Motors

Thursday, 16 October 2025 11:49

The UK’s first restaurant in a car is set to throw open its doors to diners as Hyundai announces the launch of Backseat Bites – a one-of-a-kind experience landing as 93% of Brits say they’re hungry...

Motors

Sunday, 12 October 2025 19:50

The Supervisory Board of SEAT and CUPRA, chaired by Thomas Schäfer - Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Brand Group Core, and CEO of the Volkswagen brand - has appointed Markus...

Motors

Wednesday, 08 October 2025 13:11

The latest Euro NCAP Commercial Truck Ratings have awarded the Mercedes-Benz Actros (4x2 Tractor Unit) and Actros (6x2 Rigid) the highest 5-star rating, reflecting Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ commitment...

Motors

Sunday, 05 October 2025 23:20

KGM Motors UK, formerly SsangYong, is pleased to announce the appointments of Jonathan La Porte and Richard Clarke as Dealer Commercial Managers to further strengthen the brand’s sales operations...

Motors

Wednesday, 01 October 2025 21:35

That legacy lives on in a company with more than 120 years of history, embodied today in models such as the Hispano Suiza Carmen, Carmen Boulogne, and Carmen Sagrera—examples of how tradition and...

Motors

Saturday, 27 September 2025 12:08

Hyundai is introducing ‘Rest Drives’, a new initiative offering 24-hour test drives of the KONA Electric, created with families in mind.

Motors

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 16:33

Just days after officially announcing her candidacy for the FIA Presidency, Swiss racing driver and entrepreneur Laura Villars, 28, has launched the next key phase of her campaign: she is...

Motors

Friday, 19 September 2025 11:07

Nissan have announced leadership changes in its AMIEO region (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe & Oceania), in support of the Re:Nissan recovery plan.

Motors

Sunday, 14 September 2025 16:21

Q by Aston Martin, the ultra-luxury performance marque’s bespoke service, celebrates a momentous anniversary of Volante – an iconic name signifying convertible Aston Martin grand tourers for over...

Motors

Monday, 01 September 2025 20:06

CHERY, one of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers, has officially launched in the UK, with a landmark event in London unveiling its full line-up of SUVs for British customers.

Motors

Friday, 29 August 2025 16:42

For more than 20 years, Škoda has been a trusted partner to the UK’s emergency services, supplying dependable, high-performance vehicles that keep pace with the toughest demands on the road.

Motors

Tuesday, 19 August 2025 15:39

Goodwood is delighted to announce that the 83rd Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport will take place on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April 2026.

Motors

Thursday, 14 August 2025 15:55

Jaecoo UK has confirmed full UK pricing and specifications for the Jaecoo E5, the brand’s first all-electric model for the UK market.

Motors

Tuesday, 12 August 2025 19:58

Kia has rationalised the line-ups for the Picanto and XCeed, two of its most popular internal combustion engine (ICE) models, to simplify the overall buying experience for customers. Similar to the...

Motors

Sunday, 10 August 2025 21:25

Garagisti & Co. have just unveiled the GP1, an all-new, fully analogue hypercar powered by a naturally aspirated V12 and built around a carbon monocoque.

Motors

Friday, 08 August 2025 11:34

The first of the Batur Convertibles has been created by Mulliner, Bentley’s in-house bespoke and special projects division.

The Motor Ombudsman is pleased to announce that AJ Fleetcare, an independent garage in Leeds, has been crowned the 2024 winner of the National Garage Star Award – the top prize in the Ombudsman’s annual Star Awards competition.

Now in their fifth year, the motor industry accolades allow consumers to put businesses accredited to one or more of The Motor Ombudsman’s four Codes of Practice, or individual staff members, into the spotlight, for going the extra mile to deliver an exceptional level of service. This can be at the point when customers buy a car, have it maintained, or during the process of making a purchase or a claim on a warranty. 

The family-owned business in Yorkshire was amongst the 3,262 online nominations that were submitted by motorists up and down the UK in the latest contest – the highest ever volume of submissions received. These are short accounts from consumers, who put their ‘stars’ forward following acts of kindness and generosity and highlight gestures that went beyond what would normally be expected of staff, and which ultimately made a significant difference.

