News

Sovereign has secured a new three-year deal with Groupauto. The rotating machines manufacturer and supplier says it has secured the agreement to supply its products to the trading group. The company says it has already enjoyed growth thanks to Groupauto and its continuing partnership with the group.

[caption id="attachment_9478" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The company raised a large amount of money for BEN"][/caption]

Staff at BCA have become top of the class for raising over £5000 for industry charity, BEN.

BCA’s fundraising efforts formed part of National BEN Week, with the chosen theme of “back to school.”

Autoparts has launched a new web-based management tool for independent garages. The tool, named Workshop Expert Online, has been developed in partnership with MAM. Autoparts says the software can help businesses in all areas, including accounting, daily workshop management, parts lookup and ordering and customer relationship management.

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Andrew Page has secured a preferred supplier agreement with the only independent car servicing franchise in the country, iAutoUK. The Coventry business launched the franchise side to its operation at the NEC in October last year.

Independent garages are gaining a greater share of the service and repair market as franchised dealers hit their lowest retention figures since 1998. The latest Castrol Professional Car Servicing and Repair Trend Tracker shows that independents and fast fit workshops captured 47.9 percent of all servicing work.

Motor Codes has launched a mobile version of its garage finder, helping more motorists find their way to the doors of its 7000 member garages this Christmas, including independents. Motor Codes says that with the Christ-mass migration well under way more vehicles are going to need service and repair work.

[caption id="attachment_9425" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The move will double Meyle's storage capacity at the site"][/caption]

Meyle is expanding its warehouse in Hamburg in a move that will almost double its storage capacity at the site.

The Government has rejected calls for MOT stations to be obliged to join an approved code of conduct, but accepted many other recommendations aimed at improving the customer experience at garages. Read our full report on what has been accepted inside.

After Transport Secretary Justine Greening revealed that the Government was no longer going to push for longer 4-2-2 intervals this February, a review of the MOT system was announced.

A key aim of the review was to give consumers greater faith in the tests and work being conducted by MOT garages. Greening said: “I want each motorist to be confident that a visit to the garage ends with their car repaired to a high standard by a reputable mechanic rather than uncertainty about cost and the quality of service.

“Giving drivers the very best information about garage performance is absolutely key to achieving this goal.”