Demonisation of diesel has to stop · IN RECENTmonths, the diesel has been the subject of...
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IN RECENT months, the diesel has been the subject of discussion as to its damaging emissions. Although considered cleaner with CO output, the need to regulate NOx emissions and the problems early in 2014 with ‘smog’ attributed to the rise in diesel sales, has pushed the fuel to the fore. Calls for ‘diesel charges’ similar to the congestion charge in cities, increases in tax rates and media misunderstandings have caused the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to act. The SMMT has launched a new website, dieselfacts.co.uk, as well as a leaflet via vehicle manufacturers and dealers, in an effort to inform the public about the benefits of the fuel while dispelling the myths that have been created along the way. It comes as new consumer research reveals widespread confusion about diesel technology that, if uncorrected, could limit adoption of the latest low emission vehicles and undermine the UK’s efforts to meet strict air quality and climate change obligations. Responding to a YouGov poll, 87% of UK adults said they were unaware of the latest Euro-6 vehicle emission technology, while 54% incorrectly blamed cars and commercial vehicles as the biggest cause of air pollution in the UK. Just under one in five (19%) of people surveyed correctly identified power stations as the biggest contributors of nitrogen oxides (NOx). In fact, it would take 42 million Euro-6 diesel cars (almost four times the number on the roads) to generate the same amount of NOx as one UK coal- fired power station. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, comments: “Today’s diesel engines are the cleanest ever, and the culmination of billions of pounds of investment by manufacturers to improve air quality. Bans and parking taxes on diesel vehicles therefore make no sense from an environmental point of view. We need to avoid penalising one vehicle technology over another and instead encourage the uptake of the latest low emission vehicles by consumers. The allegations against diesel cars made in recent months threaten to misguide policy making and undermine public confidence in diesel. It’s time to put the record straight.” From 1 September 2015, all new cars must meet the new Euro-6 emissions standard making them the cleanest in history. Almost nine out of 10 people surveyed (87%), however, confirmed they have never heard of the term. This is of particular concern given the recent decisions by some local authorities in London to charge diesel-owning residents more to park outside their homes. Some local councils are imposing surcharges based on a vehicle’s Euro Standard rating; others are imposing penalties regardless of their performance. This is despite almost three quarters (72%) of motorists opposing penalties for the UK’s cleanest cars. Of these, 16% think some diesel cars should incur a parking surcharge and others shouldn’t, according to their Euro standard emissions, while 56% believe diesel cars should not incur a surcharge at all, regardless of their rating. www.aftermarketonline.net www.aftermarketonline.net | April 2015 Aftermarket | News Industry news SMMT calls for clarity on diesel as media labels it ‘dirty’ COMMITTED: Mike Hawes highlights the potential of diesel engines Demonisation of diesel has to stop 04 IN A SPEECH at the recent IMI Dinner, Chief Executive Steve Nash called on the government to entice more people into becoming apprentices by increasing the hourly pay rate by 70%. The call, made before the Chancellor’s budget where the rate was increased by 20% to £3.30 per hour, would have seen the level move from £2.73 to £4.73 per hour giving apprentices more opportunity to see through a three- year course in the automotive industry with better career prospects at the end. Steve Nash explains: “The industry is telling us they struggle to attract the highest quality school leavers into training, that they need to help them overcome the technological challenges they face over the next decade. This demand cannot be met while the industry continues to pay apprentices the legal minimum of £2.73 per hour across the board. “The education system is now totally geared up to keep young people in school until they’re 18 and push them toward university. Meanwhile, young people no longer have access to careers advisors who might send them down a vocational route since the service was reorganised in 2012. This puts industry at a disadvantage.” Speaking after the chancellor’s announcement, he added: “20% on top of today’s apprentice minimum wage is a great step forward; it should help business attract talented youngsters into vocational training as a viable alternative to university. However, the IMI is recommending that businesses in the motor industry go further and offer up to £4 an hour to first year apprentices, to attract the brightest students into our branch of engineering apprenticeships." The move comes as the body warns that poor provision of careers advice is a road block to economic growth. The warning follows IMI sponsored research from the Industry Apprentice Council, which showed that 45% of current industry apprentices had received poor or no guidance on their career choice. Meanwhile, less than 10% said a careers advisor or teacher had helped them find out about apprenticeships. There is currently no statutory requirement for young people to have access to face-to-face careers advice. www.aftermarketonline.net IMI calls for apprentice pay increase TRAINING: More is needed to bring young people into apprenticeships
Transcript of Demonisation of diesel has to stop · IN RECENTmonths, the diesel has been the subject of...
