Firstly today, all at Service Dealer would like to convey our sincere condolences to the family of Scott Grieve and his colleagues at GGM. It is shockingly tragic news that the dealership and Scott’s family gave us permission to share with our wider community today. 

Looking elsewhere in our Update this week, Milwaukee have published a whitepaper with the title Room to Breathe, arguing that the outdoor power equipment industry needs to accelerate its move away from petrol and towards battery-powered machinery. It's not the first manufacturer to make that case and judging by the material we see from many of your suppliers, it feels precisely the way that the industry is heading.

But it does raise the question, is it reflective of what your business is experiencing in your day-to-day interactions with customers?

It seems to me that when we have walked around many of the major turfcare exhibitions in the last couple of years, you'd be forgiven for thinking petrol-powered machinery had all but disappeared. Battery products dominate the stands and robotics are everywhere. In some cases, manufacturers almost seem reluctant (embarrassed even?) to mention the petrol ranges they still produce, despite them presumably remaining an important part of their portfolio.

Is that because the market has genuinely moved on? Or because that's the future manufacturers understandably want to present?

I suspect most would agree that battery technology has come on an enormous distance in a remarkably short time. Performance, runtime and product choice continue to improve and who would want to argue against the convenience of quieter operation and reduced emissions offering genuine benefits to the end user? Whether you're selling garden machinery, professional turfcare equipment, agricultural kit or even compact construction machinery, battery-powered equipment is undeniably significant.

But new petrol-powered machinery is still being produced and sold.

In fact, during our visit to Equip in Louisville last year, the mood felt rather different. While battery technology was still hugely prominent, there also seemed to be a renewed confidence in what Americans call "gas" equipment. The roar and smell of traditional combustion engines when one stepped outside into the huge demo area in Kentucky was clearly apparent. If you're interested, you can watch my conversation from last year’s show with the head of the OPEI, Kris Kiser, where we discussed the trend, here.

More recently, I was visiting family in California where legislation has effectively banned the sale of new petrol-powered handheld outdoor power equipment. Yet every landscaping contractor I saw working (and I saw a lot!) were still using older petrol machines. Whether that's simply because existing equipment remains perfectly serviceable or because contractors still believe petrol best suits their needs, it struck me as an interesting reminder that legislation and personal choice don't always go hand-in-hand.

We've heard similar messages to Milwaukee’s before. Notably there was EGO's Challenge 2025 campaign that ended last year after spending five years, as they put it, “educating domestic and professional users on the benefits of battery-powered outdoor power equipment.”

So the question must be, have these campaigns combined with the general mainstreaming of battery-powered machinery in your showrooms, truly resonated with your customers?

Are end users now actively asking for battery products, or do many still walk into your showroom expecting petrol? Are professional users genuinely replacing entire fleets, or simply adding battery products where they make sense? Is the transition happening naturally, or is customer demand not quite keeping up with the direction in which the industry is heading?

I suspect the answer probably varies depending on where you are located, who your customers are and which sectors you serve? But that’s why we’d love to hear your feedback.

Has your business reached the point where battery is now your primary growth area? Do you think the industry has the balance about right? Or has petrol become something nobody wants to talk about, despite remaining an essential part of many dealerships?

As always, the most interesting views will come from you, our valued dealer readers. So please leave a comment below or drop me a line.

Petrol-powered outdoor power equipment (OPE) is a significant and largely unaddressed source of air pollution, noise and worker harm across Europe, according to new research published by Milwaukee.

The manufacturer of cordless machinery has published the 'Room to Breathe' whitepaper, developed through a survey of more than 2,000 professional users across EMEA, which they say "presents a compelling case for the industry to move decisively towards battery-powered alternatives."

The findings reveal that while adoption of cordless technology is growing, the pace of transition remains slow. Just 13% of professionals currently operate a fully cordless fleet, despite 93% already using battery-powered tools in some capacity. The manufacturer is calling on professionals, businesses and policymakers to accelerate this shift now.

In the whitepaper, Milwaukee argues that the environmental and health impacts of petrol-powered outdoor power equipment extend beyond carbon emissions. It cites research suggesting that two-stroke engines produce significantly higher levels of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter than modern road vehicles, while also highlighting concerns over prolonged operator exposure to emissions and noise.

The report also makes the case that battery-powered alternatives can reduce operating costs over time, with lower running and maintenance expenses offsetting the higher initial purchase price. Based on research commissioned by Milwaukee, it says three-quarters of professional users rate their experience with cordless equipment as good or excellent, while 72% would like to move away from petrol-powered tools altogether.

