A letter has emerged from the Chancellor, George Osbourne, expressing his dismay at the 'road safety and environmental costs' of reducing the frequency of the MOT test.

Sukhpal Singh, boss of component supplier Euro Car Parts has confirmed that the chain's expansion drive will continue through 2012 with the opening of 20 new branches.

Solihull-based Jaguar Land-Rover (JLR) has announced that it is to expand production facilities in the West Midlands, creating around 1,000 new jobs in the process.

The row about small waste oil burners (SWOB) rumbles on with both the Garage Equipment Association and the RMI wading in.

Recent discussions between IAAF and roads minister Mike Penning were confirmed this week when proposals to exempt classic cars and motorbikes from the MoT test were published for consultation.

October's new car market rose 2.6% on last year. This is considered by the industry to be 'positive result', given the uncertain economic climate.

The week in which the clocks go back really does see an increase in accidents - at least according to car rental firm Enterprise.

Workers at Honda's Swindon plant have been put on a three-day week due to a lack of supply of parts.

Road charity Brake is joining forces with other organisations to defend the annual MOT test in the face of a government review that could reduce the frequency.

Nat Lo Raso of Sinemaster is the winner of this year's third annual technical trainer of the year awards run by Iris, a distributor of auto paint. The final, which took place on 19 October at Newberry House Academy, MKPE's training facility in Milton Keynes, tested the four finalists' skills with a 'typical' bodyshop day.

THE designer of the G-wiz has been presented an award for innovation - eight years after the EV was first made.

THE revisions to the MOT test that are to be introduced in January have drawn criticism from a popular motoring magazine.

THE RMI has lobbied the Government today about what it sees as 'the serious consequences of the proposed Duty increases' at the next budget. In a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Brian Madderson, RMI Petrol Chairman details concerns for the independent petrol retailing industry ahead of the Autumn Statement. Although the previous Government's "escalator" will be replaced by a "fair fuel stabiliser", the precise mechanics of this new scheme have yet to be announced.

INDUSTRY watchdog Motor Codes is set to allow independent workshops to advertise on the customer facing area of its site.

INDUSTRY watchdog Motor Codes is set to allow independent workshops to advertise on the customer facing area of its site.

Aftermarket trade show EquipAuto has entered its fourth day - and organisers suggest that there have been a record number of visitors so far.

The automotive industry is pioneering government's 'See Inside Manufacturing' initiative, will deliver a national programme of activities throughout October to inspire the next generation of budding engineers. The idea is that young people across the UK will get a 'behind the scenes' glimpse of what it's like to work in the nation's motor trade.

style="text-align: left;">The Alfa made it over the top of the Swiss Alps, the 'A-team' Espace didn't due to a cooling system fault.

The world's largest international skills competition took place in London last week and concluded at a closing ceremony at the O2 Arena

"We've arrived in Maranello following a drive though Mont Blanc.

Vehicle Manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors UK has signed up all of it's UK dealerships to self-appointed industry watchdog Motor Codes.

Component supplier Euro Car Parts has been sold to a US bodyshop supplier in a deal worth £225m

Unipart Group and H2 Equity Partners have announced the completion of their deal for H2 to acquire a controlling stake in Unipart Automotive, one of the UK's largest independent suppliers of car parts, workshop consumables and garage equipment.

Nearly 60% of motorists are driving cars in colours they don't like according to a recent survey by an auction company. Black was clearly the preferred colour with 31% of men and 30% of women respondents claiming it to be their favourite colour but interestingly only 14% of men and 12% of women actually drove a black car.

Transport Minister Philip Hammond plans to increase the national speed limit to 80mph. He was quoted on Radio 4's Today programme saying: "When the speed limit was introduced, my family had an Anglia and the speedometer only went up to 70. Today's cars are capable of much greater speeds"

A prize to reward the most innovative new product or service will be given out at this year's EquipAuto show.

THIS YEAR there's even more reason to enter the annual contest to find the best workshop technician

NEW RESEARCH shows that despite a variety of subsidy programmes, electric vehicle sales across Europe continue to flatline

Independent garage S&K Autos, has just celebrated 30 years in business - just as it discovered it was consumer site, Which?'s, most recommended garage. As a result, garage owner, Ade King, was recently interviewed by the consumer title for its feature providing top tips on DIY car maintenance.

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One of the cheapest production cars in the world has been given a £2.9 million makeover

Following a 'successful' Frankfurt International Motor Show and recent discussions between Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and UK Government ministers, the firm has confirmed a £355 million investment in a new facility to manufacture all-new, advanced technology, low-emission engines in the UK.

The controlling share of component giant Unipart Automotive been sold to private equity group H2 Equity Partners in a deal for an undisclosed sum. Unipart Group, headed by John Neill, will retain 49.9%

Thatcham's Automotive Academy is offering technicians who have an NVQ the opportunity to upgrade to Automotive Technician Accreditation at a 25% discount.

Environmental group Greenpeace held protests at various VW dealerships in Europe over the weekend, including six in the UK.

Diagnostic and MOT equipment maker Crypton has announced that it will be extending it's 'scrappage' scheme for gas analysers and smoke machines.

Motor industry charity BEN has teamed up with an organisation named Cartakeback and launched 'scrap and donate' - a plan where car owners can dispose of unwanted vehicles and donate money to the charity at the same time.

Component firm Denso are to hold a European aftermarket seminar, and interested parties are being urged to book their place now as the high demand for attendance has meant that there is now only a limited number of places left.  Taking place on the 23rd September 2011 in the Hague's Louwman Museum - which is a large collection of vintage cars, worth a visit in itself -the seminar will give attendees an insight into Denso's corporate aftermarket future.

A garage owner in Northamptonshire is furious after Kettering Borough Council approved speculative planning permission to build a new hotel on the site of his workshop - without consulting him.

The car auction industry expects market conditions to remain 'challenging' in the coming weeks.  Data from members of the National Association of Motor Auctions (NAMA) confirm that every year volumes start to increase from around the second or third week in September and peak in the first half of October just as consumer demand traditionally weakens. However the group has suggested that this year the situation is likely to be made worse as demand may be affected by the pressure on consumer disposable income.

The UK's network of bodyshops have appealed for the laws surrounding the aquisition of vehicles that have been written off to be tightened up.

A WEBSITE has been launched where garages can bid online for work

Consumer magazine What Car?'s MOT mystery shoppers have uncovered what it describes as 'alarming disparities' between testing centres up and down the country, with several missing potentially dangerous faults.

A director of the RMI has added his comments on the findings of a 'mystery shop' exercise by a consumer magazine.

Proposals to change the current MOT regime being considered by the Government could create a 'risk management dilemma for fleets' according to a contract hire and consultancy firm.

Join BEN the automotive industry charity on Saturday 17 September 2011 as they cycle the route of the Tarka Trail.  This follows the travels of Tarka the Otter in Henry Williamson's famous book written in 1927.

Following the announcement that the department for food and rural affairs (DEFRA) are to review the way that small waste oil burning heaters (SWOBs) are classified, motoring bodies have lined up to slam the practice which will effectively render the heaters obsolete.

Automotive buying group, United Aftermarket Network Ltd (UAN) has appointed NGK Spark Plugs (UK) as the sole supplier of spark and glow plugs.