Ben has unveiled a new website for 2022. The launch comes as demand for support from Ben has reached an all-time high, with the organisation recording a 184% increase in site visitors from October 2021 compared to October 2016.

A Pontefract-based MOT tester who claimed to have performed a MOT test on a van in West Yorkshire when it was actually in Spain has been sentenced to a 12-month community order and banned from testing.

Ongoing demand for BM Catalysts’ output of catalytic converters, DPFs and front pipes across Europe has led the manufacturer to increase its production capacity.

The IGA recently made a of £20,000 donation to Ben on behalf of its members.
IGA Chief Executive Stuart James observed: “As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Ben has seen a huge increase in demand for their life-saving support and services. There has never been a more important time for our industry to come together to help those in need.”

LIQUI MOLY produced 105,000 tonnes of lubricant in 2021, 27% more than during 2020, and it was also the first time the company had passed the 100,000 tonne production milestone in a single year.

Ben has launched a new Iron Man-like event for summer 2022; Beast of Ben. This will see four-person teams from different automotive companies going head-to-head in a series of challenges that include abseiling, water crossing, navigation and problem solving and more.

COVID-19 and the ongoing skills shortage has caused a cascade of problems for garages during 2021, a new survey has shown. Being able to hire enough mechanics and MOT testers was the biggest worry for 67% of garages, a situation compounded by ongoing Coronavirus-related absences, the research from The Motor Ombudsman found.

Dayco UK has teamed up with Partbusters with the company now supplying the full Dayco steering and suspension range. The deal will also potentially ensure that Partbusters is the first to market for Dayco steering and suspension in Europe.

Kalimex, UK distributors of JLM Lubricants was won two awards at the second JLM Lubricants Distributor awards’ ceremony, held recently as a combined digital/live event at the Circuit Zandvoort, home of the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix.

The lack of diversity in the sector, a factor seen as exacerbating the ongoing skills crisis, is being addressed in the first interim report from the IMI Diversity Task Force, which has been published today (Thursday 6 January).

New car sales in 2021 were up 1% on 2020, but still 28.7% down on 2019 showing the ongoing impact of the pandemic on new car sales, in what was the second worst year for new car sales since 1992.

In what is an early Christmas present for mechanics all over the UK, Top Technician 2022 is open from today (Tuesday 14 December).

London has been urged to fast-track its expansion of rapid charge points in the city. According to Zipcar UK’s 2021 Sustainability Report, a major acceleration is vital so London can reach the target set in the Mayor’s 2019 Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Delivery Plan. This estimated that the city needs 4,000 rapid chargers by 2025. At present there are only 500.

In addition, the Report stresses the role car clubs can play in delivering zero emission driving in city centres, and also calls for more policy changes including discounts for car clubs in areas such as the congestion charge, and for parking permit incentives for EV car clubs.

James Taylor, General Manager at Zipcar UK said: “The UK government has set clear targets for stopping the sales of fossil fuelled vehicles by 2030, with a focus on switching to electric vehicles, but there is more that can and needs to be done. We are at a pivotal moment to make urban mobility more responsible, equitable and sustainable.

“Whilst charging infrastructure has improved in the past three years and it is encouraging to see the government set out a commitment to support car clubs to go fully electric, significant further investment is needed in the infrastructure if we are to achieve our vision.”

Gulf Lubricants has a new distributor in the UK and Ireland, Rossmore Lubricants, and the company is looking to get the ball rolling with its new partner before the end of 2021.

With winter upon us, garages and bodyshops are likely to see cars coming through the door that have been in accidents caused by ice, but it might come as a surprise to find out that the area where drivers are most likely to be in such an incident is actually Kent.

Plug-in cars made up 28.1% of the total sold during November according to the latest figures from the SMMT, which saw overall registrations up 1.7% on the same month in 2020, which also brought four months of continuously falling sales to an end.

The ratio of vehicle chargepoints to plug-in cars dropped by 31% during 2020, according to a new study from the SMMT, and the organisation is calling for charging infrastructure targets to match the growth in the sales of these vehicles, which now account for one in six new cars sold.

NGK’s top sales performers of 2019 and 2020 saw their achievements recognised at the company’s recent mid-year conference.

TPS is set to offer Vehicle Vision’s Aftersales service camera software to its 2,000 independent garage customers.

An efficiency ranking standard for EVs available in the UK has been launched by Electrifying.com: The E-Rating.

Legislating for the Installation EV charge-points on all new homes and other buildings is only half-a-step, EV battery warranty provider Altelium has warned, as drivers need to be taught how to charge them properly to avoid damaging the batteries too.

A collaboration between Castrol and Bosch Automotive Aftermarket, where they recommend each other’s products and services in their respective garage networks, has been brought to the UK .

TRICO is running a Christmas-themed scratchcard competition through seven of its UK distributors, with every single TRICO wiper blade purchased providing a chance to win.

Recently launched booking platform GaragesNear.me is waiving its 10% commission fee until at least the beginning of 2022, making it free to use for garages for the foreseeable future.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.”