While EVs continue to become more user-friendly, new figures suggest that the dealer experience for those buying electric cars is leaving something to be desired, with 41% of consumer complaints around EVs submitted to The Motor Ombudsman’s dispute resolution service during 2022 relating directly to the purchase process.

The IGA has written to Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh MP with a view to gaining her support to oppose the changes to the current MOT structure proposed in the MOT Consultation that is currently underway.

bilstein group has become the latest company to offer its support for Top Technician and Top Garage 2023, taking the much-prized Wine Sponsor slot for the Top Technician and Top Garage Awards Evening, being held at the Double-Tree by Hilton Hotel in Coventry on Saturday 14 October 2023.

Ivor Searle has chosen 2023’s National Apprenticeship Week, which is taking place from today (6 February) until Sunday (12 February) as the ideal springboard for its annual apprenticeship drive.

New car sales went up 14.7% in January, with a total of 131,994 finding first-time owners during the month according to the latest figures from the SMMT, making it the best start to a year since January 2020.
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) made up 14.4% the total, an increase of 40.6% for this segment. . Meanwhile, battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales went up 19.8% to 17,294 units, which represented 13.1% of the total for the month. Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) went up 0.7%, and made up 6.9% of new cars for January.

Fuel additives and engine treatments may be growing in popularity due to both mechanics and motorists turn to preventative measures to cut repair costs, according to Fueltone Pro.

GS Yuasa International is looking to team up with Honda to lithium-ion batteries.

With National Apprentice week running from Monday to Friday (6-12 February), TMD Friction UK is highlighting the importance of bringing on young talent.

ALLDATA Europe has launched ALLDATA Labour Times, a new add-on product. Labour times are provided by TecAlliance, with ALLDATA Labour Times integrated into ALLDATA Repair.

LKQ Europe has bought Rhenoy Group, the Holland-based salvager and supplier of remanufactured engines, and recycled OEM car parts for an undisclosed amount

Motul is set to continue as official lubricant supplier for the third year in a row for the 2023 ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA.

The Apprenticeship Levy is being under-used in the automotive sector, with just 52% of motor industry apprentices receiving support this way in 2022, against an all-industry average of 65% of apprentices, the IMI has warned on the run-up to National Apprenticeship Week (6-12 February).

The NFDA has decried the launch of a £110 million vehicle scrappage scheme that will coincide with expansion of London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in August.

CTEK has been named as Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Manufacturer of the Year at the UK’s E-Mobility Awards 2023. CTEK won for its Chargestorm Connected 2 (CC2) electric vehicle supply charger. The award was presented at the E-Mobility Awards ceremony, hosted by the broadcaster Quentin Wilson, and held at the British Motor Museum.

Garages in and around London could soon customers’ older vehicles disappear from the roads with the announcement of a £110 million scrappage scheme designed to tie in with the expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in August.

A increase in the availability of counterfeit vehicle lubricants is being predicted, as criminals look to exploit the cost of living crisis, garages are being warned.

With a recent study suggesting that 44% of garages are still unable to work on plug on vehicles, Independent garages are being urged to make 2023 the year of the EV.

Benathlon is a new virtual challenge event series launched by Ben, and the charity is inviting the whole automotive community to take on the exercise challenge, with a minimum fundraising goal of £75 per person.

The Schaeffler REPXPERT team has another set of ‘Tea-break Training’ sessions coming up on Wednesday 1March, at 12:30 and 18:30 respectively, with Future Technology the subject of discussion.

Delphi Technologies, a brand of BorgWarner Inc, will be a Full Even Partner of the 2023 Top Garage and Top Technician competitions.

UK car production fell 9.8% in 2022, according to the latest figures from the SMMT, giving last year the lowest annual production total for the country since 1956. Facing ongoing semiconductor shortages and ongoing COVID-19 related problems, UK car factories managed to pump out 775,014 units. The total was was also 84,561 units down on 2021 and 40.5% under pre-pandemic 2019, when the country managed to produce 1,303,135 cars pre-pandemic.

Ben is encouraging those who want to take up one of the few remaining spaces on its team for the London Marathon to apply as soon as possible.

A sales manager at garage equipment company Oakmain has been convicted for forging solicitor letters used as part of the process garages undertake to secure MOT Testing Station status, and has received an 18-month suspended custodial sentence.

The IGA has written to the Department for Transport (DfT) to urge an extension to the MOT consultation launched this week.

The IAAF has launched the all-new IAAF Intelligence Report, in partnership with GiPA, which will offer members of the organisation a monthly rundown on the market.

Ways to progress the monitoring of emissions are among the areas under consideration in the government MOT consultation that opened yesterday (Wednesday 18 January).

The automotive sector has continued to react to the MOT Consultation, with a range of views being expressed. SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said, “Although today’s vehicles are safer and more reliable than ever, safety critical components such as brakes and tyres continue to wear through normal use and lead to millions of MOT failures every year, including at the current first test at year three. Stretching MOT intervals will shrink the safety net and jeopardise the UK’s record of having some of the safest roads in the world in exchange for a small saving, which could actually cost consumers more in the long run as complex faults can develop over time. SMMT and its members welcome the opportunity to work with government on the best way to improve the MOT in line with developing vehicle technology and other changes including ownership patterns.”

