News
Comline creates aftermarket-themed Red Nose Day competition
Date: Thursday 18 March 2021
Comline is pleased to announce the launch of a social media campaign that will run from Friday 19th March to Friday 26th March, in aid of Red Nose Day. Participants who correctly identify the part ado…
The end of an era at Schaeffler (UK) Ltd as long-serving MD retires
Date: Tuesday 16 March 2021
Nigel Morgan, Managing Director of Schaeffler’s Automotive Aftermarket division in the UK, has decided to step aside after more than 40 years continual service with the company. Nigel’s rise to afterm…
HELLA opens new development centre in Romania
Date: Tuesday 16 March 2021
The internationally positioned automotive supplier HELLA is further expanding its software and electronics activities, with a new test and development centre at its Craiova site in Romania. The compan…
LIQUI MOLY alongside Betamotor at the MXGP Motocross World Championship
Date: Thursday 11 March 2021
When the Italian manufacturer of enduro and trial bikes participates in the MXGP Motocross World Championship for the first time with a factory team, a long-standing partner will be at their side: LIQ…
A1 Motor Stores joins IAAF
Date: Thursday 11 March 2021
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has welcomed another new member for 2021, A1 Motor Stores, to its growing membership. Formed in 1983, A1 Motor Stores has developed in to one o…
EAG celebrates two years trading!
Date: Thursday 11 March 2021
Excel Automotive Group (EAG) was acquired by Tony Bhogal with Adrian Lamb at the end of March 2019 and has gone from strength to strength. During the last two years, one of which was marred by a globa…
Banner steps back in time
Date: Thursday 11 March 2021
Banner has entered 2021 in vintage mode having unveiled what is quite simply a ‘blast from the past’. In true retro style, the leading European manufacturer of batteries and battery accessories has pr…
VARTA Batteries Partner with Diagnostics Expert Steve Scott to bring battery education to the independent garage
Date: Thursday 11 March 2021
The battery experts at VARTA have teamed up with the successful diagnostics online platform Simply Diagnostics to enhance customers’ access to battery information and support the UK workshops to grow …
ZF Aftermarket makes its Internet portal an essential tool for workshops
Date: Thursday 11 March 2021
ZF has completely revised its aftermarket portal and added numerous new functions. The website aftermarket.zf.com is used to make contact with all market participants from automotive workshops to whol…
LKQ Euro Car Parts launches e-learning suite as part of digitalisation drive
Date: Thursday 11 March 2021
The UK’s leading supplier of car and van parts has enhanced its training offering for garages, with the addition of a new e-learning suite. The e-learning courses from LKQ Euro Car Parts’ AutoEducatio…
Volkswagen is accelerating transformation into software-driven mobility provider
Date: Wednesday 10 March 2021
Volkswagen is accelerating its transformation into a software-driven mobility provider. By rolling out the ACCELERATE strategy that it has just unveiled, the company will systematically prepare for th…
Budget 2021: COVID-19 Support
Date: Wednesday 10 March 2021
In his speech last week, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced extensions to a number of current COVID-19 schemes, alongside additional support for individuals and businesses, as the UK continues …
SME Toolkit: Trading with the EU and Northern Ireland
Date: Wednesday 10 March 2021
A new summary of actions SMEs may need to take to trade with the EU produced by BEIS is now available. The document provides an overview of actions to take, outlines support, helplines and resources t…
TechMan support team eases switchover angst for multi-site garage owner
Date: Wednesday 10 March 2021
The owner of a midlands-based fleet servicing specialist whose business development was being held back by an unsuitable Garage Management System has spoken out about why he waited two years before sw…
Mintex-sponsored Steve Brown returns to British Rallycross Championship tour in 2021
Date: Wednesday 10 March 2021
After a successful debut season in the British Rallycross Championship in 2019, Mintex-sponsored Steve Brown will once again swap the rally stages for circuits as he makes a return to the popular BMW …
AAG acquires Uckfield motor factor
Date: Wednesday 10 March 2021
Alliance Automotive Group UK has announced that it has recently completed the acquisition of EBC Motor Factors Ltd; an existing member of the UAN buying group. The business is a two branch LV business…
NGK appoints new UK managing director
Date: Wednesday 10 March 2021
NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd has appointed Marko Wowczyna UK managing director, effective April 1, 2021. He replaces Tammy Suzuki who NGK says has returned to Japan after four years at the helm. Mr Wowczy…
