Tickets are now available for the Top Technician/Top Garage Gala Dinner 2018 being held at the Brampton Heath Golf Centre, Northamptonshire on Saturday 23 June.

Colleagues, friends and associates are paying tribute to the life and career of one of the UK aftermarket’s most colourful characters, Alec Morgan, following his untimely death recently.  

Autoinform LIVE is back in Scotland over  the weekend of 14-15 April. 

Kathryn Beaurain, marketing director of Pro-Align was recently recognised by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) for her ongoing support of the IMI Skill Auto competitions. Receiving one of just five awards presented at the IMI’s Annual Dinner on 7 March, Kathryn received the award for her Contribution to the Work of the IMI, having supported the industry’s Skill Auto competitions for the last six years.

Braidwood Auto Services, a South Lanarkshire-based Servicesure Autocentre, has been awarded Car Leasing Bargain’s ‘Best Newcomer Award’, just five months after joining the network.

Morris Lubricants have named Guy Martin as its official brand ambassador for 2018.
 
One minute he may be under a truck, the next racing around a road circuit on a superbike or taking part in another challenge for TV, but in his new role Guy Martin will be putting his talents to work promoting both Morris Lubricants and its products.
 
“I like the fact they’re British, have a range of everything you could need and are good honest folk,” he says. “They sent me a load of samples, and I didn’t know how many products they had and it's all good stuff. Whether it’s on the trucks, cars or bikes, even my tractor, the quality is spot on.”
 
Working with Morris Lubricants also gives Guy plenty of different opportunities, including the possibility of ‘brewing’ his own oil. “I'd be up for that, I’m not an expert on oil, but I'd be keen on learning!”

Launch UK has been awarded the “Best Launch Business 2017” accolade by the brand’s European division.The award is in recognition of its customer service and its commitment to supporting customers in all areas of business.

An East Sussex garage had £36,000 of tooling stolen during a recent break-in, but is getting back on track thanks to support from other businesses and the community.

The Parts Alliance will be sending 25 garages on luxury mini-breaks to a host of top European cities in its biggest ever promotion.
 
Campaign scratch cards will be included with all sets of Delphi and Bendix brake pads supplied during March and April.
 
City Brakes will run across all branches of The Parts Alliance, so it’s available from Allparts, BBC Superfactors, BMS Superfactors, Bromsgrove Motor Factors, CES, Dingbro, GMF, GSF, Parts Alliance (South West), Qualvecom, SAS Autoparts, SC Motor Factors, and Waterloo.
 
The city holidays include three nights’ accommodation with flights and transfers for two people to a choice of ten leading city destinations.
 
Further prizes include essential gadgets such as smart speakers, fitness trackers, tablets, DAB radios and power banks along with a merchandise pool of mugs, tins of sweets, snack packs, torches and USB chargers all there to be claimed.
 
Garages can find out more simply by visiting www.delphicitybrakes.com and www.bendixcitybrakes.com
 

 Morris Lubricants has appointed Rebecca Jackson as its first ever female racing ambassador.

 Automechanika Birmingham 2018 is set tackle all the major issues affecting businesses in the automotive aftermarket, according to event director Simon Albert.

Euro Car Parts is advising repairers that carry out MOT testing to make sure their emissions analysers comply when new emissions standards come in later this year.

Pro-Align has signed up as a sponsor for Top Technician and Top Garage 2018.

Pico Technology has become a sponsor of Top Technician and Top Garage 2018.

Ring Automotive has returned as a sponsor for Top Technician and Top Garage 2018. The lighting and auto-electrical leader was a main sponsor for Top Technician in 2017, as well as being long-term supporter of the competition.

The European Parliament’s IMCO committee have approved several key amendments to Vehicle Type-Approval legislation proposals, which include the aftermarket maintaining in-vehicle data access via the OBD port.

Autofirst Network has agreed a deal with WhoCanFixMyCar.com that offers every member the opportunity to have its own profile on the platform for 12 months.

The best garage businesses in the industry are signing up to see how they measure up against their peers in the brand new Top Garage competition. Have you signed up yet?

GSF Car Parts says their programme to reintroduce Bendix brakes to the UK aftermarket is running ahead of schedule.

Proposed changes to the frequency of the MOT test have been called off by government, following strong opposition expressed in the MOT consultation. 

Repairers buying a clutch product from Euro Car Parts before 30 March 2018 will benefit from a free lifetime warranty. The offer covers every clutch product supplied by the company, including such brands as LUK, SACHS, Transmech, Valeo and more.

Car sales were down 5.7% in 2017, with diesel vehicles seeing one of the biggest drops according to annual sales figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).).

The IAAF and FIGIEFA have welcomed news that crucial provisions on the OBD connector and access to RMI have been included in the proposed EU legislation on Vehicle Type-Approval regulation.

Top Technician and Top Garage 2018 has opened, and the first rounds of the two competitions are now open for contestants to register and take part.

Volvo Car UK has opened a new £6m training and development centre in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

Snap-on has put its full weight behind Top Technician and Top Garage, signing up again to sponsor the twin competitions for their 2018 run.