A number of the proposed changes to the MOT being considered through the MOT Consultation opened by the Department for Transport (DfT) yesterday have been labelled as “farcical.”

As more new energy vehicles (NEVs), which include hybrid and electric vehicles, take to the roads, more will come to independents for routine service, maintenance or repair, so workshops need to have access to high quality replacement parts and the technicians undertaking this work geared up to complete it successfully.

A new technical support service that can help with a wide range of queries has been launched by Castrol. The new AI-based offering will put garages in contact with Castrol’s technical agents, who will be available during working hours five days a week.

20% of car owners would be willing to sell their car as a result of the cost of living crisis and instead opt for hire cars when the need arises, according to a new survey.

Following the launch of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) consultation on proposed changes to the MOT today (Wednesday 18 January 2023), the IGA will be carrying out a full impact assessment of the proposed changes and will be consulting with its members and the wider industry so it can offer feedback.

Point S Tyre & Autocare is looking to undertake more network development in 2023, building on the investment made during 2022.

Highlights last year included investment in training infrastructure, as well as moves to help network members take advantage of the fleet opportunity througha plan to replicate the success of Point S’ fleet model in Europe.

On the marketing side, there was a national television advertising campaign on Channel 4 as well as a redesign of the Point S website, www.point-s.co.uk

Wayne Daniel, UK Network Operations Manager, said, “2022 was a year of development and consolidation for the Point S network. Across the network, we took steps to provide each and every one of our members with the tools to safeguard their businesses in the present and for the future. Looking forward to 2023, and with 300 centres now under our umbrella, it is essential that we continue to deliver the right opportunities and support for our members to ensure that they can take their businesses to the next level.”

The government’s consultation on the future of the MOT, which opened today (Wednesday 18 January), will according to the IMI provide a opportunity to widen the scope of the test to take into account new technologies like autonomous systems , as well as the frequency.

The IAAF will be putting the case to keep the current 3-1-1 MOT frequency, following the launch of the DfT consultation on the future of the test today (Wednesday 18 January).

Driver safety should be paramount when considering making changes to the MOT according to the NFDA, which will be putting the case to keep the MOT at a 3-1-1 frequency via the consultation launched today (Wednesday 18 January) by the Department for Transport.

The January sale is underway at LKQ Euro Car Parts, with garages able to take advantage of savings on equipment such as lifts, wheel balancers, alignment units and air con machines.
Highlighted items include the TEXA Laser Examiner, as well as the ECK NEXT PRO R134a air con unit.

Commenting on the January sale, LKQ Euro Car Parts Marketing Director Colin Cottrell said: “We know that independent garages and bodyshops are eager to keep prices competitive for their customers, but that the current cost of doing business is making this more challenging. By offering such a wide variety of products at discounted rates, we’re hoping to ease some of the pressure on our customers and help them get 2023 off to a good start.”

Delphi Technologies is taking part in the upcoming EV Ready event, being held at Brighton Racecourse on Wednesday 25 January.

A quality standard for aftermarket performance components and their suppliers was recently launched at Autosport International 2023.

DENSO has released a new video on its Hybrid wiper blade range.DENSO Europe Pan European Strategic Marketing Manager Fatiha Laauich observed: “DENSO’s objective was to combine aesthetic design with best-in-class performance, to produce the ultimate hybrid wiper blade range. In doing so, the company’s engineers have come up with a blade just 25mm high that minimises wind resistance and is almost invisible from inside the cabin, providing occupants with an unobstructed view through the windscreen ahead, which naturally increases road safety.”

With Blue Monday back in the news, Ben, has unveiled new online support through its website to support people with a focus on ‘New Year, new me’, and is encouraging those who feel they are struggling to get in touch with the organisation to access its life coaches.

German oil brand ROWE launched its lubricants, coolants and fluids range into the UK market today (Thursday 12 January) at the Autosport International Show, taking place at the NEC.

Ben has launched a new text service so those in the automotive sector can access support at any time of the day.

LIQUI MOLY’s Head of Media Relations, Dr. Peter Szarafinski, died suddenly shortly before Christmas, the company has announced. He was 47.

The new energy support scheme for businesses, unveiled ahead of the closure of the existing scheme in March, will not do enough to support the automotive sector the government has been warned, with new figures showing that increasing energy bills are seen by 90% of garages as one of the biggest challenges for 2023.

Snap-on is continuing itslong-running and enthusiastic association with Top Technician and Top Garage in 2023 by once again becoming Full Event Partner for both competitions.

Following on from the success of the REPXPERT Academy LIVE York event, which attracted 111 delegates, Schaeffler has announced a date for the next roadshow, which will take place at New City College Hornchurch on Saturday 4 February 2023. Due to the popularity of these events, workshop technicians and garage owners in North-East London and the South-East of England are being encouraged to register as soon as possible.

The number of technicians getting IMI TechSafe accreditation is rising, but the rate of increase is waning the organisation has warned, at the same time that demand for EVs may be slowing.