Automotive aftermarket supplier First Line Ltd has introduced 40 new-to-range products across its Steering and Suspension, Cooling, Cables, and Braking categories. The company said the new additions represent the company’s commitment to update its key product ranges regularly, increasing the speed with which it brings new parts to the aftermarket.
Alliance Automotive Group UK (AAG), a subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company (GPC) and one of the UK’s leading aftermarket distributors, has acquired J&S Automotive Distributors (J&S). The acquired business, which includes its subsidiary Auto Components Northern Ireland, trades from three distribution centres in Dublin, Cork and Omagh with annual sales of approximately €35m.
Embracing the vibe of the Tokyo Olympics, wiper blade manufacturer, Trico, and distributor, Pearl Automotive, have announced a joint Gold, Silver and Bronze promotion for their customers. However, with more than £2,000 worth of prizes to be won, including an Amazon Echo, Love2Shop vouchers, Rockpod speakers, a port tasting experience and Bose speakers, amongst others, they’ll have to act fast to be one of the winners.
With tyre specialists doing as much mechanical work as ever, and with autocentres representing a growing proportion of the top 25 tyre retailers, understanding the so-called aftermarket side of the business is important. When you add in the pandemic-related disruption, which includes the effects of the government’s six-month MOT extension – something that has caused a mini-boom and bust in the garage space – getting to grips with the latest trends and products in the aftermarket sector at this particular time is something of a priority. That’s why in this section July’s edition of Tyres & Accessories surveys the latest data, trends and products to help you prepare for what’s next. Our aftermarket feature starts with an analysis of the full-year 2020 MOT data from a tyre demand perspective.
Workshops using the TechMan Garage Management System now have access to more than 450 interactive and narrated videos to help explain servicing and repairs on a comprehensive range of vehicle parts and systems to their customers.
A coalition of trade associations (including the NTDA) and commercial organisations (including Halfords and Kwik Fit) has been formed to lobby the UK government to uphold “the rights of the independent aftermarket and consumers in the post-Brexit era.” The UK Alliance for the Freedom of Car Repair (AFCAR), which derives its name from the European group of the same name, will primarily lobby on the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations (MV-BER), Vehicle Type Approval (including access to Repair & Maintenance Information) and Cybersecurity.
UK automotive parts distributor, Partbusters, has made a generous donation to the Great Ormond Street Hospital, raising approximately £1,500 for the charity. The figure included £600 from takings from the company’s coffee machine, which was then doubled by Ricky Bassi, director and founder of Partbusters, before other members of the Partbusters team rallied round to raise a fantastic £1500 for the charity.
Schaeffler and Brembo will present the first-ever ‘dynamic collaboration’ between two original equipment manufacturers at Autoinform Live 2021. In a 40-second clip, Schaeffler REPXPERT, Mike Tomkins, and Brembo Aftermarket Area Manager, Siti Abdullah, reveal that both brands will present an informative insight into current and future developments of braking and chassis systems at the GTG Training Academy in Wolverhampton on the 6 and 7 November.
Banner is introducing a new 50 Ah Running Bull AGM part number this summer as the starter battery compatible across a raft of models, such as the Suzuki Swift/Splash, Vauxhall Adam, Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic. In what stands to be European aftermarket first for Banner, the Running Bull AGM 55001 part number is currently installed in the BWM i8 as a back-up battery, however – according to the company – that also makes it suitable as an upgrade for conventional back-up batteries in electric vehicles.
GS Yuasa is using Welsh Government funding of up to £2.5 million to form part of a multi-million pound investment by the Japanese based corporation in its production plant in Ebbw Vale. As a result, 105 new jobs and a further 360 positions are protected.
Maha UK’s Luke Fuller joined the company during 2020, right in the midst of the pandemic, but he didn’t let the ‘stay at home’ rule affect his confidence or ability to build a rapport with customers. Now back out on the road, he’s keen to make up for lost time.
Brembo has received the Automotive Content Professionals Network (ACPN) gold award for content on the company’s BremboParts.com aftermarket component online catalogue.
As the brand’s key strategic supply partner in the UK and Ireland, Ecobat Battery Technologies (Ecobat) is highlighting Exide’s Carbon Boost products, which are described as “the batter[ies] of choice for workshops” – with Carbon Boost technology particular pertinent in times of reducing miles-driven figures.
Automechanika Birmingham has been moved to June 2023, maintaining its alternation with Automechanika Frankfurt, which recently moved its full form to September 2022 due to ongoing international travel restrictions following the coronavirus pandemic. Organisers of Automechanika Birmingham, Messe Frankfurt UK, report that they made the decision following “close discussion with exhibitors and other key stakeholders in the UK aftermarket”.
We’ve all seen the meme. Mechanic hourly rate: Standard – £100; £175 if you watch; and £200 if you worked on it first! Nevertheless, with 40 per cent of people spending more time in their garage during lockdown than before, Halfords is running a “best home garage” competition. The prize? £5000 cash and a “Halfords Ultimate Garage Bundle”.
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Andrea Piaquiadio
TechMan
Tim Samuel; Pexels
Banner
Yuasa
Maha UK
Brembo
Ecobat, Exide
Automechanika Birmingham
Halfords