News
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 …
LIQUI MOLY sponsors 2021 European Athletics Championship
Date: Thursday 25 February 2021
LIQUI MOLY is expanding its commitment to top-level sport with its sponsorship of the European Athletics Championship. The 36th European Athletics Indoor Championship will take place in Toruń, Poland,…
UK government review of Block Exemption Regulation
Date: Thursday 25 February 2021
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy has announced a review on the functioning of European Block Exemption Regulations in the UK via the Competition and Markets Authority (C…
IAAF to explore digital aftermarket opportunities in Industry Briefing Bitesize session
Date: Thursday 25 February 2021
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has announced the first Industry Briefing Bitesize session for 2021, ‘The Digitalisation of the Automotive Aftermarket in 2021 and beyond’, whi…
Prestige Fleet Servicing joins IAAF
Date: Thursday 25 February 2021
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has welcomed its newest member, Prestige Fleet Servicing Ltd. Prestige works with both business and consumer customers across the UK, and suppo…
The Turbo Guy charges in to help out
Date: Wednesday 24 February 2021
When the Managing Director of The Turbo Guy, Allan Mitchell, found out that a neighbouring business, McMillan Office Supplies, was helping out the local community, he decided to help out too. McMillan…
Ford Europe Goes All-In on EVs on Road to Sustainable Profitability; Cologne Site Begins $1 Billion Transformation
Date: Wednesday 24 February 2021
Ford is taking a significant step forward in its European transformation with a commitment to go all-in on its electric passenger vehicles and to substantially grow and electrify its leading commercia…
Retro Rallycross Championship Target with Lucas Oil
Date: Wednesday 24 February 2021
Lucas Oil has confirmed its support for Wigan-based driver Tony Lynch, who will challenge for the Retro Rallycross Championship during the 2021 season. This will be his third attempt to win it driving…
British Gas makes largest UK commercial EV order with Vauxhall and commits to accelerating the electrification of its fleet
Date: Wednesday 24 February 2021
British Gas has announced that it is ordering 2,000 new all-electric Vivaro-e vans from Vauxhall and has introduced plans to never purchase another combustion engine vehicle. As part of its commitment…
LKQ Europe tops second half 2020 segment EBITDA margin outlook
Date: Wednesday 24 February 2021
LKQ Corporation reported fourth quarter and full year 2020 results on February 18, 2021 that reflect continued improvement in operational and balance sheet productivity and further debt reduction, des…
Brexit Transition: Sources of help and guidance
Date: Tuesday 23 February 2021
Below can be found a list of sources of information which may be of interest to businesses who import and/or export goods to and from the UK. This list is not exhaustive and new information will be a…
Ivanov fails to retain World Ice Speedway title
Date: Tuesday 23 February 2021
NGK-sponsored Daniil Ivanov narrowly failed to make the podium at the 2021 FIM Ice Speedway World Championship finals in his Russian homeland. Ivanov, the defending and four-time champion, finished fo…
LIQUI MOLY reports a slump in profits of 50 percent
Date: Tuesday 23 February 2021
The lubricant specialist LIQUI MOLY was also not spared from the pandemic. Sales rose by 7.1 percent to a new record level. In the United Kingdom, the upsurge was particularly large at 117 percent. Ea…
Capital Markets Day 2021: HELLA confirms medium term growth and profitability targets
Date: Tuesday 23 February 2021
HELLA, the global automotive supplier is sticking to its medium-term targets despite the increasingly challenging market environment. The company confirmed this during its virtual Capital Markets Day,…
SMP Europe launches new streamlined website
Date: Tuesday 23 February 2021
SMP Europe has launched an improved website to reflect its new branding, engineering expertise and product focus. The new site also features an easy search function and quick access to ‘help and suppo…
NGK - supporting drag racing
Date: Monday 22 February 2021
NGK has been renowned for its support of motorsport over many decades and is now in the news through its involvement with drag racing. The company was highlighted in an article in Race Engine Technolo…
In this section
Autoparts UK has been a member of IAAF for the past 17 years. We benefit fully from its networking events, which bring all sectors of the industry together
Craig McCracken
Autoparts UK