February 2018

FEBRUARY 2018 AFTERMARKET 5 www.aftermarketonline.net MOT testing stations must update their diesel smoke meters (DSMs) by 20 May 2018 in order to be comply with the EU Roadworthiness Directive. The Directive introduces new MOT emission limits for some diesel vehicles and brings in in the testing of vehicles to the manufacturer’s plate value, when available, along with a lower default limit for newer vehicles. The amended limits to be applied from 20 May 2018 are: First used before July 2008 None turbo 2.5m or plate value if lower Turbo 3.0m or plate value if lower First used on or after 1 July 2008 All diesels 1.5m or plate value if lower First used on or after 1 January 2014 All diesels 0.7m or plate value if lower To enable testing to these new limits, DSM software will need to be updated. The DVSA is working with the Garage Equipment Association (GEA) and equipment manufactures on the update process. Commenting on the change, GEA chief executive Dave Garratt said: “The limits are being changed because the Directive stated that vehicles should be tested using their plated value. In addition Euro 6 vehicles are coming into the MOT and they need to have a lower smoke limit. It needs to be lowered to 0.7 for Euro 6 vehicles. “As an equipment owner, you should contact the equipment manufacture or calibration engineer with questions about update procedures for their equipment. You need to do this by 20 May this year. All equipment is capable of being updated, but garages should contact their supplier to make sure they are making an update available.“ Garages using older equipment should check as soon as possible on whether an update for their DSM is being made available: “Some companies might decide commercially to not support an update. If a unit is 20 years old and they’ve only got 50 units in the market and they might not see it as being worth the cost. Hopefully not that many will say this, and we imagine most will support an update.” Owners of some equipment may need to replace their DSMs as a result of the change: “There may also be a situation where some manufacturers have gone into receivership since making a smoke meter, because many of these smoke meters are very old. That means there is nobody around to do the update. “ www.aftermarketonline.net Garages set for diesel dearth following car sales slump Garages are likely to see the number of diesel vehicles coming through the door fall going forward, following a sharp diesel sales decline during 2017 according to annual sales figures from the SMMT. The trend was slightly offset by a rise in petrol sales, and the ongoing gradual growth of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) Overall car sales were down 5.7% in 2017, reaching a total of 2,540,617 for the year. This was the first fall in six years. Demand for petrol cars rose in the year by 2.7%. However, this was not enough to offset a 17.1% decline in diesel registrations. Meanwhile, sales of AFVs grew by 34.8%. A record number of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars were registered – resulting in the sector’s highest- ever annual market share of 4.7%. The top selling car in the UK during 2017 was the Ford Fiesta, which sold 94,533 units. Commenting on 2017’s sales figures, SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “Falling business and consumer confidence is undoubtedly taking a toll, however, and confusing anti-diesel messages have caused many to hesitate before buying a new low emission diesel car. “Keeping older vehicles on the road will not only mean higher running costs but will hold back progress towards our environmental goals. Consumers should be encouraged to buy the right car for their lifestyle and driving needs irrespective of fuel type – whether that be petrol, electric, hybrid or diesel as it could save them money.” Despite the drop, 2017 still had the third highest car sales of any year in the last decade. December’s sales were 14.4% down compared with the same month in 2016. This was the ninth consecutive month of negative growth. www.aftermarketonline.net Garages reminded on smoke meter update deadline