As the hay fever and holiday season hots up, Mahle Filter Systems is preparing for a cabin filters field day - because more than 90 per cent of all new European-made cars are now equipped with a cabin filter as original equipment, the company expects aftermarket demand for replacements from franchised networks and the independent service sector to rise sharply.

Managing director Ian Stanworth says that more than four million new cars with pollen filters fitted as standard have been sold in the UK in the past three years. “As many of these new cars enter the independent service sector once the warranty has run out, there is an opportunity for the trade to provide customers with a better service by upgrading the cabin filter,” he says.

To meet this demand, Mahle has added a pollen filter for the Mark 2 Vauxhall Corsa models to its Micro-Star range. The company has also launched a fuel filter for the Peugeot 307 1.4-litre HDi common rail diesel (below) to its aftermarket portfolio along with a spin-on oil filter for Isuzu, Mazda and Suzuki models and a panel air filter for the Toyota Hi-Ace.

There is also a spin-on oil filter for the Skoda Fabia and the Volkswagen Lupo as well as an eco-filter for the latest Mini Cooper S. Mahle's aftermarket applications catalogue now boasts more than 1300 part numbers.