Ben is to undertake its first ever Big Breakfast fundraiser in October. The event runs for a week, starting on Monday 4 October and ending on World Mental Health Day on Sunday 10 October.

Garages and all other businesses still using the furlough scheme have since yesterday (Sunday 1 August) been required to make larger contributions towards paying their staff.

A MOT surge in the Autumn will be a fact of life for at least a decade, according to a new analysis of the relevant data performed by Continental Tyres.

11% of drivers planning to change their car expect its replacement to be fully electric, up from 8% in 2020 according to new research. When including hybrids, the research from Kwik Fit shows that the number looking for a low emission vehicle next time rises to 37%, a up from from 33% a year ago.

LKQ Euro Car Parts has called on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to urgently clarify its plans for what will replace the EU’s Motor Vehicle Block Exemptions (MVBER), which expire in 2023. While the European Commission is consulting industry within the EU, LKQ Euro Car Parts says the CMA is yet to properly engage with the issue in the UK.

With 618,903 people in England and Wales instructed to self-isolate in just one week up to 14 July, the automotive sector will not be immune from the impact the NHS COVID-19 app is having on the wider society.

Staffing levels in garages over the summer could hit critically low levels, with the number of people being instructed to self-isolate through the NHS COVID-19 app rising rapidly.

VARTA has said that the inevitable positive outcome of joining the Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association (OESAA) in 2019 made the decision “a no-brainer.”

One of the semi-finalists in this year’s Top Technician competition has been named as Kia’s world champion EV technician, winning the Gold Medal in the Kia EV Skill World Cup 2021, beating rivals from 14 other countries while also hopefully putting him in good stead for this year’s TT diagnostic smackdown.

75% of the 200 companies exhibiting at this year’s Automechanika Frankfurt Digital Plus will have physical stands at the showground, the organisers have revealed.

TechMan is giving away a free 12-month subscription of its garage management system as part of a prize package worth more than £1,200.

Banner has introduced a new 50 Ah Running Bull AGM, a starter battery compatible with models including as the Suzuki Swift/Splash, Vauxhall Adam, Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic. Meanwhile, in what is a European aftermarket first for Banner, the Running Bull AGM 55001 part number is currently installed in the BWM i8 as a back-up.

Commenting on the development, Banner Batteries Country Manager Lee Quinney said: “The importance of AGM and EFB battery technology continues to gain momentum in the UK aftermarket and we are confident that the new Running Bull part number will help consolidate Banner’s position within what is an increasingly important sector. The new-to-range AGM not only exemplifies Banner’s standing as a complete solutions provider, it once again reflects Banner’s prominent reputation within the OE arena.”

In addition, Banner is continuing to promote its VRM battery application guide, available from www.bannerbatteryfinder.co.uk

New car sales were up 28% in June, with 186,128 sold during the month according to the latest figures from the SMMT, although the ongoing impact of the pandemic is still being felt, as well as the the global semiconductor shortage which is limiting supply.

The EV market in the UK got a major boost this week, with Nissan’s revealing it will build its new EV at its plant in Sunderland, with a battery plant in the plan too.

Garages should see overall work levels settle towards pre-pandemic levels as new research shows weekend traffic levels above pre-Coronavirus levels, while weekday traffic remains lightly below where it was previously.

Garages and all other businesses still accessing the furlough scheme to pay staff are required to begin contributing from today (Thursday 1 July).

The pandemic has helped turn van servicing, maintenance and repairs into a serious growth area, and garages should not pass up on the opportunity, according to LKQ Euro Car Parts

North-West recyclers BIG ATOM recently processed its one millionth tyre in just three years in its first step towards a fully sustainable operation.

The IAAF Annual Conference will be virtual again this year, the industry and country continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Federation’s Annual Dinner currently set to return in December 2022.

46% of those, who do not currently own a EV or hybrid would consider buying one in the next five years, a survey has suggested.

The IGA is offering subsidised Hybrid/EV Level 3 training to its members with a view to helping address the shortage of EV-trained technicians in the sector.

The IAAF has teamed up with a pan-continental coalition representing the automotive aftermarket in Europe, including FIGIEFA, which is calling on the EU to accept a proposal for a Secure On-board Telematics Platform (S-OTP), allowing access for independent service providers when legislating on access to in-vehicle data.

Samantha Anscombe, a Parts Advisor at Sytner and one of the winners at the Autocar’s Great Women Rising Stars awards has become the first Ambassador for Drive My Career, the employment initiative developed by the NFDA to help dealers attract and retain candidates.
Samantha started as an apprentice with Sytner in 2017 and won Mercedes-Benz’s apprentice of the year in 2020. She has also just started a university degree course in psychology and counselling.

Commenting on her new Ambassador role, Samantha said: “I am beyond grateful for the opportunity Drive My Career has offered me. Being an Ambassador of something I am so passionate about is very exciting, I cannot wait to learn more about how the other side of this industry works and I look forward to starting to collaborate with the team”.