Getac has announced Volkswagen AG as the latest customer for its mobile computers. Working closely with Volkswagen, Getac has developed two robust computers for use in international group-wide vehicle diagnostics and other production applications for the VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat brands as well as for the VW utility vehicles. The VAS 6150E notebook is based on the Getac S410. Meanwhile, the VAS 6160E tablet is based on the new Getac A140. The new device combines already integrated components, such as the offboard diagnostic information system service and the diagnostic interface.  “We are proud to have set another automotive milestone through the intensive cooperation with Volkswagen,” said Rick Hwang, president of the rugged business unit at Getac Technology Corporation. “Our teams worked hand in hand in order to create an optimal solution for Volkswagen in terms of functionality, reliability and supply chain processes.”

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has submitted its closing evidence for Parliament’s consideration regarding a Licence to Practice for vehicle technicians working on the high-voltage systems of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Industry expert Andy Savva as has been named by MAM Software as brand ambassador for Autowork Online, its garage management application.

Four mechanics have been given suspended sentences of up to eight months and will have to pay nearly £20,000 in fines, after a DVSA investigation found they were issuing fraudulent MOT certificates.

HELLA has invested in its Lippstadt base with a new visitor, administrative and exhibition centre under construction next door to the company’s historic headquarters that will transform it into a high-tech location. At the same time, an urban planning competition is scheduled for the future use of the former Steinstrasse company premises.

Euro Car Parts’ acquisition of Andrew Page has been approved by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), subject to the sale of  nine depots.

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), has presented MPs and peers from the House of Lords with a new report that underlines the case for regulation around those working on electric and hybrid vehicles.

"The Art of Light" film by HELLA received two silver OttoCar awards at the AutoVision International Automotive Film and Multimedia Festival, in the categories "Product films: Suppliers" and "Research & Development, Environmental Protection, CSR".
AutoVision is an international festival for industry films, commercials, websites and interactive applications in the automotive industry. The competition is an initiative of Filmservice International and is supported by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). The OttoCar awards are presented every other year.
In its film, HELLA introduces its liquid crystal HD headlamp technology. HELLA plans to serialise the LCD headlamp and gradually expand the number of pixels it projects onto the road from the current 30,000 to approximately 50,000 pixels.
The OttoCar awards were presented on 14 September, during IAA 2017 in Frankfurt.

Top Technician is coming back for 2018, and is bringing a new competition with it; Top Garage. This all-new related contest will enable whole businesses to compete to find out who is the ‘Top.’

Schaeffler’s automotive aftermarket business is to be upgraded to full divisional status following a prolonged period of growth.   Fom 1 January 2018, the Schaeffler Group will comprise of three separate divisions – Automotive OEM, Industrial and the newly-created Automotive Aftermarket (AAM) – which will be run autonomously within Schaeffler from its headquarters in Langen, Germany.   The move has led to the internal appointment of Michael Söding to the board of managing directors, who has been the president of the Automotive Aftermarket business unit since 2009.   As an autonomous division within Schaeffler, AAM will be given more momentum to proceed with necessary improvements and changes faster and more effectively – for the benefit of its customers, including those in the UK.   Schaeffler UK Managing Director, Nigel Morgan, explained why the British AAM organisation will benefit: “We will remain an ambitious and reliable partner to the UK Aftermarket, but this improved position within the Schaeffler group will allow us to become more efficient at developing and delivering our fantastic range of LuK, INA, FAG and Ruville repair solutions, all backed-up by the unrivalled levels of service that our customers have come to expect.”

Springs manufacturer Advanex will be opening a new factory in the Czech Republic next year. The new purpose built 8,500m2 factory will open in August 2018 at CT Park, Prague Airport and will employ up to 60 staff.

London’s new T-Charge came into force today (Monday 23 October 2017).

Government must work to provide a stable environment for growth according to RMI chairman Peter Johnson, speaking at the RMI Annual Dinner in London last night (Thursday 19 October).

HELLA is looking for workshops that have ‘something special’ to feature in the company’s 2019 “Experts At Work” calendar to celebrate the dedication and commitment that technicians make to the industry.

Nicholson’s Stalham Engineering, based in Norfolk , has become the first British business to become a  Euro Repar Car Service Centre.

Three lucky players of the Brembo promotion, Formula Brembo, won flights, accommodation and tickets to watch all the action at Monza in early September. Will Gibson, Jonathan Stafford and Stephen Feasey all won flights, accommodation and tickets to one of the most popular rounds of the world’s biggest motorsport race.

The Parts Alliance, GSF’s parent company, has secured a long-term exclusive Western European distribution agreement to sell the Bendix brand of braking products. The company will initially focus on friction material products.

From May next year, vehicles over 40 years old will no longer need to receive an MOT inspection.

Independent garages are ahead of franchised dealers when it comes to winning customer hearts and minds according to a new survey.
The What Car? Servicing Satisfaction Survey 2017 heard from 8,300 new car customers, and found independents beat franchised dealers when it comes to value for money across servicing work, with an average customer satisfaction score of 89.8% compared to 79.4%.
On newer cars, customers gave independents 84.1% for satisfaction and 91.4% for value. In comparison, franchised outlets, who serviced the majority of younger cars in the survey, attained a customer satisfaction score of 80.9%.
On customer experience, independents scored 94.2% on average for attitude and politeness of staff compared to 91.1% for franchised dealers. Franchised workshops also scored less for the quality of work, with 88.5% of customers satisfied compared to 92.7% of those who used independents.