According to pre-defined criteria, these entries were then whittled down by The Motor Ombudsman to form a shortlist of the final 30. These were made up of 24 nominations across eight UK regions for the Garage Star Awards – applicable to accredited independent garages and franchise dealers, and six nominations for the Customer Service Star Awards, covering vehicle manufacturers and extended warranty providers that are committed to The Motor Ombudsman’s New Car and Vehicle Warranty Product Codes respectively.

These final contenders – an achievement in itself to reach this stage of the competition, were then passed to this year’s Star Awards judging panel of industry experts to jointly determine the names of the winners for 2024, and the two highly commended entries in each category. For the eight regional trophy holders that were named across the country in the Garage Star category, four were bestowed to individual team members from franchise car dealerships.

The remainder were claimed by four independent garages, which saw Garej Arwyn Cyf in Wales win a Star Award for the second consecutive year. Furthermore, after seeing off stiff competition from the other two contenders earmarked for the regional Garage Star trophy for the North, AJ Fleetcare emerged triumphant, with judges commending the business for their caring and altruistic support of a customer who was facing challenging circumstances looking after a relative, which saw the garage fix the individual’s vehicle at very short notice, whilst they also paid for a taxi fare at no extra charge to minimise inconvenience and keep Registered Number 06517394, England ‘The Motor Ombudsman’ and the ‘Motor Industry Codes of Practice’ logo are trademarks of The Motor Ombudsman Limited the customer mobile.

This was coupled with a thoughtful gift on the handover of the repaired vehicle, alongside words of reassurance. To determine the name that would be etched on to this year’s National Garage Star trophy, the independent garage from Leeds, alongside the seven other regional trophy holders, were then brought together once again for the final evaluation of the session to determine the recipient of the top prize. 

However, AJ Fleetcare’s swift assistance of a consumer in their hour of need was considered, without hesitation by all judges, worthy of the coveted 2024 title, in addition to £2,000 in high street vouchers as a reflection of this outstanding achievement. At the beginning of next month, the National Garage Star silverware will be formally presented for the second year running at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)’s Hero Awards ceremony in the prestigious surroundings of the Houses of Parliament.

The annual celebration, attended by Members of Parliament, commemorates remarkable individuals or groups of people who have made outstanding contributions within their respective fields. On being named the winner of the National Garage Star Award, Alan and Jeanette Landale, the husband-and-wife owners of AJ Fleetcare, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the top prize.

“We faced some very stiff competition from the other 2024 Garage Star Award winners, and bringing home two trophies is a true testament to the hard work that the entire team put in on a daily basis, and their unrelenting commitment to delivering the highest level of customer service across the business. This really is a joint effort, and we are honoured that the lengths that we go to, have been formally recognised both by our customers, and by a panel of motor industry experts.

“We are very much looking forward to a very memorable and special trip to London.” Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and Managing Director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “We would like to congratulate all of this year’s trophy winners and highly commended entries on their fantastic achievement, and AJ Fleetcare in particular, on claiming the highest honour, from the thousands of entries that we received.

“The calibre was extremely high, thereby making this a very closely fought contest. However, at the end of the day, it can be the smallest of gestures that make the biggest difference to someone, and AJ Fleetcare unanimously stood out for the judges, thanks to their unequivocal dedication to going the extra mile and taking all necessary steps to deliver a caring and attentive customer experience.”

Bill added: “We would like to thank the customers of Motor Ombudsman-accredited businesses who took the time to nominate organisations and staff members across the UK.

“Without them and the hard work and kind-natured gestures shown by businesses, we would not have the great standard of entries and the industry awards that we have today.” DVSA’s Head of Vehicle Policy and Engineering, Neil Barlow – a judge for the 2024 Star Awards, said: “Excellent customer service is a priority for DVSA, and for the wider industry.

“Providing a quality service builds trust with motorists and makes it easier for them to keep their vehicles safe. The 30 finalists in this year’s Star Awards should be very proud of the great service they continue to offer customers.

“This year’s winners AJ Fleetcare have proven their commitment to their customers, and in turn have set an example for the industry.”