AFT_B009

T he MOT exemption has really highlighted the importance of the MOT, if anyone had doubts, due to the very quick impact on road safety that ensued. Where do we go from here though? Adaptability will be vital for the next few months said Andy Hamilton, CEO at LKQ Euro Car Parts: “March and April are traditionally when demand for MOTs is at its highest, in line with peak registrations and the first new number plate release of each year. However, with MOTs due during lockdown effectively deferred from the last few months into the latter part of the year, this pattern has changed, and garages must adapt. “With deferred MOTs now required towards the end of this year – on top of those that were already due – demand is set to reach record- breaking levels, and some vehicles might be in worse condition than usual, having waited up to an extra six months for a test. These additional vehicles will then require their annual MOT in autumn and winter for the rest of their lifetime. New vehicles coming onto the roads won’t start to have an impact on traditional demand patterns until at least 2023-4, at which point demand should begin to level out over time.” Andy added: “With the next few months set to be busier than usual, garages need a strong team of testers to manage periods of high demand. This is where training is key, to ensure new and existing testers can carry out MOTs to a high standard, as well as being able to complete a wide variety of other service, repair and diagnostics work. It’s also worth considering whether there could be scope to add an extra MOT bay in the workshop, to help garages capitalise on peak demand. This should pay for itself fairly quickly – especially if technicians can up-sell additional winter services at the same time, using the new demand curve to bring in more revenue alongside MOTs.” Reaction On the lifting of the MOT exemption, IGA Head of Member Services Frank Harvey said: “With one in three cars failing the test with a potentially dangerous fault, it’s reassuring that the DVSA listened to the concerns expressed by the wider industry and have lifted the MOT exemption from 1 August. That said, around 60% of people have been having their vehicles tesred by choice, which says that the public have a concern about vehicle safety.” Looking further ahead, what about accelerating change around the test? “We need to avoid a knee-jerk reaction,” opined Frank. “The industry needs to get back to some sort of normality. The MOT has been through a lot of change over the last few years as it is. One of the things we need to be conscious of is that we are in the throes of moving towards connected equipment, which is required as and when things such as brake testers, exhaust gas analysers and Tapley meters are replaced or new centres are opened. Change is often necessary though: “We know that ADAS already forms a major part of Euro NCAP ratings and some ADAS systems are already mandatory. As these ADAS equipped cars become due for a MOT, how are we going to be catering for that technology? “It would seem a logical step that MOT tests will require equipment to be plugged into the OBD to interrogate vehicle systems. Many of these new ADAS systems don’t have telltale warning lights to advise if they are out of calibration. Malfunction indicator lights have been around for many years, yet they have only recently become part of the MOT.” Then there’s the financial side: “We have got to let the economy recover as well. Consumers need to get life back to normal. There is predicted to be an additional million cars on the road due to people avoiding public transport. That is going to create extra demand for MOTs, on top of the concertina affect from the MOT extensions from March to August that is already anticipated. “In terms of the pace of change, DVSA are aware of what is happening, and have to balance the benefits 8 AFTERMARKET SEPTEMBER 2020 BIG ISSUE www.aftermarketonline.net WHERE NOW FOR THE MOT? The MOT exemption has reminded everyone just how important the test is. With testing back on, is now the time to totally revisit the MOT?