News
HMRC COVID-19 Support
Date: Thursday 01 October 2020
Changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme that came into effect on 1 October mean that employers will need to fund 20% of furloughed employees’ usual wages for the hours they do not work and con…
COVID-19 Protective Measures: Automotive Aftermarket Sector Industry Guidance and Best Practice
Date: Friday 25 September 2020
The third edition of this guidance has just been issued with updates on the wearing of face coverings in customer-facing settings. During this unprecedented time, companies of all sizes are being chal…
Packed bitesize briefing offers valuable insights
Date: Friday 25 September 2020
IAAF members enjoyed a packed Bitesize briefing session via Zoom this week as they heard more about DVSA activity, IAAF’s continuing work in championing the aftermarket and the challenges that lie ahe…
Warning about seriously defective aftermarket lorry brake drums
Date: Thursday 24 September 2020
The DVSA is warning operators about seriously defective aftermarket brake drums that may be fitted to Scania P400 lorries within their fleet. The DVSA is aware of 2 cases where aftermarket drums, whic…
Sales ban on new internal combustion engine cars to be brought forward to 2030
Date: Thursday 24 September 2020
The sales ban of all new cars with an internal combustion engine, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, could now be banned from as early as 2030 according to new reports. Prime Minister Boris J…
DVSA COVID-19: update
Date: Thursday 24 September 2020
The UK Government has announced that new measures will be introduced on 24 September to limit the spread of coronavirus. What this means for DVSA services Currently the new restrictions do not affect …
Prepare for the end of the transition period: advice from the Dept. for International Trade
Date: Thursday 24 September 2020
The UK has left the EU and will leave the EU Single Market and Customs Union at the end of the year. With only 100 days until the end of the transition period, businesses should take action now to sta…
Retail and ecommerce expert joins industry panel for latest webinar on aftermarket digitalisation
Date: Thursday 24 September 2020
Andrew Rowson, Co-founder and Head of Services at ecommotors is joining the panel at the next free-to-attend session of the Automotive Aftermarket Webinar Series, ‘Digitalisation; Accelerating the rec…
Britain's cars are older than ever, despite boom in EVs and hybrids
Date: Thursday 24 September 2020
Britain's car parc is older than ever before despite the efforts of policymakers and environmentalists to get us behind the wheel of modern, fuel-efficient models and zero-emissions vehicles, accordin…
Do you want your brand to get noticed?
Date: Friday 18 September 2020
Ad Bell Group’s, AdB team can help. The team has considerable expertise in retail, office and commercial signage, making sure they advise of all the options available whilst listening to your ideas an…
Ring waves farewell to Managing Director
Date: Thursday 17 September 2020
After a dedicated 35 years of working at the company, and with 17 years as Managing Director, George Skalski has retired from his position at Ring. George saw many changes throughout his time at Ring …
HELLA Aftermarket and Special Applications under new management
Date: Thursday 17 September 2020
Stefan van Dalen (pictured above) and Christoph Söhnchen (pictured below) have taken over responsibility for the Aftermarket and Special Applications business segments respectively at international au…
LCV market drops by -16.1% as businesses wait for plate change
Date: Thursday 17 September 2020
The UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market returned to decline with a -16.1% decrease in demand, according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)…
HMRC webinars: Changes to the Job Retention Scheme
Date: Wednesday 16 September 2020
Changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme from 1 September mean that employers will need to fund 10% of furloughed employees’ usual wages for the hours they do not work and continue to pay their…
EU and UK automotive leaders unite to call for urgent agreement of an ambitious free trade deal
Date: Wednesday 16 September 2020
European automotive industry leaders have joined forces to call for the EU and UK to secure an ambitious free trade agreement (FTA) without further delay. Negotiators on both sides must now pull out a…
Preparing for retirement: advice from Ben
Date: Wednesday 16 September 2020
More people in the UK are saving into a pension scheme than ever before, thanks to the introduction of auto enrolment in 2012. But, did you know that up to 35% of UK adults still don’t have a pension?…
New, ambitious aftermarket distributor joins IAAF
Date: Wednesday 16 September 2020
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has welcomed recently formed independent motor factor, ASAP Auto Spares and Parts, to its membership. Trading since September 2018, ASAP has br…
Three steps to prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period
Date: Friday 11 September 2020
The UK has left the EU and will leave the Single Market and Customs Union at the end of the year. Businesses should take action now to start preparing for new trading rules which will come into effect…
Do you insure your trade credit risks against non-payment?
