold by the manufacturer in a single year.

Overall, the company reported operating profits of 6.62 billion Swedish krona (£548.3 million) in 2015 – more than treble its result for the previous 12-month period.

Hakan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars, commented: "I am pleased to report that 2015 was a year of record sales and trebled profits.

"Now, with a successful 2015 behind us, Volvo Cars will enter the next phase of its global transformation. Once completed, Volvo will be a truly global premium car company."

Highlights of last year included the launch of the marque's new 90 series range of vehicles, which served to considerably bolster the firm's sales, alongside positive results for existing models.

In addition, Volvo began construction of its new South Carolina manufacturing facility during the second half of 2015, with the firm predicting this development too will serve to improve profitability for the business in the years ahead.