News

The United Aftermarket Network is celebrating the launch of its new website. As part of a number of new initiatives aimed at supporting the core business of its members, the UAN has launched its new website to improve visibility and usability for consumers.

Delphi has entered exclusive negotiations to buy the Motorized Vehicles Division (MVL) of the FCI Group. The deal, valued at £620 million, is expected to close by the end of this year. If the sale is agreed the division will become part of Delphi’s Electrical/Electronic Architecture segment.

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"About £40 is a fair rate for basic job, but it varies depending on how complicated the job is, as you are paying for the knowledge of the fitter.

Garages should be allowed to charge what they feel is fair price for an MOT, or offer a free retest, guess it depends if they think the car is going to fail or not, after all they could be getting paid to do the work it failed on.

The seventeen-strong Motormania chain and Midland Car Parts have been put into administration. Grant Thornton has been appointed as the administrators for the two companies which traded under Richard C Hartley Limited. The 25-year-old business employs 92 people across its sites.

Delphi has updated its Warwickshire training centre to provide better learning opportunities for its staff and to showcase its range of Hartridge test equipment. The centre’s new layout gives Delphi almost 20,000 square feet of space. The site features several fully equipped workshops.

A survey of 11,000 shoppers by consumer magazine Which? has rated Halfords as the worst high street retailer. The survey was carried out to highlight the best and worst performing shops on the UK high street.

The Garage Equipment Association’s Engineer’s Accreditation Programme will take a new focus on preparing technicians for the MOT test. A new emphasis will be put on calibration practices for brake testers, with an aim to eradicate bad practice.

Vehicles registered before 1960 are no longer required to have an MOT test, the Department for Transport has announced. Roads Minister Mike Penning said the move is part of red tape-cutting measures inside the government. He reasons that classic and historic cars are often scrupulously maintained.

Nissan and Starbucks might be creating thousands of jobs, but consultancy firm Deloitte says nearly 10,000 workers were let go in the first quarter as Past Times, Peacocks, Game, La Senza, and Blacks all faltered on the High Street. It’s not a particularly cheery backdrop for Saxon Distribution to be selling into car accessory retailers then.

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“Garages should be charging £40 to £50 per hour - they need to be considerably lower than the main dealers to encourage the public to show what a great service they provide.