News

Incoming IAAF President Graham Knight has called for greater communication on all levels of the aftermarket. The annual IAAF conference gave a perfect opportunity to call on the market to come together and saw a range of speakers updating the industry on where it is and where it’s going.

Bosch has completed the acquisition of SPX Service Solutions. The components giant says the acquisition strengthens its position in the workshop and repair sectors. Bosch began the acquisition in January.

Motor factor chain Autoparts has signed up to distribute a product from BBC2’s Dragon’s Den programme. EnviroThaw is a new range of de-icing products recently shown on the hit show. Sales Director Karrina Oldale narrowly missed out on securing funds from dragon investor Theo Paphitis, instead attracting the attention of Autoparts.

Motor Codes has released the results of its new report into consumer satisfaction in the UK motor industry. Bringing together the results of 25,000 motorists surveyed by the group, the results show growing levels of customer service and a positive outlook for the trade.

A mileage correction operator in Swindon has been jailed for nine months for car clocking. Colin Michael Ogle, who ran a mileage correction service in the town, has become the first such purveyor to be convicted under consumer law.

After losing two members in as many months to the Parts Alliance, the IFA has announced that it will be joining the ADI European buying group from January 1, 2013. The new move is the latest in a string of significant shifts in the buying group landscape this year.

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SC Motor Factors has become the third member of The Parts Alliance to accept an investment from HgCapital.

SC hasn't disclosed the size of the investment, only describing it as "significant."

The number of service and repair workshops in the UK has fallen by over a fifth since 2001. That’s according to the latest Trend Tracker report, which blames falling servicing volumes and increased costs for part of the fall in workshops.

The voting stage of the 2013 CAT Awards is now underway.

This year we've split both garages and factors into small and large categories, and you can also vote for the supplier of the year, person of the year and retailer of the year.

In all there are 34 people and companies looking for victory, so click on this link to take a look at the riders and runners and tell us who deserves it the most.

The winners will be announced at the 2013 CAT Awards ceremony in February next year.

The closing date for votes is 21st December 2012.

CAT Magazine has received an award from the motor industry charity BEN in recognition for its over the last year. CAT Editor Peter Lawton, Publisher David Harris, Sales Executive Don Rupal and Reporter Darren Moss were presented with the award by Amanda Clements and Kirsten Galvin of BEN.