Government acts to break charging monopoly at motorway services
Date: Wednesday 10 March 2021
The government is to act to break the monopoly on electric car charging at motorway services and will use legislation to ensure the points are reliable and can be accessed by anyone with a contactless…
Workshop customers take centre stage in the latest Schaeffler REPXPERT ‘Tea-break training’
Date: Wednesday 10 March 2021
Taking a pause from the usual, technically oriented training, Schaeffler’s REPXPERT team were joined by ‘The Garage Inspector’, Andy Savva, to present a more workshop customer focused ‘Tea-break train…
Women of the Automotive Aftermarket celebrated
Date: Monday 08 March 2021
The theme for International Women's Day this year is Choose to Challenge, with the campaign encouraging individuals to challenge any form of inequality in order to drive change. Many women are thrivin…
The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates increases
Date: Monday 08 March 2021
The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates will increase on 1 April. In addition to the new rates, the age from which workers become eligible for the National Living Wage will be lowered…
Number of privately licensed battery electric vehicles in the UK rises 53% in a year
Date: Monday 08 March 2021
The number of battery electric vehicles (‘BEVs’) in private hands in the UK rose by nearly 30,000 in the 12 months to September 2020, an increase of 53% on the year before, with more than a third of t…
Closing the gender talent gap - Autotech Group CEO joins Automotive 30% Club
Date: Monday 08 March 2021
Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the Autotech Group is delighted to announce that its CEO, Gavin White, has joined forces with automotive industry MDs and CEOs to become the latest member of…
DVSA launches SAFE campaign
Date: Friday 05 March 2021
The DVSA has today launched its SAFE campaign. It has been a tough year and as a result of the MOT exemptions issued to keep people safe through the pandemic, the DVSA is aware that this has introduce…
DVSA releases MOT testing figures to end of February 2021
Date: Friday 05 March 2021
Following on from previous forecast figures, the DVSA has now produced the final figures for February 2021 and forecasts for both March and April 2021, broken down by postcode, to help understand how …
IAAF comments on Budget
Date: Friday 05 March 2021
The IAAF commented on the Budget that “The extension to the furlough scheme and increased access to grants and support is welcome. It gives aftermarket businesses more breathing room following a very …
How to get your car ready for spring
Date: Friday 05 March 2021
Spring is on the way and drivers are coming to the garage to get their cars ready for the warmer season. TecAlliance, one of the leading data management specialists in the independent automotive after…
Travelling to Europe for work? Business Travel: An explainer document
Date: Thursday 04 March 2021
A short explainer document has been produced by BEIS to help companies understand the new rules that are in place for business travel to Europe for work. These rules apply if a person is travelling fo…
HMRC Transition update: moving goods between the UK and EU - webinars
Date: Thursday 04 March 2021
Companies moving goods between the UK and countries in the EU, will need to follow new customs and tax rules and HMRC has produced a series of webinars to help companies. Your business will be affecte…
FIGIEFA to form new working group on telematics
Date: Thursday 04 March 2021
We are pleased to inform you that FIGIEFA are in the process of setting up a working group on telematics and are looking for IAAF members with the relevant experience and expertise to participate. The…
Breakout for Ben raises £159k on the road to £1million
Date: Thursday 04 March 2021
Automotive charity, Ben, has announced that its 10-day virtual active challenge, Breakout for Ben, has raised just under £159,000 - an amazing total that will help address its £1million fundraising sh…
Government confirms introduction of E10 petrol in September (1)
Date: Thursday 04 March 2021
The DfT has confirmed that, following the consultation carried out into E10 petrol, the fuel will be introduced into UK forecourts with effect from September 2021. The DfT received 208 responses to th…
Budget: Lasting scars from pandemic will be skills gaps, meaning apprenticeship incentive key, says LKQ Euro Car Parts
Date: Thursday 04 March 2021
Andy Hamilton, CEO of LKQ Euro Car Parts, said: “Today’s Budget has given the independent aftermarket some reasons to be cheerful after a long and tough year. The extension of furlough until September…
Yuasa back British Rally Champion Matt Edwards as he contends for third BRC title in all-new Volkswagen Polo
Date: Thursday 04 March 2021
Reigning champion Edwards will challenge for a third successive BRC title with the continued support of Yuasa for the upcoming season. Furthermore, Welshman Matt has joined Melvyn Evans Motorsport and…
