Ben has announced the launch of its new active virtual challenge for the whole industry; Breakout for Ben - road to £1 million.

The IMI is running a post-Brexit webinar this Thursday (14 January) looking at what the new arrangements means for automotive sector businesses, with particular focus on recruitment.

The Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) has sent a case relating to a Longlife 5w30 oil to Trading Standards, following an investigation.

TechMan is urging garages to make sure they customers know there’s no MOT exemption this time, and that they must make sure that they seek an MOT for their car if it is due.

In an email sent to customers of LKQ Euro Car Parts last week, CEO Andy Hamilton confirmed that the business will remain open and operational throughout the current lockdown – as it has done previously – and explained why garages should do the same.
 
“During this lockdown, motorists will still be able to complete their MOTs and with a further 1.1m MOTs still outstanding from the 2020 extension, this will create work opportunities for garages. We are also facing an extended cold snap, which coupled with more vehicles being sat idle for longer, will see greater demand for servicing and repair, offering further potential revenue sources over the coming months,” he said.
 
The letter ended with a note of thanks to garages for their continued support, and recognition of the aftermarket’s efforts to keep the UK moving throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
 
Garages that require assistance or have any questions are advised to contact their local branch or visit www.omnipart.com
 

Snap-on has launched a new diagnostics website.  Handy features include a tool matcher, product compare and an online vehicle coverage guide. There is also a resource centre for training information and access to FAQs, quick start guides, manuals, how-to videos and more 

Bite-size training short enough to take in during a teabreak is being offered by Schaeffler’s REPXPERT team from next week.

New car sales in 2020 fell 29.4% to a level not seen since 1992 according to the latest figures from the SMMT, with the total for December down 10.9%. In total, the industry experienced a £20.4 billion turnover loss.

Morris Lubricants Racing ambassadors Guy Martin, Lydia Walmsley and Dave Jenkins have joined forces for the first time in a six-part series of exclusive video interviews.

Brake brand DON, part of TMD Friction ,has expanded its distribution network with the addition of Wales and south-west England-based Spartan Motor Factors as its newest stockist.

 A mankini, false teeth and a mannequin are among the strangest things garage customers have left in their cars according a new survey, which also identified the most dubious excuses given by customers for faults, including bad advice from YouTube videos.  

41% of UK fleet drivers may be routinely switching off ADAS in their vehicles, new research has suggested.

A brand-new Thetford bodyshop built during the COVID-19 national lockdown has opened after a six-month fit-out.

Castrol has teamed up with tank remote monitoring provider OilFox to offer garages an automated monitoring and stock replenishment service.

The extension of UK/EU talks for a post-Brexit trade deal beyond the deadline at the weekend was seen as positive across the industry, but companies in the sector have continued to prepare for a number of eventualities.

The organisers of The British Motor Show have confirmed an expanded show, including three driving experiences as the approval of a COVID-19 vaccine means the brakes are well and truly off for the show, due to take place from 19-22 August 2021 at at Farnborough International.

HELLA has produced a new film to highlight what it does for independent garages, including free services such as HELLA TECH WORLD.

Keeping up to date with the latest diagnostic tools and methods has been identified as a key concern for independent garages, according to LKQ Euro Car Parts’ analysis of the response to its recent Garage Services campaign.

Gates has rebranded its hybrid parts brand as E-Start, and will also be using the occasion to launch Micro-V Belts and Micro-V Belt Kits into the market.

The deadline for MOT testers to complete their required Annual Training for the 2020/21 period has been extended, DVSA has confirmed.

 The first-ever virtual IAAF conference took place last week, and took an in-depth look at the opportunities and threats for the aftermarket in a post-Coronavirus and post-Brexit world. The IAAF’s new Pride of the Aftermarket awards was also held as part of the event, with a number of notable sector names bagging gongs.

Bridgestone has promised to work more closely with its customers going forward to help businesses make the most of the opportunities available as they exit any local COVD-10 tier restrictions.

 Garages with the capability to provide MOT Class 7 tests, as well as the capacity given the ongoing MOT surge resulting from the exemption earlier in the year, are being urged to help van drivers and delivery fleets get tests where possible due to an ongoing dearth of available slots.  

The IMI has published an open letter in order to highlight the growing skills gap in the sector that is set to be exacerbated by the 2030 deadline for ending the sale of new EVs and hybrids.

New car sales dropped by 27.4% in November as renewed COVID-19 lockdown restrictions during the month meant that franchised dealer showrooms were shut down, although the impact on sales was less severe than during the Spring.

TPS has brought Christmas cheer to the Mid-Cheshire Food Bank, by helping to keep the charity’s only delivery van on the road through the donation of a new exhaust system.

In a first for automotive training, Lincoln College is to begin incorporating The Garage Inspector business courses from Andy Savva into its automotive training programme, in order to help bring through the next generation of garage owners.

Following an urgent plea for support made by Ben via an open letter to motor industry leaders, the charity has received pledges worth around £500,000. Meanwhile, Do It 4 Ben, a new way to get involved, has also been launched.

MAM Software parent Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) has launched an e-commerce division.

LKQ Euro Car Parts branch customers have collectively donated more than £10,000 to its long-standing charity partner Ben, by each adding 25p to their total when they check out.

Nissens is set to buy-up a portion of AVA Cooling from Enterex International Limited Group as part of an overall ongoing plan to grow its engine cooling, A/C and emissions product coverage.

Ben has received a £20,000 funding boost from the IGA, following the charity’s urgent appeal for more support in the wake of COVID-19.

NGK’s BoxClever glow plug promotion finishes today (Monday 30 November), and the company is reminding workshops they can still do a last-minute stock-up, so they can still benefit from the November-only deal.

Garages are being urged to “act now” and streamline their business processes for a fast start to the New Year.

Oil trade body Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) has entered into a Primary Authority partnership with Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards, through which it will provide tailored advice and guidance for VLS and its’ members.

TRICO has become headline sponsor for the charity Speed Of Sight.  

Servicesure has a new oil warranty programme in partnership with Comma.

The IMI 100 challenge, through which IMI employees and members of the wider automotive community rode bikes, ran and walked to raise funds for BEN, raised over £2,000 during October.

BorgWarner has rolled out a new line of ADAS diagnostic tools.

OSRAM has supplied the NEXUS N!UNITED initiative with 1,000 complimentary bottles of hand sanitizer via The Parts Alliance, to send out to their network of branches. From there, the bottles will then be distributed to Servicesure Autocentre members throughout the UK.

 NGK says it has been very pleased by the industry’s response to the launch last year of its range of 200 UK-specific NTK camshaft and crankshaft sensors.

 The automotive sector has continued to react to the announcement of the deadline for the end of new petrol and diesel vehicle sales being moved up to 2030, with mixed views across the industry.

The government is bringing forward the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles to 2030, the Prime Minister has confirmed.

Ben is making an urgent appeal to automotive industry leaders as it faces a 50% increase in demand for services against a £1m income shortfall, following the cancellation of fundraising events including the Ben Ball. The crisis comes as COVID-19 continues to have an unprecedented impact on the health and wellbeing of the automotive workforce.

BM Catalysts is the latest aftermarket name to reassure its customers that normal service will continue through lockdown 2.0.

The Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association (OESAA) and its members are reassuring garages they are all very much open for business during the current lockdown via a video from OESAA spokesman Andy Savva a.k.a The Garage Inspector.

Absolute Alignment has recently doubled its storage space for stock, increased staffing levels, and is preparing for the Brexit deadline on 31 December by increasing the number of wheel aligners that will be readily available to customers in early 2021.