We're kicking off a new season with Monday's with Mark. We're going to aim to publish one a week and cover as much as we can. It will be a mixture of personal and business and maybe we'll get to know each other in the automotive industry a little better!

A walk around Automechanika Birmingham on day one of the event, meeting with exhibitors and visitors.

A walk around Automechanika Frankfurt where I gain some feedback and insight on the show and the wider automotive aftermarket from UK exhibitors.

Volume may need to be lowered / raised accordingly due to background event noise

Introduction to our season four and update from Mark Field, chief executive of Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF)

In this first episode of Season four, Mark sits down with Neil Pattemore, UK Technical Director of UK AFCAR to discuss all the legislation surrounding the automotive aftermarket and what businesses can do to help shape and evolve future UK law.

Mark and Neil discuss the the future of Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MVBER), why SERMI is very much alive and kicking and the differences for UK aftermarket lobbying in a post-Brexit era.

Chloe Hyland, Marketing Manager of Messe Frankfurt UK, talks openly about the difficulties faced by the events industry due to the coronavirus pandemic and how the business used the time wisely to invest in both its digital footprint through Autoresource.co.uk and new exhibition format, designed to support the automotive aftermarket.

Chloe also gives an insight into what to expect from the hugely anticipated Garage and Bodyshop Event, taking place from 8 to 9 June at Birmingham NEC.

James Onions, UK Country Manager for JackFinder, has called on garages to embrace the difference GaragesNear.Me brings as the platform continues to grow in the UK automotive aftermarket.  

Speaking to Mark Field in the Monday’s with Mark podcast, Onions said: “We calculate accurately at a vehicle specific level the value of the job at the time the consumer books it. There is a greater level of accuracy in pricing in our platform, over the others, for the benefit of both the motorist and garage.”

The new garage-friendly network provides online, real-time manufacturer data driven service pricing to motorists. Garages joining GaragesNear.me will receive service and maintenance bookings quickly and easily, with no hassle or extra admin work, enabling them to focus on their business.

Garages who partner with GaragesNear.me can be live and gaining online visibility within minutes. It’s completely free and garages can join at https://garagesnear.me/for-garages.

This week, we talk Self driving vehicles, are servicing schedules diluted and we join the #askmeanything craze! 

It's episode 7 of Press Connect!

Episode 6 of Press Connect where Field and Pells discuss the cyber attack on EA and how it affects the automotive industry, plus parts prices, availability and promotions. All this plus Mark gets excited over a squirrel and the Euros!

Toyota 10 year warranty, Self-driving cars, garage access to vehicle data and much more in this week's episode of Press Connect!