IN RECENT months, the diesel hasbeen the subject of discussion as toits damaging emissions. Althoughconsidered cleaner with CO output,the need to regulate NOx emissionsand the problems early in 2014with ‘smog’ attributed to the rise indiesel sales, has pushed the fuel tothe fore. Calls for ‘diesel charges’similar to the congestion charge incities, increases in tax rates andmedia misunderstandings havecaused the Society of MotorManufacturers and Traders to act.
The SMMT has launched a newwebsite, dieselfacts.co.uk, as wellas a leaflet via vehiclemanufacturers and dealers, in aneffort to inform the public aboutthe benefits of the fuel whiledispelling the myths that have beencreated along the way. It comes asnew consumer research revealswidespread confusion about diesel
technology that, if uncorrected,could limit adoption of the latestlow emission vehicles andundermine the UK’s efforts to meetstrict air quality and climate changeobligations.
Responding to a YouGov poll,87% of UK adults said they wereunaware of the latest Euro-6vehicle emission technology, while54% incorrectly blamed cars andcommercial vehicles as the biggestcause of air pollution in the UK.Just under one in five (19%) ofpeople surveyed correctly identifiedpower stations as the biggestcontributors of nitrogen oxides(NOx). In fact, it would take 42million Euro-6 diesel cars (almostfour times the number on theroads) to generate the sameamount of NOx as one UK coal-fired power station.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief
Executive, comments: “Today’sdiesel engines are the cleanest ever,and the culmination of billions ofpounds of investment bymanufacturers to improve airquality. Bans and parking taxes ondiesel vehicles therefore make nosense from an environmental pointof view. We need to avoidpenalising one vehicle technologyover another and insteadencourage the uptake of the latestlow emission vehicles byconsumers. The allegations againstdiesel cars made in recent monthsthreaten to misguide policy makingand undermine public confidencein diesel. It’s time to put the recordstraight.”
From 1 September 2015, all newcars must meet the new Euro-6emissions standard making themthe cleanest in history. Almost nineout of 10 people surveyed (87%),
however, confirmed they havenever heard of the term. This is ofparticular concern given the recentdecisions by some local authoritiesin London to charge diesel-owningresidents more to park outside theirhomes. Some local councils areimposing surcharges based on avehicle’s Euro Standard rating;others are imposing penaltiesregardless of their performance.This is despite almost three quarters(72%) of motorists opposingpenalties for the UK’s cleanest cars.Of these, 16% think some dieselcars should incur a parkingsurcharge and others shouldn’t,according to their Euro standardemissions, while 56% believe dieselcars should not incur a surcharge atall, regardless of their rating.
www.aftermarketonline.net
www.aftermarketonline.net | April 2015 Aftermarket | News
Industry news
SMMT calls for clarity ondiesel as media labels it ‘dirty’
COMMITTED: Mike Hawes highlights the potential of diesel engines
Demonisationof diesel hasto stop
04
IN A SPEECH at the recent IMIDinner, Chief Executive Steve Nashcalled on the government to enticemore people into becomingapprentices by increasing thehourly pay rate by 70%.
