A VLS cased closed recently after the organisation successfully worked with MPM Lubricants to clarify product claims.

EVs may have received another boost, with the government set to make EV charge-points a legal requirement for new-build homes, as well as new supermarkets and business premises and any building undergoing major refurbishment.

Garages that buy parts from LKQ Euro Car Parts or have become an RAC-Approved centre can now access a reduced rate– and in many free – TechMan garage management system licence, thanks to a new team-up between the organisations and the GMS provider.

Servicing and repairs arranged by motorists via BookMyGarage.com increased by 34% in October. Meanwhile, its SecretService franchise programme Q3 bookings grew by 238%. In parallel, 13 more dealer groups signed up to the comparison platform. This equates to another 221 sites joining, and means more than 1,000 dealers are on the platform.

Ben has launched a new Christmas Appeal which aims to raise £500,000 so it can support the record numbers of people calling on its services this year, reflected in the 147% demand increase the charity saw during 2021.

With London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) recently expanded, and 13 more UK cities following its example by setting up their own, it could seem like older cars could disappear in many areas, but with cars over 40 year old often exempt, could garages actually see a resurgence of classics coming through the door?

£1m of additional labour for 1,500 independent garages has been created by LKQ Car Parts’ Fit It For Me online platform, according to the company.

GSF Car Parts has become the official new name for The Parts Alliance, which will trade under one brand its 170 sites going forward.

The IMI is predicting that there will be a 35,700 shortfall of EV-qualified technicians by 2030, with 2026 marking the point at which the skills gap will become very apparent, according to a new study from the organisation.

With Christmas coming up, Machine Mart is looking to remind its customers that its gift cards and E-Vouchers could make a good gift option.

The British Motor Show, set to return from 18-21 August 2022, at Farnborough International, is again teaming up with the IMI as tech partner.

Kalimex, the global distributors of K-Seal, JLM Lubricants and Quiksteel, in partnership with motorsport specialists Mickel Motorsport have launched a brand-new Young Driver Programme.

EVs and hybrids get 5-star Euro NCAP results
EVs and hybrids from mainstream car manufacturers all achieved high scores in recent Euro NCAP testing. The Mustang Mach-E, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 the Hyundai Tucson and the Toyota Yaris Cross hybrid all received five-stars, while the Hyundai Bayon achieved four-stars.

The issue of EV range anxiety could become less pronounced for some owners going forward, with Panasonic recently announcing it has developed a new battery prototype for Tesla cars that has five times the capacity of current examples.

A 24.6% new car sales drop last month has taken October registrations down to a level not seen since 1991, according to the latest figures from the SMMT.

More plug-in vehicles will hit the road in 2021 than during all of of the preceding decade, according to a forecast from the SMMT, even with overall new car sales around 30% down compared with the average for the period 2010-2019.

TRICO has been awarded Product of the Year for its Flex range at the A1 Motor Stores annual convention.

Castrol has launched a new own branded workshop programme for larger independents, with the first garage to take it on based in Warwickshire.

Autoinform Live is taking place at the GTG Academy in Wolverhampton this weekend (6-7 November), but there is still time for technicians to sign up to attend.

The Motor Ombudsman is five years old today (Monday 1 November). Formed shortly after the introduction of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Regulations and the Consumer Rights Act in 2015, this was the first time that consumers were able to access an ombudsman service dedicated to the automotive sector.

A mechanic who started out as an apprentice at his local Vauxhall dealer in 1946 has finally retired from his job after 75 years, at the age of 90.

Bumper has teamed up with Nissan to offer aftersales customers interest-free payments for servicing and repair work, including accessories, maintenance and MOT work, across the manufacturer’s 194-strong dealer network.

Top Technician and Top Garage 2021 sponsor Motul has become Official Lubricant Partner of the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with discovery+,

NGK mascot Mr Sparky was recently out and about meeting fans at Run Silverstone, prior to the 2022 Virgin London Money Marathon. Mr Sparky was joined by NGK Marketing Manager Mark Hallam and National Field Sales Manager Stuart Bayne for the event which saw runners take part in 5k, 10k and half-marathon events.

Dayco has redesigned, standardised and integrated its web catalogue into its global aftermarket website.

The automotive industry cautiously welcomed the government’s recently published road to net zero strategy. The plan lays out a roadmap for the UK to cut its contribution to climate change down to zero by 2050, and covers industry, aviation, home-heating and transport.

GMS provider and Top Technician and Top Garage 2021 sponsors TechMan have launched a new website, which the company says is part of an overall refresh of its brand as the company heads into what it expects to be a “massive 2022.”

The 2020 MOT exemption has radically altered the pattern of tests across the year, shifting many more into the second half of the year for the foreseeable future, and Eurorepar Car Service (ERCS) is urging its members to be prepared for the inevitable surge in MOT bookings this autumn.

A new battery promotion from LKQ Euro Car Parts is set to enable garages that reach the target to keep a £400 battery tester they receive as part of the programme.

