The Blend 2024 calls for conference speakers
The Blend has extended an invitation for industry insiders to share their insights and expertise by speaking at this years hotly-anticipated independent garage annual conference and networking event. The 2024 event takes place at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 28 September. Building on the success of last years conference, The Blend is eager to inject fresh perspectives by introducing new speakers.
Continue ReadingGarage’s ‘best “employee” works 24/7’
An independent garage in Uckfield, East Sussex has seen a significant rise in new customers and its online bookings double since launching its new website. Uckfield Motor Services says its online strategy is also attracting the work it wants most; the ‘clean’ profitable jobs such as servicing, MOTs, brakes, and clutches. Director Edward Cockill appointed aftermarket website provider, Garage Services Online 12 months ago. He said: “At least 20 per cent of our customers book in their vehicle online via our website, and it’s growing all the time.”
Continue Reading66% of surveyed drivers wouldn’t consider buying an EV – Refused Car Finance
Around two-thirds of non-EV drivers say they will still not be switching to an electric car any time soon. A recent survey conducted by Refused Car Finance shows a number of customers said they would not consider buying an electric car as their next vehicle. Consumers who did not already own an EV were asked whether they would consider an electric car in the future and the vast majority of these surveyed individuals said they would not. Electric cars are heavily promoted to be better for the environment, cheaper to run and improve fuel efficiency but the survey suggests these incentives are not enough for UK drivers to make the switch. The main concerns for this group of drivers were the cost of buying an EV, the mileage capacity of EVs and the availability of charging points in the UK.
Continue ReadingGrowth in the used car market and used electric reaches record levels
“2023 proved to be a healthy year for the used car market, seeing four straight quarters of growth and growth of 5.1 per cent on 2022.”, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), commenting on the latest SMMT’s used car figures. The UK’s used car market has grown by 6.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023, with 1,679,116 transactions. The year as a whole saw transactions up 5.1 per cent from 2022 to 7,242,692 transactions. Used battery electric vehicles (BEVs) saw an impressive 90.9 per cent growth for a 1.6 per cent market share in 2023 whilst plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) experienced 25.1 per cent growth and hybrids (HEVs) increased by 40.0 per cent.
Continue Reading2024 starts off strongly for powered two wheelers, electric adoption remains slow
“With the final months of 2023 signalling a challenging time for motorcycle sales it is promising to see a turnaround as we enter 2024. It is encouraging to see these positive sales when we look at the current economic climate and the impact of the usual winter months.” says Symon Cook, Head of National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA), commenting on the latest MCIA registration figures.
Continue ReadingRing asks “Has price replaced safety in the aftermarket?”
Ring, the automotive lighting and auto electrics supplier, has a state of the art lighting laboratory located at its headquarters in Leeds, UK, and while testing a range of bulbs in the industry has found worrying results, including bulbs that are not road legal. The laboratory team does not only test Ring and OSRAM’s own products, but also products from other automotive lighting companies to see how the quality compares and if it meets the legal standards. Recently, the company has found some worrying trends that there are bulbs being sold in the UK that are not compliant with current legislation and are therefore, not road legal.
Continue ReadingTruck donations allow Transaid to support HGV driver training in Zambia
Two heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) which had previously operated in the UK will help train hundreds of new and existing truck drivers in Zambia, having entered service at the Industrial Training Centre (ITC) in Lusaka, after being donated by supporters of Transaid. This contributes to an ongoing partnership between Transaid and the ITC which aims to improve road safety across the country, having first teamed up in 2008 and together trained more than 22,000 drivers during the 15-year period.
Continue ReadingHoriba Mira secures Euro NCAP accreditation for active safety testing
Horiba Mira proving grounds in Warwickshire has extended its European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) accreditation to conduct official active safety system testing on passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The facility is globally recognised as a leader in vehicle safety engineering, with a long-standing association with Euro NCAP. It has been accredited for passive safety testing since 2012 and is currently supporting the development of the organisation’s new heavy truck rating scheme testing protocols.
Continue ReadingWheely-safe means peace of mind for Timberpak
Timberpak is a recycling and reprocessing company that has sourced waste wood for the EGGER UK’s chipboard production for more than 20 years, operating from four recycling sites in Washington, Leeds, St Albans and Bellshill. Following a successful trial, the company is equipping its vehicles with the Wheely-Safe in-motion wheel loss detection system, which combines brake and hub temperature monitoring with an intelligent tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), to improve the efficiency and safety of its operations.
Continue ReadingUse charging breaks to check electric vehicle tyres – TyreSafe
TyreSafe is encouraging electric vehicle drivers to use charging breaks to conduct vital tyre checks. Charging an EV presents a natural opportunity for using the tyre safety organisations A.C.T acronym, Air, Condition, Tread, to guide drivers through checks that can be done without specialist equipment. By taking just a few minutes to inspect their tyres, drivers can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and breakdowns. EVs, with their greater, instant torque and heavier loads, can mean tyres are susceptible to wear, making regular checks particularly vital. The latest initiative is part of a partnership between TyreSafe and PCL.
Continue ReadingHella Academy launches with IMI ADAS training
Hella has announced the launch of its Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) approved training facility, Hella Academy in Chipping Warden, Banbury. Initially opening with two IMI accredited Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) courses, the brand-new training centre is equipped with a modern classroom and state-of-the-art workshop to blend key theoretical learning with hands-on training. Hella Academy’s ADAS IMI AOM 230 course provides technicians with the insurance approval needed to work on ADAS-equipped vehicles while its ADAS L2 Award covers calibration, vehicle alignment, workshop requirements and more. Both two-day courses are available to book now.
Continue ReadingCar Wash Association comments on right to work offences
Data from the Illegal Immigration Unit at the Home Office showed that 78 hand car washes across the UK had been fined a total of nearly £1.5 million for ‘right to work’ offences in the first nine months of 2023.Brian Madderson, Chairman of the Car Wash Association (CWA), said: “It is disappointing that even in the face of blatant violations of the law, the Government is still unwilling to crack down on illegal hand car wash operators.
Continue ReadingBFGoodrich tech team tune tyres for better response
BFGoodrich’s technical experts have improved the stability and handling of a Ford Ranger deployed by the County Durham and Darlington Fire Service, after tuning the tyre inflation pressures to the precise needs of its BFGoodrich KO2 tyres following comprehensive analysis. The Targeted Response Vehicle was purchased by the fire and rescue service specifically to manage off-road work, including attending non-life threatening incidents. But some concerns about its instability led to a series of tyre tests at Millbrook Proving Ground, which highlighted issues with unpredictable change from significant understeer to oversteer.
Continue ReadingMaxxis extends its CST 4×4 range with RH Claydon
Maxxis Tyres International (UK) Ltd has announced plans to expand the company’s CST-branded 4X4 tyre range of AT, MT, and Extreme products with RH Claydon. According to the company, CST’s Extreme 4x4 Land Dragon tyre, has been growing in popularity since being introduced into the UK market five years ago. With that in mind, officials explain that it was only a matter of time before the AT and MT were added to complete the off-road offering. Furthermore, Maxxis representatives report that CST is “becoming recognised as the tyre of choice, both in the UK and Internationally by the racing community”.
Continue Reading47% rise in garages and MOT centres seeking flexible credit
Demand from automotive workshops for alternative finance is up 47 per cent over the last 12 months, making the sector one of the five fastest-growing alternative funding customers in the UK. Overall, the research conducted by 365 finance reports a 42 per cent year-on-year increase in small-and-medium-sized-enterprise (SME) funding across the country.
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