The call, made before theChancellor’s budget where the ratewas increased by 20% to £3.30per hour, would have seen thelevel move from £2.73 to £4.73per hour giving apprentices moreopportunity to see through a three-year course in the automotiveindustry with better careerprospects at the end.
Steve Nash explains: “Theindustry is telling us they struggleto attract the highest quality schoolleavers into training, that theyneed to help them overcome thetechnological challenges they faceover the next decade. This demandcannot be met while the industrycontinues to pay apprentices the
legal minimum of £2.73 per houracross the board.
“The education system is nowtotally geared up to keep youngpeople in school until they’re 18and push them toward university.Meanwhile, young people nolonger have access to careersadvisors who might send themdown a vocational route since theservice was reorganised in 2012.This puts industry at adisadvantage.”
Speaking after the chancellor’sannouncement, he added: “20%on top of today’s apprenticeminimum wage is a great stepforward; it should help businessattract talented youngsters intovocational training as a viablealternative to university. However,the IMI is recommending thatbusinesses in the motor industry gofurther and offer up to £4 an hourto first year apprentices, to attract
the brightest students into ourbranch of engineeringapprenticeships."
The move comes as the bodywarns that poor provision ofcareers advice is a road block toeconomic growth. The warningfollows IMI sponsored researchfrom the Industry ApprenticeCouncil, which showed that 45%of current industry apprentices had
received poor or no guidance ontheir career choice. Meanwhile, lessthan 10% said a careers advisor orteacher had helped them find outabout apprenticeships. There iscurrently no statutory requirementfor young people to have access toface-to-face careers advice.
www.aftermarketonline.net
IMI calls for apprenticepay increase
TRAINING: More is needed to bring young people into apprenticeships
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05April 2015 Aftermarket | News | www.aftermarketonline.net
THE RGA has highlighted that MOTstations will have to look atchanging and possibly enhancinghow they manage test quality asDVSA announce that the new MOTcomputer system will not recordQC checks. Authorised Examiners(AEs) however will need to provideevidence to DVSA in the future asto how they are managing testquality.
The DVSA acknowledges thatsome AEs are using tradeassociations to advise them. TheRMI MOTQC Scheme has beenproviding this additional supportfor many years. RMI Director StuartJames commented, “We arealready working closely with theDVSA to assist garages and
enhance their internal QCprocedures. Our own dedicatedMOT operations team conducts siteassessments, including all the areasthat the DVSA focuses on during itsown site assessments, includingobserving an MOT. At the end ofevery visit, we provide garages withboth a verbal and written report,together with recommendations onhow to remain compliant andreduce risk. By working closely withthe DVSA and following theirstandards, we are able to providethorough QC checks, which canimprove our members’ complianceand risk score.”
The announcement from theDVSA comes at a time when thegarage trade is already anticipating
a switch to a new web-based MOTtesting system, which is due to becompleted by September 2015.Bringing MOT testing online is partof the wider government MOTmodernisation project, which aimsto improve road safety and testquality by simplifying MOT policiesand processes.
The RMI has long been workingwith the DVSA to help MOTstations engage with the project,and welcomed the department toits member events last year, whichit opened up to all MOT stations.
Meanwhile, the association hasalso been liaising with theDepartment for Transport in aproject to reassess statutory MOTtest fees.
The DfT is analysing garagerunning costs to validate thejustification for an increase in MOTtest fees to present to the nextgovernment, but to make thishappen they need financial costingsfor MOT test stations as a startingpoint to the project.
Stuart James adds: “MOT pricinghas been a long-running issue withindependent garages. The fact thatthere is no minimum price forcesgarages to compete on what is analready small profit margin. TheIGA continues to campaign for theintroduction of a minimummandated fee, as well as anincrease in the maximum fee.”
www.aftermarketonline.net
AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCT supplierand manufacturer AutomotiveBrands has purchased the BTCRacing team which it title-sponsored in the 2014 BritishTouring Car Championship.
