VLS said case VLS010201 is now under investigation regarding the product's claims to meet an OEM specification, which was originally supported by the OEM for initial fill only. This milestone 100th case comes on the back of VLS’ 10th anniversary year, during which it received the highest number of cases since 2015. A wide range of products have recently been investigated, including passenger car and light commercial vehicle engine oils, heavy duty engine oils, central hydraulic fluids, hydraulic oils, gear oils, transmission fluids, a universal tractor transmission oil and an aluminium synthetic cutting fluid. Three cases are currently under active investigation. Many cases have been brought to a successful conclusion, resulting in affirmative action from the companies involved, VLS said. Marketing claims have been amended, technical data sheets revised, products relabelled, and, in some cases, stock uplifted and removed from sale. Jacquie Berryman, chair of VLS, said: “Over the past 12 months, the quantity and diversity of cases received is a testament to the work VLS has done to raise awareness of the importance of lubricant standards across all aspects of 42 AFTERMARKET MAY 2024 ADDITIVES www.aftermarketonline.net the UK lubricants industry. “The sector is navigating immense change in response to OEM design changes and the need to meet increasing emissions legislation. It’s more important than ever that we have a robust, anonymous process that holds lubricant producers or marketers to account and protects end users." Follow VLS investigations online: https://ukla-vls.org.uk VLS OPENS 100TH CASE OVER HEAVY DUTY DIESEL OIL COMPLAINT Verification of Lubricant Specifications VLS has opened its 100th investigation after receiving concerns about a 10W-40 HDDO Value of global additives market ‘set to triple by 2032’ The global automotive aftermarket fuel additives market size was valued at $1.82 billion (£1.5bn) in 2022, and it is expected to hit around $3.87bn 2032, according to analysis by Precedence Research. Factors such as rising environmental concerns, increasing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, and a growing preference for cleaner and greener energy sources is anticipated to augment the growth of automotive aftermarket fuel additives during the forecast period. Additionally, the increasing use of additives in automotive lubricants is also contributing to the growth of the market in the years to come, according to Precedence. The market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, as consumers become increasingly aware of the benefits of using fuel additives to improve the performance and efficiency of their vehicles. Advances in additive technology, such as the development of new synthetic fuel additives, are also likely to drive further growth in the market, the analysis shows. The key players in the market offer a range of fuel additives, including octane boosters, fuel system cleaners, fuel stabilisers, and diesel fuel additives, further supporting the growth of the market in the near future. Many consumers are not aware of the potential benefits of using fuel additives, or may not fully understand how these products work, the research shows. This can make them less likely to seek out and purchase fuel additives, even if they could benefit from their use. In addition, the lack of understanding among consumers can make it difficult for manufacturers of fuel additives to market their products effectively. Manufacturers may need to invest more in education and outreach to help consumers understand the benefits of fuel additives and how to use them properly, Precedence said. A lack of standardisation and regulation in the fuel additives market can also contribute to confusion among consumers, according to the analysis. Without clear guidelines and standards, it can be difficult for consumers to know which products to choose or how to use them correctly. Consumers are now increasingly concerned about fuel efficiency and are looking for ways to improve the mileage of their vehicles, the research shows. As of 2022, North America held the largest revenue share of 36% for the automotive aftermarket fuel additives sector, while Europe was 31% compared to 19% in the Asia Pacific region. Latin America was 9% and Middle East and Africa 5%.
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