June 2021

46 AFTERMARKET JUNE 2021 BUSINESS www.aftermarketonline.net W ith a major easing of lockdown in the middle of April, the automotive sector appeared to decisively turn a corner towards more normal trading conditions. However, caution and cleanliness remained key watchwords for the industry. 30 March: Exemption made drivers more aware of MOT Despite 9.58 million MOTs being time- shifted from Spring to Autumn last year, an unexpected positive result of the Exemption has been that 89% of drivers surveyed in a YouGov poll commissioned by The Motor Ombudsman said that they actually knew the expiry date of their vehicle’s annual certificate. The survey of 1,303 UK drivers who own a car that is three or more years of age, showed that 92% of men knew, compared with 87% of their female counterparts being aware. Meanwhile when participants were asked about whether they were aware that the current rules regarding MOTs allow cars to be tested up to a month, minus a day, earlier than the deadline, 92% of those aged 35 and over and 95% of drivers living in the Yorkshire and Humber region and the South East knew this was the case. Commenting on the findings of the study, Chief Ombudsman and Managing Director of The Motor Ombudsman Bill Fennell said: “With the six-month Exemption changing the natural rhythm of when people would have traditionally got their MOT done, it is encouraging to see that such an important annual assessment remains at the forefront of people’s minds and a key date in the diary for so many.” 6 April: Step it up: Car sales increase in March New car sales were up 11.5% in March with 283,964 units registered, the first increase since August, but the wider picture showed registrations CORONAVIRUS ROUND-UP Further lockdown easing from 12 April meant things seemed to be going in the right direction were still 36.9% below the 450,189 March average seen between 2010 and 2019 according to the figures from the SMMT. Growth came almost entirely via fleets, where there was a 28.7% increase in registrations. Retail consumer demand remained low, falling by 4.1% compared to March 2020. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) took a combined market share of 13.9%, up from 7.3% last year, with available models increasing from 72 to 116. Registrations of BEVs increased by 88.2% to 22,003 units, while PHEVs rose by 152.2% to 17,330. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) also rose 42% to reach 21,599 registrations. For the sector to return to its pre- pandemic levels, the SMMT said around 8,300 new cars will need to be registered on every trading day for the rest of the year. The daily average has been 7,400 a day during the past decade with current levels closer to 5,600 per day. Due to lockdown restrictions, sales have been taking place via click and collect, but with showrooms due to open from Monday 12 April, SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes was confident that buyers would be coming back in large numbers: “The past year has been the toughest in modern history and the automotive sector has, like many others, been hit hard. “We know we will see record breaking growth next month given April 2020 was a washout, but a strong and sustainable market is possible if customers are attracted to the choice and competitive offer the industry is able to provide within the safest of showroom environments.” He added: “New plug-in models are already helping drive a recovery but to convince more retail consumers to make the switch, they must be assured these new technologies will be convenient for their driving needs and that means, above all, that the charging infrastructure is there where they need it, and when they need it.” 12 April: NFDA and SMMT publish updated safe restart guidance With the reopening of non-essential retail, the franchised dealer sector has swung its showroom doors back open across much of the UK. To help businesses welcome customers back new updated sector-specific guidance