MOT centres are less likely to need to provide replacement copies of lost MOT certificates for customers going forward, thanks to a new online service that has been launched. It is estimated that businesses made £6 million per year as a result of providing MOT certificate replacement copies

Morris Lubricants brand ambassador, television personality and mechanic Guy Martin will open the Automechanika Birmingham Big UK Garage Event on Tuesday 4 June.

Wendy Williamson, Chief Executive of the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) will be taking to the stage of the Aftermarket Seminar Theatre at Automechanika Birmingham next month in order to discuss the challenges faced by the aftermarket in the digital era.

Automechanika Birmingham has announced that Lord Sebastian Coe will be addressing the Aftermarket Power Network, premiering at Automechanika Birmingham on Tuesday 4th June, in Hall 20, NEC.

A second-hand car dealer based in West Yorkshire has been ordered to pay £53,567 for misleading consumers. The fines were handed down at Leeds Magistrates Court after the company entered guilty pleas relating to six breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations. 

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has published its latest report into consumer facing websites that provide work to independent garages.

Following approval being granted by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK for the takeover of Ring Automotive by Osram, a partnership between the two companies has officially started.

The Parts Alliance’s Spring Garage Essentials catalogue has been released, and features a huge number of new suppliers and exclusive products.

Morris Lubricants has launched a new corporate website. This new online presence has been designed to give a cleaner view, and knits together information that visitors want and need in an easy to read layout that incorporates both text and video content.

Snap-on has been awarded two Queen’s Awards, in the Innovation and International Trade categories respectively. Snap-on is one of a small number of companies to be awarded in multiple categories.

The finalists for Top Technician 2019 have been announced: 

The IAAF has welcomed the news that FIGIEFA, together with other stakeholders, is conducting ‘Proof of Concept’ testing of a ‘Remote Diagnostic’ use case as part of the investigation of the Extended Vehicle (ExVe) concept.

Primalec has established a strategic partnership with the Holland-based Unicorn Tools.

The Parts Alliance’s hosted its first major trade show of 2019 in Leeds recently.

Older cars are set to be pushed off the capital’s  roads thanks to  the Central London  Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which came into force today (Monday 8 April 2019).

The semi finalists for Top Technician 2019 are as follows: Paul Adams; Dean Andrew; Gary Brillus; Adam Critchley; Neil Currie; Craig Hewison; Murdo Macleod; Declan Robinson; Andrew Ruellan; Dave Weston.

Trust My Garage hits TV A TV campaign promoting the Trust My Garage (TMG) Code of Practice is now running.

Ring customers are in with a chance of winning £3,000 worth of prizes, including TVs, iPads, Xboxes and Amazon Echo devices through the company’s Spring Spectacular promotion.

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has welcomed news that apprenticeship starts have started to grow for the first time since the government introduced the Apprenticeship Levy.

The Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association (OESAA) plans to make this year’s Autoinform LIVE training event its most comprehensive to date, with industry experts such as Frank Massey leading informative seminars covering a wide range of topics.

Technicians could soon be able to concentrate on the more complex diagnostic-related jobs the workshop, if a prototype drone technician proves to be as effective as its developers claim.

The Parts Alliance held its first ever National Conference in Manchester last week.

DENSO hosted a trip to Indonesia last month, giving 19 distributors the opportunity to see its production processes up close.

Ben has launched new online support to help automotive industry people who are struggling with depression.

The impact of technology on the garage sector and the changing face of training were just some of the topics covered at the first Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) Industry Briefing of 2019.

East Sussex garage Carcraft MOT and Service Centre Ltd has become a major prize winner in the ongoing ‘Original Experience’ promotion being run by The Parts Alliance.

Visitor registration for Automechanika Birmingham is open. The event will see leading suppliers returning to Birmingham to launch new products and technology for the last time until 2021 as the event will take a biennial frequency after 2019.

Ring has become a supporter of TyreSafe, the UK’s charity dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of correct tyre maintenance and the dangers of defective and illegal tyres. As a supporter, Ring will help spread the key messages of TyreSafe’s campaigns and support the charity in its ongoing awareness raising.

Absolute Alignment  has tripled stock levels over the last three months – in preparation for the UK’s pending Brexit.   

Standard Motor Products Europe (SMPE) has announced investment plans for its UK facility.

The  Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)  has published a new strategy document. Launching last night (Wednesday 6 March)  at the IMI Annual Dinner in London.

