NEWS The motor industry’s deep concerns over proposals contained in the MOT consultation, which closed on 22 March, may be at odds with the views of ordinary motorists, some surveys have suggested. According to an IMI member survey, 87% are against moving the first MOT test from when a car is three years old to when it is four years old. However, a concurrent poll of motorists performed by the organisation found that just 51% were in favour of keeping the MOT start at three years. IMI Policy Manager Hayley Pells commented: “We received a resounding confirmation from our members that the first MOT should not be extended due to increased road safety risk. While only 51% of motorists we surveyed felt the same, we believe there is sufficient weight of evidence to give the Department for Transport a very clear indication that any change to the start date would be detrimental for all road users.” Looking at the economic impact, 88% said moving the first MOT would have an effect on garage income, with 60% saying less MOTs would mean an overall drop in service work. Another survey found 89% of drivers are in favour of starting the MOT when a car is four years old, rather than when it hits three years old. The survey, undertaken as part of the monthly Startline Used Car Tracker from Startline Motor Finance, also found that 71% of drivers are convinced modern cars are safe enough to not need a MOT until hitting four years old, with 36% claiming to be motivated just by the cost-saving factor. Startline Motor Finance CEO Paul Burgess said: “There’s clearly overwhelming public backing for this move, according to our findings. This puts the public very much at odds with the motor industry, which generally believes that a three-year MOT is essential and has been very vocal in criticising the idea.” However, a survey performed by the SMMT found that 67% of UK motorists strongly support keeping the first MOT at three years. 67% went on to say they thought shifting to a start from when a car hits four would put lives in danger. 74% added that the typical £35-£45 cost of a test is a price worth paying for assurance on vehicular roadworthiness. SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes observed: “Our survey shows that drivers support the existing MOT frequency and that there is little appetite to change it, despite the increased cost of living. If changes to the MOT are to be made, these should enable testing of advanced electrified powertrains, driver assistance technologies and connected and automated features, as drivers value the peace of mind the MOT offers.” Meanwhile, DVSA figures cited by the IAAF show 300,000 vehicles fail their first MOT test at three years. Tyres are one of the most common failure items for all vehicle types. 57% of all electric vehicles fail their first test on tyres, compared with 35% for diesel vehicles and 37% for petrol vehicles. IAAF Chief Executive Mark Field observed: “Moving the first MOT test to four years gives motorists the false perception that vehicles are more reliable when the data says otherwise. It also potentially means motorists face worsening problems, higher repair bills and more polluting vehicles if cars remain unchecked for longer periods.” IGA Chief Executive Stuart James concluded: “Based on the research and member feedback compiled when writing our consultation response, it is clear that any changes made will impact road safety far more than the government anticipates. It is important that the MOT test is updated to incorporate new vehicle types and technologies to ensure that vehicles’ structures, components and systems operate to a set minimum standard. However, road safety must also be taken into account here, so the period of time a vehicle can be used before its first MOT should remain unchanged while any changes to the scheme are rolled out, tested and analysed.” A petition that calls for a halt to the government’s plans to extend the period before a vehicle has its first MOT petition is currently running. To sign the petition, go to: visit: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions /631650 4 AFTERMARKET MAY 2023 www.aftermarketonline.net Motorists and industry at odds over MOT proposals? JLR DPF multi-billion pound class action DPF problems experienced by owners of a number of Jaguar and Land Rover models have led to a group action against the manufacturer being brought to the High Court of England and Wales, with £3 billion in damages being sought. According to the claim, models including the Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery, Land Rover Discovery Sport and Jaguar E-Pace have defective DPFs that JLR currently cannot fix, and that these cars regularly go into limp mode as a result. The claim also suggests these defects led to accelerated engine wear forcing owners to pay for additional servicing, in some cases requiring engine replacement. James Oldnall, Managing Partner at Milberg and lead litigator on the claim says: “We want to seek redress for those who have not only been misled by Jaguar Land Rover, but have been put at risk by the company not admitting affected car models have defective components including faulty exhaust filters.” According to the law firm, over 500,000 new car owners may be eligible to make a claim, and thousands more used car owners may also have claims. If the case is successful, claimants could receive between £3,000-£16,000 each in compensation. Jaguar Land Rover is facing a similar case in Australia which is ongoing.
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