The demand for battery management programmes within workshops is predicted to increase dramatically in 2021, as a decline in new vehicle production means older vehicles will continue operating for longer. The increase in older vehicles used on the road will boost requirements for workshop servicing, including battery management.

Car Manufacturing Output Declines 27%

According to SMMT (2021), this year has been the “weakest January since 2009, as UK car manufacturing output declines -27.3% to 86,052 units – the 17th consecutive monthly decline”. Global supply chain problems, less vehicle demand and the pandemic have caused a decline in production, making vehicle maintenance a top industry priority.

Providing a proactive battery management programme as part of your workshops offering will provide a new revenue stream during this uncertain time. It can also improve customer service opportunities, by keeping customers’ cars working in good condition for longer.

Commercial workshop managers must invest in a proactive battery management programme, as a decline in commercial vehicle production means ageing fleets are active for longer on UK roads.

Commercial Vehicle Production in Decline

According to SMMT (2021a), the UKs “production of commercial vehicles (CVs) declined 31.5% in January, with just 5,616 units leaving factory gates” in “the worst start to the year since 2015”. The COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit impacts have caused new vehicle demand to fall.

Declining production means emergency services, logistics, public service vehicles and other commercial industries, are using ageing vehicles and batteries for longer, increasing the chance of roadside breakdowns and vehicle non-starts, due to discharged or damaged batteries.

Increased breakdowns cause time, budget and resource strains for commercial workshops, and the solution is to regularly test and charge batteries to avoid future defects.

New commercial