The CEO of one of the UK’s most important motor factors has discussed the implications of tariffs for the aftermarket on national television. Steve Horne, CEO of GSF Car Parts told BBC Breakfast the company will attempt to soften the blow to independent garages as the impact of the trade tariffs unfolds.
Cleevely EV Mobile has been named Garage Concept of the Year at the Car & Accessory Trader (CAT) Awards 2025, held in Manchester on 27th February. The accolade, determined by a public vote, recognises the company’s innovative approach to providing nationwide electric vehicle (EV) servicing through its mobile fleet.
Garages have reported that reviews shown on Google business profiles have been going unexpectedly missing. However, Garage Services Online (GSO), an online lead generating service for garages, reports the reviews are now beginning to reappear and suggests the issue was likely caused by two separate problems at Google. “Thousands” of garages are said to have been affected.
Leominster’s Oldfields Garage recently welcomed Ellie Chowns, Green MP for North Herefordshire, to its workshop, marking a celebration of the business’s impressive achievements in 2024. The visit in December came as Oldfields Garage follows several prestigious industry and local awards wins over the past year. During the visit, Tim Benson, Managing Director of Oldfields Garage, raised key concerns facing the wider automotive industry.
The Lincoln branch of national garage chain IN‘n’OUT Autocentres has become the latest workshop to tackle its own staff shortage by taking on a technician from India through Easy2Recruit, the agency helping garages hire overseas talent.
A family-owned independent garage in Leeds was the overall national winner of The Motor Ombudsman’s 2024 Star Awards. AJ Fleetcare became the third independent garage to claim the award since 2020. The motor industry accolades allow consumers to recognise businesses accredited to one or more of The Motor Ombudsman’s four Codes of Practice, or individual staff members, for delivering an exceptional level of service. This can be at the point when customers buy a car, have it maintained, or during the process of making a purchase or a claim on a warranty.
Autobar is well known for its substantial range of automotive parts including bulbs, switches, relays and fitted consumables: whatever fixing is needed, Autobar is the go-to supplier for many. Its range includes fasteners and hardware, tubing and joiners, cables, clamps, fuses, grommets, hoses and hundreds more. With 1,396 references, the products are packaged in single or small quantity consumer packs for retailers, meaning large margins for small items.
A new campaign which aims to help independent garages capitalise on the rapidly growing hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) market, has been launched by Garage Services Online. The ‘EV Edge’ initiative aims to help independent garages that have invested in EV skills and equipment become the go-to choice for the MOT, servicing and repairs of hybrid and EVs.
Automechanika Birmingham Garage Awards 2024, hosted by the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) and headline sponsored by LKQ Euro Car Parts, is set to receive a dose of laughter and entertainment as the talented comedian Justin Moorhouse joins the prestigious event as the guest entertainer.
Aftermarket motor parts group LKQ Euro Car Parts will return for the second consecutive year as headline sponsor of the Automechanika Birmingham Garage Awards 2024, hosted by the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF). Celebrating the country’s best automotive technicians, the awards will be presented on Wednesday, 5 June at the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event at NEC, Birmingham. The second awards will feature an expanded number of award categories, going from eight in 2023 to 10. They demonstrate commitment and dedication in the garage sector to ensuring affordable mobility in the UK over the past few years. The awards are accepting nominations until the closing date on 29 March here.
Three-quarters (75%) of service and repair businesses polled foresee rising operational costs, taxes and energy bills to be the most significant operational challenges in 2024, followed by paying more for spare parts (58%), and recruiting qualified technicians to meet workload demands (58%).
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.
UK independent garages have responded enthusiastically to last week’s announcement that they will be able to access Security-related Repair and Maintenance Information (SERMI) using the same framework as their EU counterparts, thanks to agreements reached by the Independent Garage Association (IGA). The IGA reports that garages are getting in touch in large numbers to register their interest in the scheme, which will transform the way garages and workshops access manufacturer technical information on security systems such as keys and ECU coding, by creating one central audit and certification process.
As part of its response to the Department for Transport’s MOT Consultation, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has researched the views of the motor industry and motorists. Alongside its own in-depth analysis of MOT data, the new research further underlines the IMI’s view that any change to the current date for the first MOT or the frequency of MOTs would significantly increase road user risk. “We received a resounding confirmation – 87 per cent – from our members that the first MOT should not be extended due to increased road safety risk”, explained Hayley Pells, policy manager at the IMI. “And whilst only 51 per cent of motorists we surveyed felt the same, we believe there is sufficient weight of evidence to give the Department for Transport a very clear indication that any change to the start date would be detrimental for all road users.”
Delphi Technologies, a brand of BorgWarner Inc, will be a partner supporter of the 2023 Top Garage and Top Technician competitions. Top Technician, created by Aftermarket magazine in 2002, seeks to identify, develop and celebrate skills-excellence amongst the elite of UK garage technicians. Added in 2018, Top Garage seeks to shine a light on national examples of business best-practice.
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