October 2020

NEWS Millers Oils confirms Andy Savva as UK Brand Ambassador MONTH 2017 AFTERMARKET 5 www.aftermarketonline.net Millers Oils have appointed Andy Savva – The Garage Inspector as brand ambassador. The company will work with Andy to promote their range of engine oils, transmission oils and treatments, as well their programmes and aftermarket treatments. Tony Lowe, Millers Oils Managing Director said: “Andy is a familiar face to most independent garages, who recognise and see him as the Guru for the industry. He runs successful workshops and recommends brands that he truly believes in, like ours. We will only enhance our brand and product range with Andy joining us. We are looking forward to working closely with him.” Andy Savva, The Garage Inspector, observed: “I am thrilled about my appointment to become Millers Oils brand ambassador, a company that shares the same passion as I do when it comes to people, service, and ethos.” The knowledge shared between Andy and Millers Oils will also augment the lubricant section of Andy’s Garage Inspector training module, and he will be using the Millers Oils site in Brighouse, West Yorkshire as a training hub. Andy added: “The opportunity of working closely with the senior team at Millers Oils to promote and encourage the independent garage network to consider using Millers Oils as their first choice for all their lubricant needs is exciting. I am looking forward to working with Millers Oils to enhance my lubricants section in training.” To read Andy Savva’s latest exclusive-to- Aftermarket article, turn to pages 14-16. OCTOBER 20 AFTERMARKET 7 IAAF hails victory: OBD port remains open in UK Type Approval win Ending years of concern over the status of the OBD port in a post-Brexit world, the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that the OBD port will by law remain open for repair and maintenance information (RMI), and that this information will be made available in an electronically processable format. In a statement, the DfT said: “We can confirm that the definition of OBD in Article 3(49) of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 will be applied in the UK, as it is in the EU.” The announcement has clarified what had become an increasingly opaque question about the implementation of Type Approval Regulation (EU) 2018/858. This legislation, which is set to become applicable this month (September 2020) will keep the OBD port open in the EU. However, following the UK’s official departure from the EU in January 2020, a formal consultation by the UK government was required for this legislation to also be adopted here. This uncertainty had made it one of the key pieces of legislation that the IAAF has lobbied for over the past few years. This was because, without legislation to guarantee it, there remained a risk that independent garages might find themselves locked out of the cars they are supposed to be working on. The IAAF questioned the definition of OBD in draft regulations and asked government to be less ambiguous about RMI data having to be made available in a format that is processable electronically. It also asked how security-related repair and maintenance information (SERMI) would be handled. The DfT confirmed that under UK law, vehicles will be obliged to keep the OBD port open. On the subject of SERMI, the DfT said: “If the EU agree a Regulation and it applies prior to the end of the transition period, it will become part of Retained law in GB, possibly with some amendments to ensure it works in a GB context. If not, we will examine whether to introduce it into GB law in 2021, noting the comments received here that strongly support such introduction.” Commenting on the clarifications, IAAF Chief Executive Wendy Williamson said: “This is a huge step in the right direction for the independent automotive aftermarket and we’re thrilled that the legislative framework now ensures that independent operators can continue to service and maintain vehicles reliably and fairly. Not only is this good for competition, but it provides the consumer with freedom of choice when choosing where to take their vehicle for repair work.” “As a result of the consultation outcome, when issuing type approvals, VCA will be legally required to act in line with the ruling and manufacturers are also obliged to comply.” To read the consultation outcome in full go to https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving -new-vehicle-safety-and-environmental-compliance-plus- passenger-vehicle-digital-radio-requirement TechMan garage voted Northampton’s best In Town Automotive, the workshop out of which GMS provider TechMan grew, has been voted Garage of the Year in its hometown of Northampton. The poll was run by the town’s newspaper, the Northampton Chronicle & Echo, and voted for by readers. Co-owners Mike Palmer and Terry Dorney told the newspaper that they were delighted to receive the award. According to Terry, the focus now is to be prepared for the expected surge in demand for MOTs during the autumn: “We think over the next three months we’ll have lots of MOTs, especially with people using public transport less. This should be really positive for the motor industry.” Northampton garages J & S Auto and Tony Brooks took second and third place respectively.