2021 Commercial Vehicle Show new dates — 31st August-2nd September 2021
Date: Wednesday 03 March 2021
The UK’s largest and most important road transport event revises dates for 2021 Show. Following the government’s recent announcement of a roadmap out of lockdown, The Commercial Vehicle Show LLP has t…
Range and Quality Attracts Premier Auto Parts to NAPA
Date: Wednesday 03 March 2021
Rob Gould, managing director of Cork-based Premier Auto Parts, talks about why NAPA products have become such an integral part of the business in a short time. Based in Cork and with seven further dep…
All pure electric Volvo models to be available online only
Date: Wednesday 03 March 2021
Volvo Cars is fundamentally changing how and where to meet its customers, and will transform the current wholesale model by moving online and with strong customer relationships. It aims to be a fully …
GS Yuasa Academy graduates become fully-fledged members of the IMI
Date: Wednesday 03 March 2021
The first GS Yuasa Academy graduates are beginning to receive IMI membership and certification as the battery training platform continues to go from strength to strength. Since its launch in 2019, the…
IMI response to Roadmap to Recovery
Date: Wednesday 03 March 2021
Steve Nash, CEO of the Institute of the Motor Industry responds to the Government’s four stage roadmap to recovery: “It is welcome news that education, quite rightly, is given priority in being the f…
MAM solutions help Automotive Supplies deal with upswing in sales
Date: Wednesday 03 March 2021
Automotive Supplies, a single-site motor factor based in Derry, has experienced an increase in business over the past year - and MAM Software solutions have helped facilitate this growth. Since implem…
Banner secures €60m North American battery order
Date: Wednesday 03 March 2021
Banner – Europe’s leading manufacturer of batteries and battery accessories – has entered 2021 on a high having secured a lucrative order that will see the company supply 1.5 million lead acid batteri…
Government confirms introdcution of E10 petrol in September
Date: Wednesday 03 March 2021
The DfT has confirmed that, following the consultation carried out into E10 petrol, the fuel will be introduced into UK forecourts with effect from September 2021. The DfT received 208 responses to th…
Autotech Recruit drives up efficiency amongst contractors with technical data app
Date: Wednesday 03 March 2021
Autotech Recruit has invested in technology which will equip its contractor network of temporary vehicle technicians and MOT testers with vital data on every vehicle on the road - at the touch of a bu…
ECOBAT’s Steve Sheppard retires
Date: Friday 26 February 2021
After more than 20 years with ECOBAT Battery Technologies (ECOBAT), Managing Director (MD), Steve Sheppard, has stepped down from his position, six years after his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Steve joined …
Search begins for Williamson successor
Date: Thursday 25 February 2021
With the news that IAAF Chief Executive, Wendy Williamson, is retiring this year, the search has begun for her successor. The role of the IAAF chief executive is an extremely varied one and the succes…
BEIS update on free flow of data between the EU and the UK
Date: Thursday 25 February 2021
The UK government has welcomed the European Commission's draft data adequacy decision which recognises the UK’s high data protections standards and set out that the UK’s standards are ‘adequate’. Posi…
Ben: Support for life - depression
Date: Thursday 25 February 2021
Ben has recently seen a rise in the number of people looking for help with depression, which isn’t surprising as it’s been reported that the number of adults experiencing depression has almost doubled…
LKQ Euro Car Parts launches campaign to help garages maximise revenue generation through SMR
Date: Thursday 25 February 2021
As part of its ongoing support programme for the independent aftermarket, LKQ Euro Car Parts has launched a new campaign to help garages enhance their service, maintenance and repair (SMR) offering an…
New EV-dismantling facility helps SYNETIQ to enhance sustainable motoring solutions
Date: Thursday 25 February 2021
A multimillion-pound investment by SYNETIQ, Britain’s largest integrated salvage and recycling company, will ready its Winsford site into the UK’s first facility with dedicated EV and Hybrid dismantli…
EV charging strategy for Wales
Date: Thursday 25 February 2021
A Welsh Government Consultation seeking to gather views on the draft strategy for electric vehicle charging in Wales has been responded to by the Federation of Small Business (FSB) lobbying on behalf …
In this section
Membership of IAAF brings about some excellent networking opportunities and we work closely with the association to ensure the work it does is known throughout the supply chain
Steve Dunn
Exol Lubricants