Spotlight 11 www.aftermarketonline.net APRIL 2026 Lubricant standards matter more than ever Darren Frogson, Chairman of VLS, shares the latest automotive market trends and outlines how they are impacting the lubricants industry. The automotive industry is driven by regulatory shifts which impact vehicle engineering and consumer demand. In the UK, vehicle production fell by 13.6% in January 2026, as reported by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), demonstrating weakening demand for UK passenger and commercial vehicles in global markets. Global demand for electric vehicles also fell, by 3%, in January 2026, as reported by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, with manufacturers like Stellantis announcing the reintroduction of diesel passenger cars and vans in Europe. At the same time, owners are holding onto their vehicles for longer. In the UK, nearly 50% of passenger cars are over 10 years old according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). All this change creates even more confusion for workshops, which deal with a wide array of vehicles in terms of age and powertrains. Each of these requires different lubricants, as the latest ultralow viscosity fluid might not be suitable for older vehicles. Technicians must be able to select products with confidence and rely on them to be fit for purpose. The work of VLS to verify lubricant specifications is more important than ever. Last year, we began a market-wide investigation into engine oils making claims against the Stellantis FPW 9.55535/03 specification, which applies to many Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Fiat, Vauxhall, Opel and Jeep models of passenger and light commercial vehicles. It was introduced by Stellantis in 2023/2024 as a mandatory requirement for many vehicles to address reliability issues in wet timing belt systems and in engines fitted with external dry belts or chains. Problems can arise if service intervals are not adhered to. Of the twelve products investigated, nine cases have been closed. VLS found that the majority of claims were valid, consisting of either rebranded approved products or oils based on the same technology as the approved formulations. In case VLS 010236, when challenged on the evidence supporting the specification, the lubricant marketer withdrew the claim. The remaining cases are expected to be closed within the next few weeks, and details will be published on the VLS website. The cases illustrate that, in the shortage of supply of widely available market general technology but high demand from vehicle owners, end-users need to be assured that the claims made on finished lubricants are valid. Following a separate investigation into complaints regarding Silverhook Ultra-V 0W-30 PCEO and Silverhook 0W-20 Fuel Efficient PCEO and their ability to meet the claimed specifications, Silverhook took positive, proactive action in both cases to address product formulations and bring the products into compliance. As the lubricants sector navigates rapid change in response to OEM design changes and the need to meet emissions legislation, it is critical that we have a robust, anonymous process that holds lubricant producers and marketers to account and protects end-users. ukla-vls.org.uk
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