The team competed under thename Power Maxed Racing andwill continue in this guise under itsnew ownership. Previous ownerChris Stockton was also the team’sdriver in 2014 and has relinquishedhis role to focus on other businesscommitments. The team will runtwo Chevrolet Cruzes this year fordrivers Dave Newsham and JoshCook.
Chris Stockton comments: “I’msad to be taking a back seat just asthings are coming together. The old adage is true, you wait fora bus and two come along atonce. My pallet distributionbusiness is growing phenomenallyand opportunities that just cannotbe passed up on have beenpresented. It is just not possible torun a BTCC team, grow mybusiness and race, and do allentities justice, unfortunately.”
Adam Weaver, managingDirector of Automotive Brandsadds: “Having been involved in theBTCC for the past three seasons,
owning a BTCCteam is a greatstrategic move forAutomotiveBrands. The teamnot only providesan ideal R&Dplatform for ourpremium range ofproducts but themarketing benefitof being involvedin such an iconic racing series ishuge.
“We’re involved in many typesof motorsport through oursponsorship development program
however, the BTCC is the pinnacleand will support our strategicmarketing plans and furtherdevelopment of our premiumproducts.”
Automotive Brands buys BTCC team
Garages must continue MOT qualitycontrol on their own
THE ALLIANCE AutomotiveGroup has acquired the UnitedAftermarket Network (UAN) fromthe current shareholders Andrewand Rachael Dickinson, creating acombined purchasing powergreater than £300 million perannum with member sell outvalue exceeding £500 million.
Andrew Dickinsoncommented: “Rachael and Irealised that for UAN to continueto progress as it has over the lasteleven years, we needed tobecome part of a larger,European wide organisation. It isour opinion that joining forces
with GROUPAUTO will enablethis process.”
The UAN and GROUPAUTOwill continue to operate asseparate networks playing to thestrengths of the respectivebrands.
Andrew and Rachael will staywith the business to ensure aneffective transfer of ownershipand Phil Dodd, will immediatelyfill the Managing Director’sposition at UAN.
Jim Mazza, current MD ofGROUPAUTO, will becomeManaging Director of AllianceAutomotive Group UK trading
groups and a Managing Directorof GROUPAUTO will be recruited.
He comments: “Theindependent motor factor isfaced with a fast-changingmarket environment withdifferent competitors seeking toposition themselves foradvantage. We are in a worldwhere size increasingly mattersand it is vital that our membersare part of a group which has theresources and purchasing powerto enable them to compete on alevel playing field.
"This initiative is the productof considerable thought and
effort as all had to be satisfiedthat joining forces was in thebest interest of the members andemployees of the respectivegroups. When we had theopportunity to look at what sucha combination could offer itbecame a question of ‘when' itwould happen and not ‘if’. Thetwo groups will have theresources and expertise toenhance their offer to members.
“I am relishing the opportunityto work with the GROUPAUTOand UAN teams to ensure themembers of both groups achievetangible benefits.”
Alliance Automotive increase purchasing power with UAN acquisition
OWNERSHIP: The team will run two cars for this season
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www.aftermarketonline.net | Aftermarket April 2015 Aftermarket | News06
Autopromotec grows exhibitorand delegation numbersWITH REGISTRATIONS still inprogress, the Autopromotec 2015figures gathered so far witness a10% increase in exhibitors over2013, with a large share of foreigncompanies taking part.
Thanks to targeted and well-conducted international promotionactivities that have beenundertaken over the years andhave intensified over the past fewmonths, Autopromotec has nowbecome a must-see event for thecommercial activities of Italian andinternational exhibitors and visitorsalike. In order to offer the bestdemand and supply solutions foreach country, and to confirm the
increasing international orientationof the show, many internationalexhibitors will be grouped incountry pavilions, wide exhibitingspaces hosting leading countries ofthe international automotive scene,such as Argentina and Brazil.Moreover, an area devoted toTurkish exhibiting companies willbe featured for the first time ever,an important project developed incollaboration with OIB–UludagAutomotive Industry Exporters’Association – that will involve 11companies and will be hosted inHall 21.
