VLS Newsletter – March 2021
Case summary
Overall the number of cases stands at 68, with 3 products under investigation, 0 not compliant following investigation, 0 not compliant following six month review, 1 product not proven to be compliant and escalated to Trading Standards, 0 product compliant during investigation and no further action taken, 0 compliant following investigation, 0 compliant following six month review and 64 archived.
Case 010168 – concerns official approval claims made against an OEM specification. The case has been raised with the Named Party to which we are awaiting a response.
Case 010167 – concerns the claims made on a 5w30 automotive engine oil. A sample of the product has been procured and tested. The matter has been raised with the Named Party and we are awaiting a response.
Case 010166 – concerns a 5w30 Longlife automotive engine oil with a VW 504/507 approval and also making marketing claims against a wide range of OEM specifications. The case is due for review at the six month stage.
Case 010159 – remains under investigation and has been passed to UEIL regarding the claims made on a 5w30 automotive engine oil.
To view the case outcomes, visit http://ukla-vls.org.uk/case-outcomes/
For details of how to submit a lubricant product complaint to VLS, go to http://ukla-vls.org.uk/case-handling-process/
Industry News
ACEA report that ambitious CO2 targets can only be as ambitious as the infrastructure deployed on the ground in Europe amid claims that the continent will need one million charging points for electric vehicles by 2024.
UK Government has announced it is reviewing the vertical block exemption due to expire from May 2022, at the same time as the European Union is also reviewing the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MVBER) ahead of its expiry in May 2023.
API has updated the list of companies to 19 products which are displaying API engine oil certification marks but without API’s authorisation.
SMMT reports that UK car production fell 27.3% in January as the industry calls for measures to support competitiveness.
ILMA report on how manufacturers can plan for the Google algorithm change in May 2021.
VDA – The German Automotive Industry Association has expressed concerns about the EU’s plans to introduce Euro 7 emissions regulations which they believe will spell the end of the internal combustion engine.
Media Editorial
Professional Motor Mechanic, February 2021, published commentary online from VLS on the MVBER renewal.
Commercial Vehicle Workshop, February 2021, published commentary online from VLS on the use of retired ACEA claims by oil marketers.
Professional Motor Factor, February 2021, published commentary by VLS on the environmental regulations affecting the sale of finished automotive lubricants in the UK.
Garage magazine, issue 324, published an article by VLS on the impact of electric vehicles on the automotive lubricant market, Page 41.
Lube magazine, February 2021, features an article by Michele Mason from Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards on taking forward the Primary Authority partnership with VLS.
Lube magazine, February 2021 features an article on VLS escalating a 5w30 Longlife engine oil case to Trading Standards.
VLS has produced a short introductory video to the ACEA 2016 engine oil sequences which is available on the homepage of its website.
Media Advertising
Autotechnician features a half page advert on VLS in the March edition of the magazine.
Commercial Vehicle Workshop features a half page advert in the February edition of the magazine.
Professional Motor Mechanic features a half page advert in the February edition of the magazine.
Lube Magazine, February 2021, features a half page advert by VLS on page 45.
Events
CIS, the 8th annual CIS base Oils and Lubricants Conference will take place in Moscow, Russia between 19th and 20th May 2021.
Oil Doc will take place at Rosenheim, Germany on 8th to 10th June 2021.
UNITI, Stuttgart will now take place on 14-15 July 2021.
Automechanika Frankfurt will now be held on 14-18 September 2021.
ELGI, the AGM will now take place 30th April to 3rd May 2022 in Hamburg.
Automechanika UK has been moved to 7-9 June 2022, NEC, Birmingham.
Social Media
Twitter
To follow VLS on Twitter click here.
LinkedIn
To follow VLS on LinkedIn click here.
Stay Up To Date
If your media team would like access to VLS press releases, newsfeeds and notifications from our social media accounts, please email admin@ukla-vls.org.uk, and we will add your name to our list of contacts.
Andrew Goddard
Chairman of VLS
