Siemens VDO Automotive has signed an agreement with test equipment manufacturer Hartridge to develop specialist common-rail diesel engine services for the aftermarket.

Planning is still in the early stages, but the aim is to develop a network of soft franchised Siemens VDO dealers, much like the Delphi and Denso diesel service networks.

For those already servicing common-rail systems investment will be relatively low, but newcomers will have to find about £60,000.

“We need an existing network and supplier, and as Hartridge is already established in the market supplying test equipment for Denso and Delphi we decided to go with them,” says Steve Wilson, Siemens Industrial Automotive and Marine product manager. The new system will be an add-on to the Hartridge Test Centre.

Siemens supplies common rail diesel injection systems to vehicle manufacturers such as Ford and Peugeot. These products are beginning to come out of the warranty period.

Hartridge will sell the test equipment through its network of diesel engine specialists, who will be authorised by Siemens VDO Automotive to service their systems. This approval will be a basic requirement for any specialist to maintain Siemens VDO components.