With growing uncertainty regarding availability of parts, both mechanical and electrical, automatic gearbox servicing could be an important part of garages’ workload in 2022 and beyond.

Couple this with a growing awareness from customers that their transmissions need to be maintained; it might be the perfect time to begin offering this service.

According to SIMI figures in 2021 so far, almost half (48%) of all new car registrations were automatic. If you contrast this with 2011 figures where only 10 per cent of new cars were automatic, the trends are definitely “shifting” away from manuals.

With the average lifespan of a clutch and/or flywheel which is typically seen to be approximately 160,000 kilometres, automatic gearbox servicing every 60,000km (recommended by automatic transmission experts TCMatic) should in theory see garages carrying out more gearbox maintenance than clutch or flywheel repairs in the near future.

Express Spares, the Co Meath-based clutch and flywheel specialist, says it can help garages promote this service with point of sale items such as awareness flyers.

The company adds that it can also arrange to call to you or to your garage to demo its automatic transmission fluid exchange machines and its ‘all-in-one box’ solution service kits from TCMatic, which contain all items to carry out this type of service including filters, seals, magnets and manufacturer approved oils.

Express Spares is also gauging interest in automatic transmission specific training which it intends to roll out in early 2022 in a workshop environment and through on-demand webinars.

Contact Express Spares on 046 901 0136 or sales@express-spares.com for more information on “future proofing” your garage.

Express Spares will be exhibiting at next year’s Auto Trade EXPO, which takes place from May 7-8, 2022 at Citywest Exhibition Centre in Dublin.