Talking is no longer enough when it comes to facing the skills gap, so says Simon King, CEO, Autotech Group.  The automotive aftermarket has spent the last decade talking about skills shortages. In 2026, that conversation is no longer enough. The issue is no longer awareness, but risk. Accelerating vehicle technology, tightening legislation and sustained workforce pressure have ...

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LKQ UK and Ireland has welcomed the launch of SERMI (Security-Related Vehicle Repair and Maintenance Information) in Great Britain, reiterating it’s calls for closer alignment with the EU and Northern Ireland to ensure fair access for independent garages. SERMI provides a secure way for technicians to access the vehicle data they need from Original Equipment ...

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According to Motorparc data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the number of vehicles in the UK grew 0.4% to 40,506,971 in 2021. Despite the increase in the parc, major shortages of key components and supply chain disruptions across the globe caused new car registrations to remain broadly static at 1.65 ...

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The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has signed an Armed Forces Covenant, pledging its commitment to advocate for recruitment and retention of ex-military personnel across the automotive industry. The pledge commits SMMT to promoting best practice, fostering a culture and ethos of inclusivity, and making the commercial case for automotive companies to also ...

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The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Charitable Trust Fund has launched the SMMT Apprentice Support Programme, designed to help safeguard the jobs of apprentices currently working within the automotive industry. The scheme comes as the government-funded furlough scheme is set to end in a month’s time, to be replaced by new measures to ...

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According to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), UK new car registrations fell -34.9% in June. The drop was said to be an improvement on May’s -89.0% wipe-out but, with 145,377 new car registrations, this still represented a significant decline of 78,044 compared with June 2019, as dealerships in Wales ...

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According to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), UK car manufacturing output fell -95.4% in May with just 5,314 vehicles rolling off production lines. The performance was said to be a slight improvement on April, when only 197 units were built but with factories still closed or running at reduced ...

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Data released by Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has shown that UK new car registrations declined -97.3% in April. This reportedly marked a record low for the new car market as the coronavirus pandemic forced the nation into lockdown for the entire month, with showrooms closed and car buyers housebound. Just 4,321 new ...

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The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has announced that the number of vehicles registered for use on British roads has surpassed 40 million for the first time. The Motorparc data revealed that more than 35 million cars and five million commercial vehicles were in use in the UK in 2019, representing a 1.0% ...

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British motorists buy more car parts, accessories and services online than cosmetics or groceries finds new research. The UK’s car servicing and repair sector grew again in 2016, with turnover rising 2.4% to £21.6 billion, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Growth was primarily driven by sustained record ...

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