Date: Friday 11 September 2020
FinCred IS offer advice and expertise to IAAF members on trade credit risks. As an independent trade credit insurance broker, FinCred IS have developed three trade credit insurance solutions exclusive…
Second FIGIEFA European-wide questionnaire on the impact of COVID-19
Date: Friday 11 September 2020
The COVID-19 has proven to be disruptive for many sectors, including the independent automotive aftermarket in general and spare parts distribution in particular. The European Commission is generally …
IAAF teams up with aftermarket professional Adrian Botham of Servispart Consulting to deliver Aftermarket Growth Study report FOC to IAAF members
Date: Thursday 10 September 2020
IAAF members are being invited to participate in some new research designed to answer three leading questions: • What do the fastest growing aftermarket companies do differently?• What is driving thei…
LKQ Europe Welcomes Andras Lorincz as CEO for the Company’s Central and Eastern European Business
Date: Thursday 10 September 2020
In November 2020, Andras Lorincz will join LKQ Europe bringing in-depth regional and global industry experience with him. Based in Prague, Czech Republic, Andras Lorincz will become CEO of LKQ Europe’…
10 tips for the automotive aftermarket to win on social media! (you must be prepared to take risks)
Date: Thursday 10 September 2020
Businesses in the automotive aftermarket have flocked to social media since the coronavirus pandemic. Mark Field of Impression Communications wrote in a previous blog that garages, motor factors and s…
IAAF warns of ‘rise of counterfeit parts’ in new government report
Date: Friday 04 September 2020
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has warned that the coronavirus pandemic could contribute to a rise of counterfeit car parts entering the UK automotive industry in the latest …
New technical director at FIGIEFA
Date: Thursday 03 September 2020
FIGIEFA has announced that, after ten successful years in the role, Neil Pattemore (see below speaking at the IAAF Conference) has retired from his consultancy work for FIGIEFA as of 31st of August in…
European vehicle emissions standards – Euro 7 for cars, vans, lorries and buses
Date: Thursday 03 September 2020
The European Commission has commenced its consultation period on the new Euro 7 vehicle emissions standards for cars, vans, lorries and buses. All stakeholders are welcome to contribute. The particula…
Adapting to a post COVID automotive aftermarket
Date: Thursday 03 September 2020
If nothing else the coronavirus pandemic has underlined the importance of personal mobility for key workers and members of the public alike. Ensuring safe and reliable transport has meant that UK auto…
Sponsor Link: Impression
Date: Friday 28 August 2020
Impression solves a number of problems for businesses by increasing brand and company awareness, increasing leads and sales, and ensuring they are leading, as well as participating, in discussions rel…
DVSA staff to wear ‘bodycams’ during garage visits
Date: Thursday 27 August 2020
The DVSA is to roll out body-worn cameras to reduce physical and verbal assaults to all its frontline enforcement staff. The cameras, which are being rolled out across the country, will be worn by DVS…
Coping with grief: Support available from Ben
Date: Thursday 27 August 2020
In the lead up to National Grief Awareness Day this coming Sunday, Ben is sharing advice on how people can look after themselves and others during a bereavement, which, whether expected or a complete …
Daimler loses ruling in German patent dispute with Nokia
Date: Thursday 20 August 2020
Nokia Oyj has won a court ruling in a patent dispute with Daimler, giving the Finnish company leverage in a long-running fight over mobile technology in vehicles. Daimler, owner of the Mercedes-Benz b…
UK government announces Automated Lane Keeping System call for evidence
Date: Thursday 20 August 2020
The UK is taking steps forward in automated technology in vehicles with the launch of a call for evidence on 18 August 2020 to help shape how innovative new systems could be used in future on GB roads…
New type approval legislation gets go ahead in UK
Date: Thursday 20 August 2020
One of the key pieces of legislation that the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has lobbied for over the past few years has been Type Approval Regulation (EU) 2018/858. This key pie…
EVA calls for 2030 ban
Date: Thursday 20 August 2020
The Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England is urging the government to bring forward the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles to 2030. The government is in the process of analysing fe…
DVSA Beat the Rush campaign update
Date: Wednesday 19 August 2020
DVSA launched its Beat the Rush campaign on 31 July to encourage motorists who received an MOT exemption until autumn to get their test done this August. The campaign is going well and has gained nati…
IAAF receives confirmation vehicle scrappage scheme will not go ahead
Date: Friday 14 August 2020
IAAF has received confirmation from BEIS (Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy) that the government has no plans to introduce a vehicle scrappage scheme. Since the idea of a vehic…
Aftermarket recalls and market surveillance key topics for online session
Date: Thursday 13 August 2020
IAAF members will have the opportunity to hear from the DVSA to learn more about managing recalls and how market surveillance affects the industry in an upcoming IAAF Zoom meeting on Tuesday 22nd Sept…
Importing goods from January 2021: The UK Global Tariff
Date: Wednesday 12 August 2020
The UK has left the EU. The transition period will end on 31 December this year and the UK will leave the single market and customs union. Businesses should take action now to start preparing for new …
Automotive employers put the brakes on apprenticeship starts
Date: Wednesday 12 August 2020
New data from the Department for Education has thrown the spotlight on the impact of COVID-19 on apprentice recruitment. And the automotive sector appears to be one of the hardest hit. Across all sect…
Lateness in the workplace - advice from Lawgistics
Date: Wednesday 12 August 2020
Employers are within their rights to expect all employees to be punctual, but as we are all aware, there are times when arriving late for work cannot be avoided. However, for those employees with a te…
E-Motive Online joins growing membership
Date: Wednesday 12 August 2020
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) is continuing to grow month on month and has welcomed parts and accessories multichannel platform and specialist services provider, E-Motive On…
Furlough fraud and other transgressions
Date: Friday 07 August 2020
As could only be expected, HMRC is already hot on cases of the furlough scheme abuse. A businessman from Solihull was recently arrested in connection with a £495,000 furlough fraud investigation. The …
Glen Callum redefines aftermarket recruitment process for IAAF members
Date: Friday 07 August 2020
Automotive aftermarket recruitment specialist Glen Callum Associates (GCA) is redefining the recruitment process for IAAF members, with a number of new initiatives, such as recorded candidate video in…
HMRC: Making Tax Digital update
Date: Wednesday 05 August 2020
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA) will be mandatory from April 2023 for unincorporated businesses and landlords with total business or property income above £10,000 per year. HM…
Ben: Support for life
Date: Wednesday 05 August 2020
Ben are focussing on the need for people to build connections. Human beings all have basic needs for food and shelter, but also for a sense of belonging to a group - a need to form relationships. Rese…
Reg Patrick RIP
Date: Wednesday 05 August 2020
It was with sadness that we learned this week of the passing of Reg Patrick at the age of ninety. Reg headed the Automotive Distribution Federation (ADF) for many years and, following his retirement, …
MOT exemptions beat the rush campaign - BREAKING NEWS
Date: Friday 31 July 2020
MOT exemptions issued to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) will end from Saturday 1 August 2020. Around 9 million vehicle expiry dates were moved as a result of the exemptions. The Dri…
TecAlliance’s Peter Hollowood retires
Date: Friday 31 July 2020
Peter Hollowood from TecAlliance has taken well-earned retirement following an illustrious career in the automotive industry. Peter had worked for TecAlliance for more than 20 years, having previously…
Motorway roadworks speed limit to be raised in England
Date: Wednesday 29 July 2020
Speed limits through most roadworks on England's motorways will be raised to increase traffic flow and ease driver "frustrations". Highways England says raising the limit to 60mph from the usual 50mph…
Mitsubishi to exit UK market
Date: Wednesday 29 July 2020
Mitsubishi is withdrawing from the UK and Europe, confirming it will not bring any new models to the continent. Stocks of existing models, including the popular Outlander PHEV and L200 pick-up, will c…