Staff Reports
Continuing updates on the global car wash industry:
New partnership to boost car wash in the Netherlands and Belgium
Dutch car care brand Cartec has entered a strategic partnership with the Wasstraatpas platform to boost the frequency of car washes and detailing services in the Netherlands and Belgium. T
he collaboration aims to support the professional carwash and detailing sectors while also appealing to DIY car enthusiasts. Wasstraatpas is a digital platform designed to make professional car washing more accessible for consumers.
The partnership includes an exclusive agreement covering Cartec Essentials products in the Wasstraatpas webshop and participating detailing businesses. This means customers can redeem their Wasstraatpas gift cards at locations that use Cartec’s car care products.
New car wash stations banned in Punjab due to water shortage
The Department of Environment has issued a notification enforcing a ban on new car wash stations in Punjab, the most populous province in Pakistan, with violators facing legal action under the country’s penal code.
The ban stems from concerns about water shortage in the province. Pakistan ranks among the top five countries most affected by climate change, experiencing significant temperature rises in recent years. Environmental experts warn that the country faces an increasing risk of floods and droughts due to these climatic shifts.
The Lahore High Court has enforced strict measures on water wastage, including penalties for excessive water usage and the establishment of new car wash stations.
Korean company BullsOne debuts new car wash cleaning tissue
BullsOne, an automotive care products company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, recently debuted its “Crystal Big Tissue.”
Developed by the BullsOne Research Institute, the car wash tissue can be used to clean and polish a vehicle using just one sheet. The tissue contains detergent for cleaning and waxing ingredients can be added to the cleaning agent to create a glossy effect.
The tissue can be used on a variety of surfaces (including high gloss and plastic) and works in extreme weather conditions.
City of Ekurhuleni promotes water conservation at car washes
A member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation for the City of Ekurhuleni, one of eight metropolitan municipalities in South Africa, is leading a campaign to get car wash businesses to contribute to a sustainable water use by adopting water-efficient practices.
Every car wash is required to apply for a water meter connection through the city. City officials are visiting car washes across Ekurhuleni to ensure proper connections, payment of municipal bills, and alignment with the city’s water policy.
Car washes are being asked to adopt waterless car wash solutions that clean vehicles without using large amounts of water.
Dysart proposes new gas station and car wash in Ellsworth
The planning board in Ellsworth, a village in Cambridgeshire, England, recently granted preliminary approval for a new Dystart gas station and car wash on a site on High Street.
Dysart proposes first clearing the area to build a convenience store, which will be flanked by eight gas pumps. A new tunnel car wash equipped with more advanced technology will be built to the left of the convenience store.
Finally, the company will build a 3,380-square-foot retail area consisting of two units to rent out to business merchants. Demolition is scheduled to start this summer if final plans are approved.
Haverfordwest builders’ yard to be turned into hand car wash
Pembrokeshire County planners have given the go-ahead for permission of a resident to use part of a builders’ yard/lorry park in Haverfordwest as a car wash facility, along with an associated waiting area/store and drainage mitigation system.
Works were undertaken at the site back in 2019 when the entrance gates into the site and the flanking walls were removed to carry out bridge improvements on the adjoining railway network.
The updated plans call for a one-way system with vehicular entry and exit off the existing access at Merlins Bridge.
Delhi considers banning car wash detergents to reduce river pollution
The Delhi government in India is preparing to impose a ban on soaps and detergents used in car washes to reduce pollution in the Yamuna River. The government claims the products contain harmful phosphates and surfactants that enter stormwater drains, contributing to toxic foam and reducing water quality.
Authorities believe this step is crucial in their efforts to clean the river, which has suffered from years of unchecked contamination. The government plans to launch an awareness campaign before implementing the ban, educating citizens on the environmental impact.
As an alternative, the government is considering setting up designated car wash centers near sewage treatment plants (STPs), which use treated wastewater to clean vehicles.
Car Wash attendant receives six-month jail term for stealing
Gwagwalada Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, in Nigeria this week sentenced a 29-year-old car wash attendant to six months imprisonment for stealing N1.13 million from his employer. He was also given an option of fine of N50,000.
The police charged the man with criminal breach of trust, cheating and theft for stealing the employer’s ATM card and withdrawing N1.129 million from his bank account. He pleaded guilty to the charges and appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy.
The Magistrate also ordered the accused to pay compensation of N1 million to the complainant.
Sehr Clean joins with FasterCapital to expand car wash services
Sehr Clean, a home service startup offering premium mobile car wash solutions, has joined FasterCapital’s LaunchUp program to scale its business across Bahrain and Kuwait.
The company, founded by Muhammad Baig, aims to raise $6 million to further develop its on-demand, eco-friendly car wash service. The startup is focused on addressing the inconvenience and environmental concerns faced by traditional car wash services.
The $6 million in funding will be used for technological development, marketing, expanding the fleet of mobile wash units, and scaling operations across the GCC region.
Bizarre accident in French car wash
Last weekend, a woman became trapped in an automatic gantry crane at a car wash station in Louvigny, near Caen, France. It is the first time the car wash owner has experienced such an accident in 20 years of operation.
According to various media reports, for an unknown reason, the 66-year-old woman rushed to her car to grab something just as the car wash was beginning. She then became wedged between her car and the wash roller. She sustained injuries to her lower limbs, but they were not life-threatening.
Due to the complexity of the situation and the unfamiliarity of the car wash by rescue personnel, the rescue took more than an hour.
