April 2021

APRIL 2021 AFTERMARKET 47 www.aftermarketonline.net did for just MOTs. She added: “The second quarter of 2021 will be challenging for garages, with millions of MOTs effectively now not taking place during these months. That said, it’s worth remembering that three-year-old cars which are due their first MOT test this year, and were first registered between April and June, will help recover some of the work lost during this difficult period.” 12 February: OESAA reiterates COVID-19 support pledge The Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association (OESAA) is offering 4,000 ‘We’ve Got You Covered’ packs to workshops. The initiative complements the ‘Back on Track’ campaign, launched in July 2020, where 3,000 packs of point of sale and COVID-19 safety-related materials including floor stickers, hygiene hooks, window stickers, A2 posters and washable face masks were distributed as workshops reopened after the first lockdown. The new pack includes two OESAA- branded 500ml refillable spray bottles, to be filled with surface cleaner, an anti-microbial key tray, 25 B-pillar stickers, plus 25 flyers for workshops to give to customers containing safety-related information. OESAA Chairman, Nigel Morgan, said: “The demand for the original ‘Back on Track’ campaign was incredible, so we are confident these ‘We’ve Got You Covered’ packs will be snapped up even quicker. Every member of OESAA is proud to contribute to such a necessary and worthwhile campaign.” To request a ‘We’ve Got You Covered’ pack, go to oeparts.typeform.com/to/sQKAnmji 18 February: The price of inactivity: Car repair spending surges in lockdown Despite lower mileage being accrued during lockdown, drivers have continued to spend on car repairs, new data analysis has shown, with a 104% spike in coil spring replacements among the headline figures. The data, from online repair marketplace ClickMechanic, found that a variety of vehicle repairs have spiked in the recent lockdown. Alongside coil springs, rear brake shoes repairs increased by 86% and battery replacements grew by 33%. Andrew Jervis, CEO of ClickMechanic, said: “Coil springs have been found to be more vulnerable to damage during winter months and colder weather. In most instances, it might be impossible to notice a broken coil spring unless the vehicle is lifted during a service. However, in some cases, a driver can notice something is amiss with the suspension when the vehicle is noticeably lower on one side, there is uneven steering, or if there are rattles and knocks when going over uneven road surface. An increase in rear shoes sticking on is a result of vehicles being left idle for an extended period of time. Common symptoms include the hand brake not working properly, the car pulling to the right or left under braking, or the car becoming unstable under braking.” 19 February: LIQUI MOLY UK sales up 117% in pandemic as profits halved by investment spend An aggressive pandemic advertising push by LIQUI MOLY in 2020 helped the company to push sales up by 7.1%, with its UK operation seeing a whopping 117% increase. However, this was set against a backdrop of overall revenue dropping by 50% to € 25m as a result of ongoing investment. Revenue was halved partly because the company invested almost € 45 million in marketing during the pandemic. In addition, more than 100 new employees were hired, bringing the total to 989 at the end of 2020. Managing Director Ernst Prost observed: “Thanks to our energetic measures, we are continuing to grow and are still operating in the black. Our solid economic performance in recent years, with no bank debt, is helping us cope with the consequences of the crisis. We’re reaping the rewards of our 2020 advertising push this year, and we’re going full throttle in 2021 as well.” 22 February: Car dealerships set to reopen in April Car dealerships are likely to remain closed until April at the earliest, it was revealed. While garages have been able to operate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation for car showrooms has been more erratic, with the sector shut through much of the first lockdown, and then closed again in November and from January. The new four-stage phased reopening officially announced by the Prime Minister would see showrooms able to reopen during step two, along with much of non-essential retail. The sector has expressed disappointment at the speed of reopening. NFDA Chief Executive Sue Robinson said: “We understand the importance of bringing the virus fully under control. However, it is very disappointing that dealerships will not be able to reopen until April. NFDA has already made the government aware of the safety procedures dealerships are able to follow, and of how important it is for our sector to reopen as soon as possible. There are more than 4,500 franchised dealerships in the UK, with over 590,000 people employed in the retail side of the automotive industry. “Franchised dealers have demonstrated their resilience and ability to adapt, providing online sales and click and collect services. However, these are not enough to sustain businesses this year nor to fully satisfy consumer demand, especially with the upcoming plate change in March. Dealerships could reopen safely and immediately.” 23 February: Sector continues to hail “Tremendously welcome news” on lockdown easing as Scottish car dealers edge ahead UK automotive continued to react to the new roadmap out of lockdown, with Scottish car-dealers finding themselves slightly ahead of the reopening curve. Commenting on the government’s planned four-stage plan, which saw educational institutions at the front of the reopening queue on Monday 8 March IMI CEO Steve Nash said: “It is welcome news that education, quite rightly, is given priority in being the first part of society to come out of lockdown and we believe this will be tremendously welcome news for the Further Education colleges and other Every member of OESAA is proud to contribute to such a necessary and worthwhile campaign. ”