Kettering-based air-con specialists Bee Cool has joined the Eurorepar Car Service (ERCS) network.

The Bee Cool business, which has a network of licensed franchisees, was formed in 2004 by David Fry.

NGK Marketing Manager Mark Hallam recently took part in the virtual 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon to raise money for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance.

47% of drivers struggled to get fuel during the recent forecourt shortages, according to research from Kwik Fit. The company’s survey of 2,000 drivers extrapolated that 8.5 million drivers would have decided against making at least one car journey, with 2.9 million drivers probably staying off the roads entirely during the crisis.

Capricorn Car Parts has updated its product data from V7 to V8 in MAM Software’s vehicle parts catalogue Autocat, allowing products to become available to over 11,000 Autocat users in the UK.

Aftermarket is doing its bit to support the beautiful game at the grassroots level, by becoming a sponsor for an under-11s football team in Daventry.

The following businesses have been named as the winners of Top Garage 2021.

The winner and runner up for Top Technician 2021 have been announced.

The issue of accessible kerbside charging for EVs is being taken up by a new committee formed by an organisation for vehicle fleets, where this is seen as the “last stumbling block” holding back mass adoption.

Continuing supply chain disruption is being blamed for a 34.4% fall in new car sales in September, despite it being one of the two main number plate change months of the year.

With its reputation for putting the needs of aftermarket professionals first, Schaeffler continues to do what it does best, completely redesigning its popular REPXPERT portal to provide an even greater resource to technicians, workshop owners and parts distributors.

Garages and other businesses still using the furlough scheme will need to take full responsibility for paying staff again going forward, as the scheme ends today (Thursday 30 September).

With a Free Trade Agreement between Turkey and the UK having been in place since December 2020, 21 leading Turkish automotive aftermarket manufacturers will be looking to meet UK companies via zoom meetings between 18 -22 October.

The Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) has given a clean bill of health to a Mannol engine oil, following an investigation.

Teng Tools has become the latest supplier for The Parts Alliance. Commenting on the new team-up, Alec Butler, Southern Sales Manager and National Accounts Manager at Teng Tools UK, said: “We are very much looking forward to having a strong partnership with The Parts Alliance network of distributors, and connecting with their customer base over the coming weeks, months and years. We are kicking this off with a considerable offering within the Garage Essentials publication over the next six months.”

Northern Divisional Director and Head of Garage Equipment at The Parts Alliance, Steve Gray, added: “We are really excited to be partnering with Teng Tools. They provide a premium product at a cost-effective price, which further enhances The Parts Alliance garage equipment offer to the UK aftermarket.”

The fourth RMI Academy of Automotive Skills training site in Lincoln was officially opened today (Monday 27 September) by local MP Karl McCartney.

This new facility is part of the RMI’s aim of addressing the skills shortage in the automotive industry by providing affordable training for garages on a more local basis.

Stuart James, RMI Director commented: “As the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars approaches, the lack of technicians skilled in hybrid and electric vehicle repair is one of the biggest threats to this plan. We would like to thank Mr McCartney for supporting our efforts in this step forward to provide the skills needed for technicians in the local community to repair the growing number of hybrid and electric vehicles on our roads.”

MP for Lincoln Karl McCartney added: “I am absolutely delighted to see a new training centre for automotive technicians opening within my constituency, offering as it does a wonderful opportunity for young people in our community to learn skills that will support them for the rest of their lives. But by partnering a fantastic long-standing local firm with a dedicated expert professional body, to focus on Hybrid and EV vehicle training, this particular centre also puts Lincoln at the cutting edge of technology.This will offer a double-whammy of opportunity for trainees and the sector as a whole, at a time when only around 5% of technicians in the UK are currently qualified to work on these vehicles.”

The new training site joins established facilities in Runcorn, Winchester and Southam, where a range of MOT and technical training courses are available.

For more information visit RMItrainingAcademy.co.uk

18.4% of classic cars aged over 40 years old failed MOT tests over the last year and half, despite no legal obligation for owners to have one carried out.

NGK has repeated its call to UK garages to take advantage of the current surge in MOT test numbers. Around 5.5 million motorists used the government’s 2020 COVID-19 MOT exemption, which saw vehicles due a test between 30 March 30 and 31 July last year take up the six-month extension. One in five of 14,688 UK drivers surveyed by the AA said they took advantage of the extension, indicating that more than 5.5 million cars had a delayed MOT.

UK EV sales were six times higher than the global average in 2020, putting Britain in fourth place out of 26 countries worldwide, according to a study by international accountancy network UHY.

First Brands Group is the latest company to join the Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association (OESAA).

Ben has unveiled a new range of programmes targeted at younger people in the sector on its digital mental health and wellbeing platform SilverCloud.

The current fuel shortages being caused by panic-buying across the UK have been cited as a reason for 19% of motorists spoken to for a new survey being more likely to buy an electric car next time.