Editor’s comment 3 www.aftermarketonline.net MARCH 2025 Editor John Shepherd john@aftermarket.co.uk +44 (0) 1732 370 345 Head of Sales Angela Lyus angela@aftermarket.co.uk +44 (0) 7823 736 629 Managing Director Ryan Fuller ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk Marketing Manager Hope Jepson hope.jepson@dfamedia.co.uk Production Design Anthony Wiffen production@aftermarket.co.uk +44 (0) 7851 612799 Finance Department accounts@dfamedia.co.uk +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Contributors Martin Brown | Bill Fennell Kevin Olds | Jay Wheatley Published by DFA Media Group 192 High Street Tonbridge Kent TN9 1BE +44 (0)1732 370340 ISSN 2516-9149 Aftermarket is published 10 times a year and is sent free of charge to applicants meeting the publisher’s criteria. All others may subscribe at £60 per anum, £120 Europe and £150 rest of the world. While every care is taken to provide accurate information, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or ommisions, no matter how caused. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior consent of the publisher. The views of contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Copyright: DFA Aftermarket Media Ltd 2025. Average net circulation July 2023 to June 2024 21,945 Countdown to showtime in city of a thousand trades As a proud Brummie I’m looking forward to heading ‘home’ next month to attend one of the major events on the auto industry’s calendar — Automechanika Birmingham. The UK’s second city is known as the home of a thousand trades, a title that can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution and Birmingham’s roots as an historic centre of manufacturing, innovation, and economic development. The motto on the city’s coat of arms is ‘Forward’, which is perhaps particularly appropriate as independent garages and professionals working in and alongside the automotive sector get in the fast lane for this event. Purists of geography will of course argue that the NEC really sits in the borough of Solihull, around 10 miles from Birmingham city centre. Nonetheless, here and the wider West Midlands region has a shared pride in being the historic home to some of the major global players in the automotive industry. This part of the world is home to Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin and there are still fond memories of the cars that once rolled off the production line in the southwest of Birmingham — at Longbridge — and associated industries. Regardless of the ups and downs that led to the demise of Longbridge as the UK’s car producing powerhouse, Birmingham’s place in automotive history was secured from the moment that Herbert Austin founded the Austin Motor Company in the summer of 1905, later setting up business in a former printing works in Longbridge. So why am I focusing on the past? Well, it’s important to remember and draw on that rich history as we look to the future in the glare of the Automechanika show spotlight. Despite our current economic challenges and distinctly mixed signals of support for the auto sector from government (this one and recent incarnations of all political hue), when we gather at the NEC in a few weeks’ time we should summon up the industrial spirit of Birmingham and be looking forward. As we report in this special show preview edition, in addition to over 50 product launches, more than 550 exhibitors from 25-plus countries will be at the NEC. What better endorsement can there be for the independent garage industry that the automotive sector is still going places, fuelled by the independent garages, auto and MOT centres, fast-fitters, mobile repairers, technicians, workshops, and other professionals that make up this vibrant industry. The Aftermarket team and I look forward to catching up with you during the show and hearing your news. Meanwhile, enjoy this bumper issue! John Shepherd Editor
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=