Basis of presentation

9 Months Ended

Jun. 29, 2013

Basis of presentation [Abstract]

Basis of presentation

(1) Basis of presentation

Sevcon, Inc. (“Sevcon” or “the Company”) is a Delaware corporation organized on December 22, 1987 to carry on the electronic controls business previously performed by Tech/Ops, Inc. Through wholly-owned subsidiaries located in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, South Korea and Japan, the Company designs and sells, under the Sevcon name, microprocessor based controls for zero emission and hybrid electric vehicles. The controls are used to vary the speed and movement of vehicles, to integrate specialized functions and to prolong the shift life of vehicles’ power source. The Company’s customers are manufacturers of on-road, off-road and industrial vehicles including automobiles, buses, fork lift trucks, aerial lifts, mining vehicles, airport ground support vehicles, utility vehicles, sweepers and other battery powered vehicles. Through another subsidiary located in the United Kingdom, Sevcon, Inc. manufactures special metalized film capacitors that are used as components in the power electronics, signaling and audio equipment markets.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normally recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position of Sevcon, Inc. as of June 29, 2013 and the results of operations and cash flows for the nine months ended June 29, 2013. These unaudited interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the 2012 annual consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the 2012 Sevcon, Inc. Annual Report filed on Form 10-K (the “2012 10-K”). Unless otherwise indicated, each reference to a year means the Company’s fiscal year, which ends on September 30.

The results of operations for the nine month period ended June 29, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.