The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in Ireland has issued a warning to the motor industry following reports that consumers are being discouraged from using independent garages for servicing and repairs.
National breakdown provider Green Flag is enhancing its roadside capabilities by rolling out Hella Gutmann’s new mega macs S 20 diagnostic tool across its owned fleet of patrol vehicles. Compact, powerful and easy to use, the S 20 supports Diagnostics over Internet Protocol (DoIP), CAN-FD, and offers built-in access to vehicle manufacturer security gateways – crucial for working on today’s cyber-secure vehicles.
Cheltenham-based independent garage Cleevely Motors will host its first IMI-accredited training course on February 18-19, 2025. The course, held in partnership with Cotswold Diagnostics, is designed to equip vehicle technicians with IMI Level 2 and Level 3 electric vehicle (EV) qualifications.
The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) has expressed concerns over the delays drivers in Northern Ireland are facing in getting MOT tests. The region has been in an MOT crisis since 2020, when hairline cracks were found in the Driver and Vehicle Agency’s 55 Maha lifts, found to be caused by excessively long service cycles, as Tyrepress reported in 2021. These issues were compounded by the Covid pandemic, and a satisfactory resolution has yet to be found. Sue Robinson, chief executive of the NFDA said the current state of MOT testing in Northern Ireland is “unacceptable”.
According to research conducted by Opinium for Halfords, 54 per cent of motorists are wrongly told they must get their vehicle serviced at a dealership to protect their warranty. The truth is that, under UK law, motorists can get their vehicles serviced anywhere from the moment they drive off the forecourt.
On Saturday 16 September Cleevely Electric Vehicles (EV) hosted a successful first event for garages eager to find out more about electric vehicle opportunities. Nine garage staff attended an informal action-packed day with Cleevely EV Managing Director Matt Cleevely and top technical trainer Alistair Finch, investigating the equipment, space and business planning needed to successfully integrate EV service and repair into their independent garage businesses.
ATS Euromaster has experienced a significant increase in the volume of SMR work it is now completing, with work on brake changes up 27%, commercial vehicle servicing up 41% and the number of MOTs completed increasing by 8%. The tyre and maintenance provider believes a combination of factors is behind the increased SMR workload, and in response, it is hiring new staff and further training the existing ATS workforce.
ATS Euromaster says it has seen a significant 216 per cent uplift in the requirement for Class 7 MOTs compared with 2020 as fleet managers adapt to longer commercial vehicle life cycles. With the squeeze on new commercial vehicle availability as a result of the war in Ukraine combined with the shortage of semiconductors since 2020, fleet managers have been adapting fleet lifecycles by making their vans work longer before replacement. The Association of Fleet Professionals recently reported that its members were seeing extensions that ranged five to eight years before replacement. As a result, fleet managers are needing to adapt their management of Service, Maintenance and Repair spend and manage MOT requirements.
Fuel prices are prompting many a motorist to think twice before getting behind the wheel, and to accommodate the growing numbers who are swapping internal combustion for pedal power, Kwik Fit is introducing servicing and repair options for bicycle owners, including an MoT of sorts, in partnership with Fettle.
Pro-Align’s Quick Tread Edge has joined the Quick Check Drive in offering garages the opportunity to identify servicing opportunities with great speed and efficiency, while also offering a customer-friendly interface designed to support businesses’ relationship with their customers. The exclusive distributor of Hunter garage equipment also explains how electric vehicles are increasing the need for accurate and efficient wheel balancers.
With record temperatures across the UK, demand for air conditioning servicing has boomed. During repair work, or changing the air compressor, it’s crucial that the air conditioning system is cleaned out, as harmful substances and solids can form in the refrigerant circuit, leading to component damage. In its latest technical messenger bulletin, Mahle offers six key prompts to clean the system and avoid consequential damage.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have become vital for a car’s safety and form a critical part of EuroNCAP’s star safety rating system. But to ensure ADAS items continue to work correctly they need to be recalibrated after remedial work. With that in mind, tyre service and maintenance provider ATS Euromaster is advising fleets to consider recalibration work in any SMR undertaken on a vehicle that might affect the proper functioning of the affected safety system.
After recently selecting Bridgestone as exclusive tyre partner for its upcoming Ocean all-electric SUV, Fisker Inc. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that covers Bridgestone’s provision of comprehensive aftersales and related maintenance solutions, beginning in France and Germany. Bridgestone will leverage its retail and service network to provide aftersales services to Fisker customers in these countries through the Speedy, Pitstop and Reiff-ABS networks.
Recent data released by the DVLA and Department for Transport (DfT) has illustrated that the UK car parc is older than it has ever been. Older cars are undoubtedly popular, and as a result aftermarket support will be required for these vehicles long into the future.
A third of UK motorists (32%) have put off getting their car serviced because COVID-19 financial pressure, according to BookMyGarage.com.
BookMyGarage surveyed 10,000 of its subscribers and found that, in addition, a similar number (29%) of drivers delayed servicing procedures simply because their car had covered far fewer miles during lockdown.
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