News 8 www.aftermarketonline.net September 2024 Rise in new and used car sales ‘big opportunity’ for garages Latest figures showing continued growth in the UK’s new and used car markets presents a huge opportunity for workshops in terms of upskilling and services, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has told Aftermarket. SMMT confirmed on August 8 that the UK used car market has grown for the sixth consecutive quarter, rising 7.2% in the second quarter of this year, with increasing numbers of buyers switching to battery electric vehicles. The figures came just days after SMMT reported the UK new car market rose by 2.5% in July, representing two years of consecutive growth and marking the best performance for July since 2020. Nearly 148,000 new cars hit the roads. Peter Lawton, SMMT head of member sections, told Aftermarket: “Sustained growth in new car sales is bringing more of the latest generation electric, connected and driver assistance technologies onto our roads and into vehicles all across Britain. ‘Robust’ “There is a huge need and opportunity for workshops to keep on upskilling and expand their services while also maintaining millions of conventional vehicles to keep Britain on the move.” According to the SMMT, there were an additional 131,128 sales in the used car market in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2023. Nearly 47,000 battery electric vehicles found new owners between April and June, a rise of nearly 53% resulting in, at 2.4%, the highest ever share of the market, up from 1.7% on the same period last year. Meanwhile, the UK’s light commercial vehicle market dropped 8.5% in July with 24,689 vans, 4x4s, pickups and taxis joining the road, according to the SMMT. However, SMMT said the overall market remains robust, with registrations up 2.7% year to date to become the best first seven months since 2019. Garage Hive has announced the official opening of its Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) approved training centre in Nottingham. The first IMI course to be held at the centre, housed in Garage Hive’s UK headquarters, is an intensive three-day programme aimed at helping garage staff become proficient users of the garage management system. Garage Hive director Alex Lindley said: “Giving staff the tools they need to do the job is a great first step. “Our goal is to give independent garages more than just software. We want to provide them with the training and support network to leverage its full potential.” Garage Hive opens IMI-approved centre Pictured: IMI business development manager Michelle Barrett with Garage Hive’s Dawn Metcalfe, Tom Langridge and Alex Lindley SBS Automotive, acquired by the Borg Automotive Group in 2023, has been fully integrated into the group as of the end of June and is now operating under the name of Borg Automotive Newman. Aside from Borg Automotive Newman (BAN), the group has two other business areas — Borg Automotive Reman and CPI. Both units remanufacture products, while BAN trades new units. BAN sales director Bo Maagaard said: “Apart from the new name, we are still the same company, the same people, and located at the same addresses.” SBS Automotive becomes Borg Automotive Newman The future belongs to e-mobility but combustion engines will be a key feature in the global auto markets for years to come, MAHLE’s aftermarket chief has said. Philipp Grosse Kleimann, a MAHLE management committee member and head of the aftermarket business, was speaking on July 9 as the unit reported record sales of nearly €1.3 billion (£1bn) in 2023. “The future clearly belongs to e-mobility — both on the road and in the workshop. Still, combustion engines will continue to play an important role in many parts of the world for some time to come,” he said. “By using renewable fuels, these engines can have a quick and sustainable impact on climate protection.” MAHLE said its BatteryPRO product line and five product groups — E-Safety, E-Scan, E-Health, E-Care and E-Charge — is already offering independent workshops a range of EV services. Georges Mourad, MAHLE Aftermarket’s global service solutions director, said: “Battery service is becoming increasingly important. BatteryPRO’s newly developed products are the beginning of a new generation of diagnostic and service solutions for EV, covering the entire life cycle from diagnosis to maintenance.” MAHLE aftermarket sales hit £1bn
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