CAT

Credit ratings agency Moody’s says aftermarket revenues could be under threat from rising fuel prices in Europe. The company says that as motorists continue to use their cars less the demand for service items and spare parts could fall, impacting on aftermarket revenues.

Halfords Autocentres has been told that an advert on its website claiming customers could save up to 50 percent on main dealer pricing must not appear again in its current form. The ruling from the ASA upholds a complaint made against the company by the SMMT.

The voting stage of the 2013 CAT Awards is now underway. There are 34 people and companies looking for victory, so take a look at the riders and runners and tell us who deserves it the most. The winners in each category will be announced at the annual CAT Awards Ceremony in February.

For many, the question on their lips is which country will be the first to exit the eurozone.

Whether an existing eurozone member jumps or is pushed is irrelevant. The consequences for many businesses are likely to be severe. This is particularly so because there is no English or EU law which addresses the legal effect of a change of currency resulting from a eurozone exit. This stands in stark contrast to the situation in certain US states that have such laws.

In a special guest CAT Council appearance Adrian Hill of Morris Lubricants and Ken Clark of Rozone warn that when it comes to battery and oil products, some items in the market just don't stack up.

Jim Mazza has challenged the aftermarket to raise its game for the future. The Groupauto Managing Director says the industry needs to react to the conditions it is currently facing. Mazza says that the growing threat from VMs and franchises, rather than galvanizing businesses into action, seems to have dulled the wits of the independent sector.