Due to agreements signed withseveral institutional and private
partners, the number ofinternational groups visiting theshow has more than doubled over2013, with 24 confirmeddelegations coming from allcontinents. In detail, thanks to arenewed agreement with ICE – theItalian Trade Promotion Agency –delegations from the USA, Mexico,Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Morocco,Qatar, UAE, South Africa, SaudiArabia, North Korea and Japan willbe visiting the event.
Autopromotec will take place on20-24 May in Bologna, Italy. Youcan read a preview in the Mayissue of Aftermarket magazine, outon April 24th.
New appointmentsMAHLE AFTERMARKET hasrecruited experienced aftermarketprofessional Phil Ramsay to theposition of technical sales support,to develop its ‘man with a van’concept and promote the breadthand quality of the entire MAHLEaftermarket product range.
Phil has a broad range ofaftermarket experience, mostrecently with IFA memberLeamoco, where he waswarehouse manager and partsadvisor providing technical supportto the sales team. He waspreviously a co-owner of anindependent workshop, so haspractical knowledge from both adistribution and installationperspective.
“The idea behind the ‘man witha van’ programme is to takeMAHLE – and everything its brands
stand for – directly to thetechnicians who are actuallyundertaking the service and repairwork,” explains MAHLEAftermarket managing director,Jonathan Walker. “However, toreally connect with thosetechnicians, you need someonewho understands the realities andchallenges of the installationprocess, not just a knowledge ofreplacement components.
Servicesure Autocentres, thenational garage programmedeveloped by The Parts Alliance,has appointed its first NationalSales Manager as it gears up for aperiod of rapid growth.
Jason McCreanney currentlyworks as a business projectmanager for Car Parts &Accessories (CPA), the Sussexmotor factor acquired by The Parts
Alliance in September last year. Heofficially takes up his new role onApril 1. Jason has been with CPAfor two years, before that runninghis own businesses during a 30-year career in sales.
One of his first duties asNational Sales Manager is tomentor around 50 ServicesureAutocentre development teams,who are employed either by theowned businesses within The PartsAlliance or by the group’s associatemembers.
EXHIBITION: Autopromotec has already increased exhibitor numbers for 2015
Protecting peopleAndrew Page has signed upwith Peoplesafe to provide100 of its staff with devicesthat can raise the alarm ifthey need help. The Identicomand Twig protectors are beingused at the company’sdistribution centre and in its114-strong branch networkand will allow staff membersto be monitored and indicatethey are in trouble at the pushof a button.
Rallying callMorris Lubricants will be theofficial lubricant partner andsupplier to the Drive DMACKFiesta Trophy throughout the2015 series, which takesplace over five rounds of theFIA World Rally Championshipstarting in May in Portugal.The company is alsosponsoring British truck racingace Dave Jenkins, who isgunning for glory in the BritishTruck Racing AssociationChampionship.
Award winningJubilee Clips is celebratingafter winning the MedwayBusiness ManufacturingAward at the first time ofentering. Targeted exportgrowth in recent years and thewide spread of exportmarkets, proving that JubileeClips is a global player, caughtthe attention of the judgeswith 12% growth to Europeanmarkets in 2014 and animpressive 20% growth tomarkets further afield.
Lifetime achievementNGK’s Brian Childs has beenrecognised for his work inbringing the spark plugmanufacturer to the fore bywinning the CAT MagazineLifetime Achievement award.Brian started as an apprenticeat Ford in Dunton, Essex,before joining NGK as aregional sales representativein 1975. He retired from hisrole as Deputy ManagingDirector in 2013, although heremains on the board in anadvisory capacity.
ROLE: Jason McCreanney joins Parts Alliance
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