News

The seventeen-strong Motormania chain and Midland Car Parts have been put into administration. Grant Thornton has been appointed as the administrators for the two companies which traded under Richard C Hartley Limited. The 25-year-old business employs 92 people across its sites.

Delphi has updated its Warwickshire training centre to provide better learning opportunities for its staff and to showcase its range of Hartridge test equipment. The centre’s new layout gives Delphi almost 20,000 square feet of space. The site features several fully equipped workshops.

A survey of 11,000 shoppers by consumer magazine Which? has rated Halfords as the worst high street retailer. The survey was carried out to highlight the best and worst performing shops on the UK high street.

The Garage Equipment Association’s Engineer’s Accreditation Programme will take a new focus on preparing technicians for the MOT test. A new emphasis will be put on calibration practices for brake testers, with an aim to eradicate bad practice.

Vehicles registered before 1960 are no longer required to have an MOT test, the Department for Transport has announced. Roads Minister Mike Penning said the move is part of red tape-cutting measures inside the government. He reasons that classic and historic cars are often scrupulously maintained.

Nissan and Starbucks might be creating thousands of jobs, but consultancy firm Deloitte says nearly 10,000 workers were let go in the first quarter as Past Times, Peacocks, Game, La Senza, and Blacks all faltered on the High Street. It’s not a particularly cheery backdrop for Saxon Distribution to be selling into car accessory retailers then.

Tool and equipment specialist The Tool Connection has set up a dedicated channel on YouTube. The company says it will be using the video sharing site to promote its brands and the products it offers. Tool Connection says part of the aim of its videos will be to let users see new products in action before deciding to buy.

First Line is celebrating after its Borg & Beck brand was appointed as an approved clutch range to the Groupauto trading group. Groupauto members now have access to the complete range, which First Line says is one of the UK’s largest ranges of clutch components.