TRICO has partnered with Marathon Warehouse Distribution, enabling motor factors to have same-day access to products from the TRICO Flex & Exact Fit ranges. 

Nearly half of UK garages have sourced alternative, UK based suppliers ahead of Brexit on Friday 29March, according to new research.

More than 40% of MOT testers face being suspended from testing if they don’t complete their Annual Training and assessment by 31 March. DVSA figures show that as of 4 March 2019, 24,694 testers still needed to complete the training and assessment. Last year, 5,538 were suspended for failing to do so.

Autofirst Network has joined forces with the RAC in a bid to create the biggest independent garage network in the country.

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) hosted an Electric Vehicle Advisory Group meeting on Tuesday ( 5 February).  The forum with cross-industry experts was designed to begin the process of agreeing appropriate Professional Standards dedicated to protecting technicians working on electric and hybrid vehicles.

TechMan has appointed  sector expert Andy Savva, a.k.a the Garage Inspector, as its Brand Ambassador.

Draper Tools is celebrating 100 years in business. Established in 1919 by Bert Draper, the business is still family owned and run today by the fourth generation of the Draper family.

Automechanika Birmingham is hosting an exhibitor day designed to ensure exhibiting companies leverage as much as possible out of the show and enhance visitor experience.

The Parts Alliance is running a new national garage promotion  through February and March. The ‘Original Experience’ will see The Parts Alliance collaborate with suppliers  Delphi, Comma, MANN-FILTER and NGK.

Increased demand and expanding range of part numbers has seen Apec Braking move to a bigger, brand new Distribution Centre near Filton, Bristol.

Businesses wanting to take part in Top Garage 2019 have until 23.59 on Friday 8 February  to take the round one quiz, or risk missing out on the competition this year.

Servicesure has announced a winner in its recent ‘trip of lifetime’ competition. Thomas Docking from Manchester won after entering via the Servicesure Facebook page.

Euro Car Parts is the latest huge name to lend its support to Top Technician and Top Garage 2019, becoming a sponsor for the two competitions.

This week the government has published its response to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee report ‘Electric vehicles: driving the transition’, and the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), is supporting calls for further development of electric vehicle  skills to protect the safety of technicians.   The IMI has announced today (Monday 21 January) that they will be hosting an Electric Vehicle Advisory Group meeting on Tuesday 5  February at the Head Office in Hertfordshire. Attendees from across the industry will be working together to develop a Professional Standard that will safeguard the UK’s workforce of technicians by ensuring they are well trained and have the skills they need to repair electrified vehicles  safely.   Sales of electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles have seen a sharp increase of 21% since 2017 according to the latest figures from the SMMT. However, just 3.5% of the UK’s 188,500 vehicle technicians are currently qualified with the skills to service and repair the high voltage components of this technology.   Steve Nash, Chief Executive at the IMI, said: “The response to the BEIS Committee report is confirmation that government must work with businesses to help workers develop their skills when it comes to new vehicle technology. There must be more focus on the skills needed if the UK is to become a world-leader in the manufacturing and repairing of electrified vehicles.   Steve added: “By bringing together a committee of experts from across the motor industry to discuss, agree and develop electric vehicle professional standards, we can then provide the appropriate benchmarks and recognition for individuals to work towards, supported by the appropriate quality of training. In doing so we can create the expert, skilled workforce needed to support the next generation of vehicles.”   

Today (21 January) is 2019’s Blue Monday, which is said to be the most depressing day of the year, and Ben is using the occasion as a launch pad for  its new campaign that aims to support people struggling with loneliness.

Andy Savva, The Garage Inspector, has been announced as the Philips Automotive Lighting Brand Ambassador for the UK and Ireland.

This year, for the first time ever, Autoinform Live will be taking place in Ireland. Held at the J&S Training Centre in Co. Cork, 27-28 April 2019, the event will replicate the same format implemented at the Wolverhampton and Edinburgh shows, dividing the timetable into three modules which provide a mix of practical and theoretical sessions to suit all skill levels.

EVs and hybrids rose in popularity during 2018 in what was otherwise a very challenging market for new car sales, according to the latest figures released today (Monday 7 January) by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Techs wanting to take part in Top Technician 2019 have until 23.59 tomorrow (Friday 4 January) to take the round one quiz, or risk missing out on the competition this year.