September 2021

NEWS 6 AFTERMARKET SEPTEMBER 2021 www.aftermarketonline.net Win GMS subs with TechMan TechMan is giving away a free 12-month subscription of its garage management system as part of a prize package worth more than £1,200 via its Facebook page. TechMan’s Leo Freebairn said: “The winner will not only get the Garage Management System, but also data migration, training and credits. That’s everything a garage needs to streamline its operations. We’ve already had an amazing response so I’d encourage garages to enter without delay, before we reach our Facebook like target and the competition closes.” To be in with a chance of winning, entrants must like and follow the TechMan Facebook page like the competition post and complete an online entry form. For TechMan’s Facebook page:, facebook.com/WebSellerPro For the online entry form: techmangms.com/techman- giveaway.aspx TechMan also has a competition exclusively for the readers of Aftermarket. To find out more, turn to page 56 . European aftermarket first for Banner Banner has introduced a new 50 Ah Running Bull AGM, a starter battery compatible with models including as the Suzuki Swift/Splash, Vauxhall Adam, Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic. Meanwhile, in what is a European aftermarket first for Banner, the Running Bull AGM 55001 part number is currently installed in the BWM i8 as a back-up. Commenting on the development, Banner Batteries Country Manager Lee Quinney said: “The new-to-range AGM not only exemplifies Banner’s standing as a complete solutions provider, it once again reflects Banner’s prominent reputation within the OE arena.” www.bannerbatterien.com/ en-gb/Home For more from Banner Batteries, turn to pages 40-41 . Older cars dominate Q2 used car sales LKQ Euro Car Parts has called on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to urgently clarify its plans for what will replace the EU’s Motor Vehicle Block Exemptions (MVBER), which expire in 2023. While the European Commission is consulting industry within the EU, LKQ Euro Car Parts says the CMA is yet to properly engage with the issue in the UK. Andy Hamilton, CEO of LKQ Euro Car Parts, said: “We urgently need to understand what the CMA’s plans are, otherwise British drivers risk being driven into a monopoly that will cost them nearly £100 a year and much more in future. Ministers must intervene to expedite the issue. If not, Britons up and down the country will have to fork out £2.4bn in extra costs that go straight into the hands of car manufacturers - many of which charge a large premium for fixing their vehicles. "The UK’s 30,000 independent garages and their 350,000-strong workforce face an existential threat. OEMs continue to withhold bulk Repair and Maintenance Information (RMI) from the independent sector, despite being legally obliged to do so since September last year. This impedes diagnostic tools manufacturers and automotive data publishers from creating products and solutions for new vehicles, and its knock-on effect is to restrict product choice to OEM branded parts alone. “Independent garages are sometimes unable to update online service records, which are stored on OEMs’ private servers. Often, drivers are wrongly told that their warranties have been invalidated because a service wasn’t carried out by a franchised dealer, or because it used non-OEM brand parts. It’s also common for OEMs to strong-arm dealerships into only using their branded parts, despite MVBER guaranteeing choice. Sadly, most transgressions like this and the slow captive parts monopolies that have emerged in recent years have gone unpunished by European or national authorities.” Andy added: “The prospect of a legal battle between the UK’s army of SME independent businesses and the global automotive giants makes David and Goliath seem trivial. We hope that by presenting more and more compelling evidence of the abuse of MVBER to regulators today, we can safeguard it and improve it for tomorrow.” For more from LKQ Euro Car Parts, turn to pages 18-21 . Independent garages could soon see a boom, as used car sales increased by a massive 108.6% in the second quarter of 2021 according to figures from the SMMT, with older cars making up the vast majority. In fact, only 12.7% of all used cars sold during the three-month period were under three years old, the lowest on record. In total, 2,167,504 used cars were sold during the quarter. This was even 6.6% up on pre-pandemic 2019, and it was also the best Q2 performance and nearly the best quarter ever for the used car market. The highest growth took place in April, where sales were up 307.4% on 2020 with 724,743 cars sold. This was also 5.0% above the same month in 2019. May and June up 9.9% and 4.6% on 2019 as well and both achieved, the best performance on record. Second-hand battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales were up 353.9% at 10,903, while plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) sales were up 349.8% at 16,202. These represented 1.3% of the market, while 96.4% were petrol and diesel engine cars, totalling 2,090,396 units. Commenting on the figures, SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: “This is welcome news for the used car market as transactions rebounded following nationwide lockdowns which closed retailers. More motorists are turning to used cars as supply shortages continue to affect the new car market, and the increased need for personal mobility with people remaining wary of public transport as they return to work.” For Aftermarket’s regular Coronavirus round-up, turn to pages 58-59 . LKQ Euro Car Parts warns on existential threat to garages