The Coronavirus pandemic is still impacting on UK car production, with overall numbers still down compared to 2019 as component shortages persist. Despite this, May saw the number of cars rolling out off the line shoot right up, with EVs and hybrids making up more of the total.

Data Refresh, a new service which ensures customer information is up-to-date, has been added to the TechMan garage management system

LKQ Euro Car Parts has by taken its Starline brand into electrics and wiper blades.
The expansion means there is now a wide range of Starline electrical components – as the HAAS range is effectively re-branded – including ignition coils, EGR valves and engine sensors, for most of the UK car parc. Meanwhile, they can also choose from Starline’s new range of flat and universal wiper blades.

There are still a few days left to enter Liqui Moly’s MotoGP ticket giveaway, which closes on Wednesday 30 June.

Could garages could soon see a spike in families looking for servicing and repairs on older cars bought for new drivers?

NGK Spark Plugs has committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and as part of that, is working on a solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) initiative.

BM Catalysts has become am affiliated member of the Westminster Commission for Road Air Quality (WCRAQ), set-up to improve air quality in the UK.

Motorists may be more aware of their tyres than you might think, according to a new survey that found 77% would personally check or have someone else in their household check their cars tyres before using it to go on holiday.

TRICO is to donate £1 of every wiper blade sale through A1 Motor Stores to a charity that hosts driving days for disabled people. Speed Of Sight is based in Bolton and run by blind race car driver and multiple World Record holder, Mike Newman and his co-founder, John Galloway. TRICO is the headline sponsor for the charity, which hosts driving experiences for children and adults with disabilities

NGK has launched a new mobile App for its BoxClever loyalty scheme enabling users to check their points balance, browse the gift range, redeem points and win prizes.

Snap-on has updated the Fast-Track Intelligent Diagnostics tool matcher feature on its website with the addition of the new APOLLO-D integrated diagnostics system.

Motul has added Worcester-based Nemesis as its newest distributor.

In a collaboration supported by Kalimex, bestselling marketing author Dee Blick is working with Darren Darling, founder of The DPF Doctor Network, to provide marketing knowhow to his members.

With a Summer of European International Football ahead of us, Lumileds - who are licensed to manufacture and market Philips Automotive Lighting products - are launching a football skills competition where the best entries will win Tournament Footballs.

The ongoing impact of 2020’s MOT exemption had been laid bare in a survey that found that 74% of garages saw their business decrease in April 2021.

LKQ Euro Car Parts has outlined the five key areas of vehicle health that garages should be focusing on this Summer:.

Automotive public relations and marketing agency Chicane has won an industry award.

TechMan has a released a new video to demonstrate how its GMS enables garages to book in customers in less than a minute.

The 100th garage has signed up to Garage Buying Group (GBG) seven weeks after launching.

Automechanika Birmingham is moving its next show to June 2023, with an interim specialist national garage and bodyshop event scheduled for 2022.

Just 6.5% of the automotive sector workforce was EV-qualified at the end of 2020 according to analysis by the IMI, despite the growing popularity of electric vehicles.

75% of motorists said their attitude and interest in the idea of a staycation has increased due to COVID-19, according to new research.

Parking up an EV that is on a 70%-80% state of charge, (SoC) causes the greatest damage to the Lithium-ion (Li-ion) and temperature plays a vital role as well, according to new research.

New car sales in May were up 674.1% on the same month in 2020, but were 14.7% down on May 2019’s total and 13.2% down on the 10-year average, the latest figures from the SMMT show.

LKQ Euro Car Parts Fit It For Me programme, which enables garages to capture work from consumers intent on buying their own parts, has sent over 21,000 jobs into garages since launching during 2020.

EV drivers are travelling 370 miles further per year than internal combustion engine (ICE) motorists according to a new research from Nissan, ahead of World Environment Day on Saturday (5 June).

Motul, Witham Motorsport and Great British Sportscars are keeping open the entry deadline for the livery design competition of the Motul-Edition GBS Zero throughout half term week, in order to give families the chance to submit designs for the exciting hand-built sports car.

Motul UK Country Manager Callum Goodland commented: “We been impressed by the standard of entries that we have received, so far for the livery competition, with some good creative thinking evident. However, we really want to encourage families with kids still at school, to enter the competition, so we hope that, by keeping the competition open during half term week, it will give people the chance to spend a few hours having a crack at putting a design together.”

The competition is split into two age categories - over and under 16 years old. The overall winner will see their design used on the prototype Motul-Edition GBS Zero, but each category winner will receive a host of Motul goodies and, together with their families, will get to go behind-the-scenes with Motul as the company’s guests at the reveal of the car during The Classic at Silverstone, which takes place 30 July – 1 August.