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.

Replacement vehicle glass company Autoglass has signed up to fleet booking service 1link.

France's largest aftermarket trade show is back between October 11-15 and show organisers promise it to be bigger than ever - despite having a tighter schedule than in previous years.

Welding supplies firm Weldability-Sif has joined a local initiave to teach young people key skills - in this case, welding.

The HiQ fast fit network has slammed the Government over controversial plans to relax its laws on MOT testing, declaring: "The pockets of motorists will be hit harder than ever."

Consumer watchdog, the Advertising Standards Authority have found that a so-called 'mileage correction' firm has produced a billboard advert considered to be degrading to women.

A blaze tore through a tyre plant on Friday.

FIVE young technicians from across the UK have emerged as among the best in their respective trades, winning gold medals in the national automotive skills competition, SkillAuto

A HUGE Airfix sculpture of Ayrton Senna's McLaren MP4/6, from his last season as World Champion, goes under the auctioneer's hammer at the Nurburgring sale in Germany on August 13.

Nick Thomas has recently joined Denso, where he picks up the mantle of European Product Manager. Thomas previously worked at Ferrari's Piston Services and more recently was a manager at First Line.

MOT test certificates are set to change according to transport minister Mike Penning.

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A 'high performance' assembly facility has been opened at the Shoreham Technical Centre,  by local Member of Parliament Tim Loughton. The owners say that the brand-new facility provides a 'near clean room production environment' in which each and every process is carried out with a ‘no faults forward’ culture.

A new scheme has been launched in the North West of England to combat a 'lack of awareness' surrounding modern apprenticeships.

The UK tyre industry has been praised for meeting tough targets at a recent industry event.

For those of you that haven't heard, we have decided to take part in a charity run down to Modena in Italy. The jaunt, entitled Bangers4BEN will see a number of teams from across the motor industry drive in cars they have picked up for around £200 and raising money on the way.

The Parts Alliance has been awarded a two year supply contract for all braking products to the Kwik-Fit network in a deal worth more than £20m.

A virtually standard Delphi diesel fuel injection system powered the class-winning Peugeot RCZ at the recent Nürburgring 24 Hours race. Competing in a field of 201 vehicles the RCZ 2.0 litre HDi diesel coupé displayed consistent speed and reliability to dominate its class.

Following the success of the CV and Workshop Show earlier this year, the organisers have confirmed that the event will run again from the 24 to 26 of April 2012.

A report has been published that assesses the impact of the IMI's skills accreditation programme, known as Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA). The research covered accreditation programmes for a number of disciplines, from parts advisors to light vehicle technicians and customer service advisors.

Newly-qualified technician, John Couldridge, has secured a much-coveted place on Team UK at WorldSkills London 2011 where he will compete within the 'Automobile Technology' skills category against contemporaries from more than 50 other countries/regions in what is the largest global skills competition in the world.

After 13 years at Grange Business Park, Manbat - the UK's largest battery distributor - has relocated its Shrewsbury HQ 500 yards further along Lancaster Road and into a substantially larger site, which provides the room that the company needs as it continues to expand.

Motoring organisation, RAC is set to be sold to a private equity group in a deal worth around £1bn.

The independent motor industry has heralded a major breakthrough, as new EU legislation is set to increase both the amount of information that vehicle manufacturers will have to hand over - as well as improving the way in which it is supplied.

Suspension component failures are the mechanical 'three-year glitch' most likely to cause a car to fail its first MOT, according to an insurance company.

There's a new suit at one of the OE manufacturers. Mr. Yoshikazu Makino takes over the position of president and CEO of Denso International  in Europe, effective June 22, 2011. Mr. Makino replaces Mr. Shigehiro Nishimura, who is going to be in charge of the Asia Pacific region.

PARTS supplier Comline, has announced that the addition of an overnight third shift, which changes its warehouse into a 24 hour operation, has resulted in a 'monumental increase in productivity', outweighing the extra hours; which enables the business to manage a surge in UK and export sales.

Industry body IMI has expressed concern over the vacancies caused by the skills shortage in the motor trade compared with the wider economy.