www.aftermarketonline.net OCTOBER 2023 AFTERMARKET 3 CONTENTS BUSINESS 8 Big issue: Rise of the machines 12 Adam Bernstein: Incorporate in haste, part 2 16 Halfords: New business models 18 You down with OCPP? 20 Call tracking: The time is now TOP TECHNICIAN/TOP GARAGE 22 Top Technician 2023: Semi-final 26 ALLDATA Europe: Unlocking potential TECHNICAL 26 Aftermarket of the future 28 Frank Massey: A month in the life 30 Niterra UK: Shape of things to come 32 TotalEnergies: Getting to green 34 Repairify: Twist in the tail-gate IN FOCUS 36 Exhaust system and DPF 40 Timing systems 42 Wipers 44 Batteries and chargers 48 Tyres and tyre bay PLUS... 52 Competition/General products 54 On the road: Ring/OSRAM van 56 Garage visit: Hunters of Linlithgow 58 EV workshop from design to delivery 60 EVs and hybrids 62 Training update 64 Recruitment 66 Teabreak MAKE IT SO Alex Wells, Editor Average net circulation July 2021 to June 2022 19,073 @aftermarketmagazine @aftermarket01 @aftermarketmagazine ISSN 2516-9149 Aftermarket is published 10 times a year and is sent free of charge to applicants meeting the publisher’s criteria. All others may subscribe at £60 per anum, £120 Europe and £150 rest of the world. While every care is taken to provide accurate information, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or ommisions, no matter how caused. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior consent of the publisher. The views of contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Copyright: DFA Media Group 2023. As you will already know, London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was enlarged to take in all of Greater London on 29 August. It now costs £12.50 for a non-compliant vehicle to move within Greater London, with fines if the driver does not pay. Of course, the raw cost to the motorist is not the end of the issue. It’s the unexpected consequences that will be the kicker. Higher cost of deliveries for businesses? Motorists perhaps opting to get around the cost by shaving expenses elsewhere, such as servicing, which will have an impact on road safety and, oh yes, air quality. I wonder if anyone at the Gherkin thought of that? Unfortunately, this piece of legislation, lauded and decried in almost equal measure, isn’t going anywhere for a while, and is likely to be a permanent fixture. Then of course, there is the impact on garages and the wider automotive aftermarket. “By Riker’s beard!” I hear those of you in the London-based readership cry, tastefully substituting some of your more, er, shall we say, colourful metaphors. “This is a massive problem for us and our customers! How are we going to deal with this:” As you will see in the news section on pages 4-7, the IGA and its sister organisation the NFDA both had meetings with Transport for London (TfL) shortly before the new rules came into force to ask these very questions, and more. This will rumble on for some time. My last observation on the topic is this. Considering the rate of natural wastage in the car parc, surely within a few years many of the offending vehicles will remove themselves from the roads as they are replaced by newer vehicles, thereby eliminating the problem at no cost to the taxpayer, and with no need for a scrappage scheme? Too on the nose? Well, let’s see what happens when other cities get in on the act. Down here in Brighton, since the mid-00s I have been amazed they haven’t tried a congestion charge zone like London, as the L-shaped stretch between the main station terminus and the Palace Pier pretty much invites such a scheme, and with most of the main car parks based in this area, they could fleece all the unwary day-trippers and shoppers. There’s also a pretty-much imaginary ULEZ supposedly already operating in North Street, so let’s see if they have a go at actualising, monetising and weaponizing it. Some are further ahead. As this issue was going to press, the Welsh government imposed 20mph speed limits across many of its roads. Whatever happens, by the time the new-for-2024 Aftermarket Event, comes to Farnborough International next October, we will all have plenty to talk about. As I explained last month, this will offer visitors 150 exhibitors as well as twin live arenas serving up technical information, training and debate. For more information, go to pages 14-15. Lastly, don’t forget that the Top Technician and Top Garage Finals are coming up on Saturday 14 October, with the Awards Evening taking place that night. Turn again to news on pages 4-7 for more information. Enjoy! Editor | Alex Wells alex@aftermarket.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 345 Head of Sales | Angela Lyus angela@aftermarket.co.uk | +44 (0) 7823 736 629 Managing Director | Ryan Fuller ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Contributors Karl Baker | Andrew Bates | Adam Bernstein | Harry Bott | John Bramley | Brian Estrada | Neil Kennett | Frank Massey | Martin Pinnell-Brown | David Valentyne Operations Manager | Emma Floyd emma.floyd@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Marketing Executive | Hope Jepson hope.jepson@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 371081 Finance Department accounts@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Chief Executive | Ian Atkinson ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Published by | DFA Aftermarket Media Ltd 192 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1BE
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