The company acknowledges that purchase cost, runtime and performance remain the biggest barriers to wider battery adoption. It argues, however, that continuing advances in battery technology are narrowing the gap, particularly for professional users, and suggests that businesses which begin transitioning ahead of any future emissions regulations could be better placed as legislation evolves.

You can download the full whitepaper here.

Last week, we reported on the news from the AEA that UK agricultural tractor registrations in the first half of 2026 reached 5,955 machines, 22% more than in January to June 2025.

Now, the Association has released data looking at how trends varied between power ranges and across different parts of the country.

Year-on-year growth was apparent across most of the power range, with the only exceptions being at the bottom (100hp and under) and top (over 320hp). In those two ranges, the number of machines registered were down by 7% and 13%, respectively, compared with the same period last year.
 
Agricultural economist at the AEA, Stephen Howarth said, "The strongest growth was in the 241-320hp range. That is perhaps an indication that some farmers may have chosen to buy a smaller machine than they might ordinarily have done, given the constrained finances in the arable sector. Overall, the trends for different powers balanced out, meaning the average power of tractors registered during the six-month period was little changed from a year before, at around 173hp."

The AEA went on to reveal that the only two regions to see lower numbers of tractors being registered so far this year than in 2025 were the South East and East Midlands, although both only recorded small year-on-year falls. That corresponds with a general trend, which saw slower growth in the south and east of England than elsewhere in the UK.

Stephen added, "The fastest growth was in Northern Ireland, where registrations were up by more than half; indeed, the number of machines recorded there so far this year is already over 90% of the total for the whole of 2025. Registrations in the West Midlands grew almost as quickly, while Yorkshire also saw strong growth."

Toro U.K. Limited has appointed Jack Roberts as territory manager for the North of England and Scotland, strengthening support for dealers and 
customers across both the Hayter and Toro brands. 

Jack Roberts and Craig Hoare

Jack joins the business with experience in the grounds care industry, having worked in dealer development, technical support and commercial sales. His background includes time with STIHL GB, where he worked closely with UK dealers on sales campaigns and product training, followed by a role as area sales manager at Cramer, supporting dealers with commercial customers and product demonstrations.

Craig Hoare, sales & marketing manager, Toro U.K. Limited, said, "I am really pleased to have Jack join the team. We had several highly qualified  applicants for the role, so it was a very competitive field. But it was Jack’s drive and enthusiasm, combined with his commercial experience which clinched it. I look forward to Jack utilising his sales and demo experience to support our network of dealers.”  

In his new role, Jack will support both Hayter and Toro residential and landscape contractor portfolios across his territory. 

Commenting on his appointment, Jack said, “I am really excited to be taking on this new challenge. I look forward to meeting with some old and some new faces across the territory, where I feel I can add real value to the Toro UK dealers.”

Boss Off-Road Vehicles has appointed Baggleys Machinery as an Aodes dealer for the East Anglia region.

This appointment brings the supplier's count to 40 to provide national coverage for the range of UTVs and ATVs.

L to R: Jddela Miah, Toby Mansfield, Oliver Mansfield, Steph Brooks, Solly Mansfield of Baggleys with Neil Everett of Boss ORV

Baggleys, based in Norwich, was started by Solly Baggley in 1999, working from a garden shed, and he is well known in the industry for his personalised approach towards his customers. The business has grown and required continuous expansion over the years to become one of Norfolk’s largest garden machinery businesses. Solly says he is most proud of having his two sons in a joint partnership in the company, illustrating the true definition of a family-run business. 

Phil Everett, Boss ORV managing director, said, “We have worked with Baggleys previously with some of our other brands such as Faunamaster ApS and really value the quality of service and customer loyalty they bring. We are really looking forward to working with Solly Mansfield, Oliver Mansfield and all the Baggleys team again.” 

Yamaha Motor UK has officially announced the appointment of Southwest Powersports as the newest authorised dealer for both ATV, motorcycle, and scooter ranges.

L-R: Rob and Jade Orchard, directors of Southwest Powersports with Dave Blake, agricultural sales and Carl Stuart, Yamaha ATV

Based in Bude, Cornwall, the dealership will serve agricultural, utility, and road-riding customers across the Southwest region.

Owned and operated by Rob Orchard, the manufacturer says Southwest Powersports is built on a foundation of genuine competitive expertise. Run by a passionate team of motocross and quad bike racers, the dealership aims to provide unrivalled, practical advice to both the commercial agricultural sector and everyday powersports customers.

This appointment covers a key geographic area for Yamaha, combining utility and leisure needs under one roof.

Beyond vehicle sales, the brand-new showroom at Kings Hill, Bude, is fully equipped to deliver a comprehensive ownership experience. The facility includes a dedicated service workshop staffed by factory-trained technicians to handle routine maintenance, repairs, and the distribution of genuine Yamaha parts.

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