Manbat is introducing a high quality AGM battery into its Lucas range. The move is designed to assist both motor factors and their garage customers in meeting changing battery demand and respond to the requirements to supply the growing number of vehicles designed to use Start-Stop specific batteries.

Manbat Marketing Manager, Myles Pemberton comments, “Although we are well known in the trade for supplying the market leading VARTA® battery range, many of our customers like to supply the Lucas brand as they find the name is so familiar across the industry and has a great reputation for quality.” He added, “They will now also have a viable Lucas solution for those vehicles that by their design require a Start-Stop compatible battery that correctly conforms to the vehicle’s specification.  As a result, with the inclusion of the Lucas AGM, they are now fully equipped to provide their customers with the ideal replacement for each and every application.”

Manbat says that many garages are reporting that although Start-Stop may still be a trickle and not yet a flood, the balance is certainly beginning to change and that they need to prepare to cater for the challenge ahead. Manbat has spoken about this forthcoming challenge on many occasions and is encouraging garages to look at it as an opportunity, rather than a problem.

Myles commented, “Change happens, but it’s how garages deal with change that will define the final outcome for their businesses and their customers. The truth is that over the last 25 years, profits from battery sales have fallen, so that a typical battery is the same price now as it was in 1990 and the labour rate a garage could traditionally charge to change a battery is non-existent. However, with the change, three factors will now start to work in the industry’s favour. First, the AGM/EFB batteries required for Start-Stop equipped vehicles command a higher price, which means more of a margin for both motor factors and their garage customers. Second, garages can now charge for fitting the replacement because in contrast to a traditional system, this process can sometimes take a couple of hours work. And finally, as the average motorist becomes less knowledgeable from a maintenance and repair perspective, they are less likely to call into question a fitting charge as they have no previous DIY experience to compare it with.”

Manbat believes that Start-Stop batteries provide a real opportunity for garages to use this change in battery technology to their advantage and combined with the implementation of a proactive battery testing service, can result in an upturn in profits, which can only be good for their business.

For further details, please call Manbat Customer Services on: 0044-1743-218-500 or visit: www.manbat.co.uk