CAT

Unipart Automotive has bought Rapid Car Parts for an undisclosed sum. The supplier bought five branches of the factor chain this month, giving Unipart better factor coverage in the South East. Unipart now owns five stores of the factor chain, with stores in Watford, Norwich and Lowestoft among others.

Standard Motor Products Europe (SMPE) has bought Fuel Parts UK for an undisclosed sum. The deal will see no change in the management structure at Fuel Parts UK, with the new owners confirming they don’t expect any employment losses.

Andrew Page has teamed up with one of its customers to raise money for charity. The motor factor is supporting customers David and Sue Connellan from Worcester’s Mobile Mechanic in their fund raising efforts for The Glory Baptist Charity. The charity raises money for school building projects in The Gambia.

Imperial Automotive launches cool website

HiQ celebrates 100th ATA technician

Johnson Controls has launched a diagnostic tool to help garages tackle the growing Start-Stop vehicle market. The Varta Stop-Start Service Program (VSSP) tool will cost garages just over £1500 when it is launched in March next year. Johnson Controls is expecting a large rise in Start-Stop battery sales.

Zero Clips completes staff buyout

TRW is opening a brand new production facility in Mexico to produce its range of advanced brake systems. The components manufacturer and supplier is building a 150,000 square foot facility in the Mexican state of Queretaro to manufacturer hydraulic control units for a variety of ESC applications.

The AA’s army of road watchers has warned that even before winter has fully set in the UK’s roads are already suffering from potholes. The South West is the only region to have on average more repaired potholes than new ones. The inevitable pothole vehicle repairs could give garages a winter bonus.

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