Features Archives - Auto Repair Focus

Mar182019 by Auto Repair FocusNo Comments

Brexit: What’s going on?

Brexit seems to have everyone confused, especially the UK Government. Despite the votes of the last week we are still no cleared to how, or even when, the country will cease to be part of the European Union. The situation has unnerved the automotive industry for some time, with manufacturers and suppliers calling for clarity, and the continuation of a frictionless trade agreement which will not add to the costs of parts and cars. Despite the vote against a ‘hard-Brexit’ this situation could still happen if the EU decides enough is enough. The other question currently on the minds of the British public and the automotive industry is ‘when will Brexit happen?’ The current 29 March deadline is looming, although MPs have voted to extend this, should the EU also agree. Myths buste

Mar72019 by Auto Repair FocusNo Comments

Geneva International Motor Show 2019

Features, News, Out and about

Phil Curry took a trip to Switzerland to profile some of the upcoming models and find out how the industry is reacting to enforced change... The Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) is opening its doors for the 89thtime this year. This event is very different to the first running, and indeed, different to more recent runnings, taking place in a changing automotive landscape. The automotive market, which has been growing steadily since the global recession of 2009, has come to a halt. Sales are fluctuating, caused by turbulent markets, unpredictable political situations and a campaign against diesel technology that has caused sale to drop drastically since 2015, the same time that Dieselgate broke and the eyes of the world focused on nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. ...

Mar12019 by Auto Repair FocusNo Comments

Electric vehicles: cleaning up the garage?

Electric Vehicles, Features, Workshop consumables

For those who work in garages, coming into contact with contaminants, grease and grime is a daily occurrence. Which means that getting your hands dirty is part of the job! The likelihood is that a tub of industrial hand cleaner is always on hand, and most days end with a good scrub at the sink. A tin of Swarfega has become iconic to most automotive workers. But this workplace is about to go through a transformation. “The industry will totally change as we see more and more EVs on the road,” Mick, a technician at Manchester Hybrids said. By 2040, the sale of all new diesel and petrol cars and vans will be banned – although hybrid vehicles will be exempt. These changes signal a huge shift away from the internal combustion engine, which has been a daily sight for auto workers acros

Feb192019 by Auto Repair FocusNo Comments

Why Honda closures spell change for the aftermarket

Electric Vehicles, Features

Honda has announced a major restructuring program, closing its plants in Swindon, UK, and Kocaeli, Turkey, citing the challenge of modern automotive conditions as its reasons – and it is a warning that even the aftermarket should be heeding. While many may think that the closure of Swindon is to do with Brexit (and more on that in a moment), the closure of the plant at Kocaeli in Turkey should highlight that this is more to do with a big change in vehicle technologies, one which is causing manufacturers around the world a number of financial and logistical problems. CO2 levels By 2021, manufacturers need to meet a European target of 95g/km average for their fleets. This is down from the 130g/km target for 2015. However, in 2017, the average manufacturer CO2 level was 118

Nov292018 by Auto Repair FocusNo Comments

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Tracey Crouch MP on safety for roadside workers

Features, News

The Campaign for Safer Roadside Rescue and Recoveryis driven by Sam Cockerill, whose partner Steve Godbold was killed after being hit by a lorry on the hard shoulder of the M25, as he was loading a vehicle onto his flatbed. It has gained the support of a number of groups, including the recovery Industry Support Charity (RISC). Now, a new All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has been established to discuss roadside recovery operator (RRO) safety, following the issue being raised by Tracey Crouch MP in the House of Commons. Auto Repair Focus spoke to her to find out more about the campaign she is supporting, and what can be done to improve conditions. Can you tell me a bit about the cause you’re highlighting? It’s been well documented what happened to Steve Godbold, and Sam, hi

Aug312018 by Auto Repair FocusNo Comments

WLTP – what is the new emissions test?

Exhaust system, Features

One of the outcomes of the Dieselgate scandal in 2015 was a heightened awareness of vehicle emissions. Suddenly, the general public was questioning the level of emissions that vehicles put out of their exhausts. More worryingly, various research companies and media outlets conducted their own tests, finding that published emission figures were massively out of touch with the real world. Old methods The previous test, the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) is a laboratory based emissions check. Manufacturers send in a vehicle which is then tested using a rolling road. Emissions output is measured and these are the official figures that follow that model throughout its life. The NEDC was established in 1980. Back then, there were very few model variants and optional ...

Jun212018 by Auto Repair FocusNo Comments

Automechanika Birmingham 2018

Automechanika Birmingham, Features

With over 10,000 visitors, it has to be said that this year’s Automechanika Birmingham was a success. The event featured 500 exhibitors from 26 countries covering a floor space of 9,400 square metres. More than 120 companies exhibited at Automechanika Birmingham for the first time including: AA Garage Guide, Snap-On, Ceramex, GSF Car Parts and Wurth Electronics. Immediate post-event feedback highlighted a “quality” visitor in attendance and this, coupled with an increased ratio of visitors to exhibitors, meant the event delivered an excellent opportunity for the automotive industry to come together, network and do business. The Auto Repair Focus team was hard at work, meeting a number of exhibitors from well-established companies to new players in the aftermarket, finding out what

Jun42018 by Auto Repair FocusNo Comments

What goes into a Le Mans engine?

Bearings, Engine, Features

The Le Mans 24-hour race is a high endurance, day-long race that puts the world's best race cars to the test. In 2017, jaws dropped when an LMP2 car was placed second and third overall. But, why was this a poignant moment for this engine type and why is this significant to the design and development of these race car engines? And how does miniature bearing specialist, SMB Bearings fit in to this? A Le Mans Prototype (LMP) is the type of sports prototype race car used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, European Le Mans Series(ELMS) and Asian Le Mans Series. For a car to be compliant for entry in either the LMP1 or LMP2 category, certain design criteria must be fulfilled. In a previously LMP1 dominated race,

May162018 by Auto Repair FocusNo Comments

GDPR – What do garages need to know?

Business, Features

Mark Lloyd from The Automotive Academy discusses what the new data protection regulation will mean for garages The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force on 25thMay 2018, and applies to all businesses who interact with EU and UK citizens. This means that if your garage hasn’t started preparing for this new legislation yet, you don’t have long to make sure you’re compliant. Much of the advice surrounding the GDPR focusses on the penalties for ignoring the legislation, but while these can include significant fines (up to £17 million!), focusing on the negative aspects of the GDPR means businesses are overlooking the benefits of making sure they’re compliant. The GDPR gives individuals more rights over the information companies hold about them. Following the G

Apr132018 by Auto Repair FocusNo Comments

Why are new car sales falling?

Features, SMMT

The UK’s new car market is struggling, with sales down last year, and a further drop already forecast for 2018. March saw the 12th consecutive month of decline, but why have the sales of new vehicles gone from record highs to such lows? The first thing to remember is that despite what the mainstream press states, the market is not really ‘struggling’. Last year, over 2.5 million vehicles were sold in the UK, compared to 2.69 in 2016. A drop of around 200,000 vehicles cannot really be called a crisis, especially as 2016 was a record year, with the highest sales figures ever recorded. It is a case that over time, sales figures will ebb and flow. Yet in this instance, there are a few factors which are inorganically causing a seismic shift in the industry, and this could end up being goo