Month: March 2022

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March 2022 webinARC: Vehicle Technology 

In this webinARC we hear from a broad cross-section of the industry to explore the changes taking place with vehicle technology and how repair management is changing to keep pace. 

Featuring: 

– Andrew Hooker, Head of Technical, Solus Accident Repair Centres 

– Franco Iannotta, Bodyshop Development Manager, Volkswagen Group UK 

– Phil Peace, Managing Director (International), Repairify Inc 

Government abandons further whiplash reforms

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that part two of the proposed reforms to the soft tissue claims process have been shelved.

Part one of the Reforming the Soft Tissue Injury Claims Process – implemented in May 2021 – related to the small claims limit for PI claims and fixed and a fixed compensation tariff for RTA cases. Part two was expected to be much broader, encompassing referrals, credit hire and rehabilitation.

Industry Leader Interview: Catherine Hulme

“A few years ago, if someone had said we would need all colleagues to be working from home, we would have found every reason not to make it work, rather than making it happen.  As an industry the vast majority moved to homeworking very quickly and effectively.  I think this has opened up talent pools that we would never have had access to if we wanted colleagues to be based in an office every day.”

Click here to read the full interview with Catherine Hulme, Operations Director, Motor at Innovation Group.

Gemini names new Head of Performance

Gemini Accident Repair Group has strengthened is senior management team with the appointment of Paul Smith as Head of Performance.

He will lead Gemini’s operation team and manage the insurance partner relationships.

Fix Auto creates Peers to peers link

Fix Auto UK has appointed Luke Peers into the newly-created role of Network Manager.

He steps up from his position as Network Performance Consultant and, working closely with Fix Auto UK’s Regional Business Managers and the customer service centre, will manage and facilitate the network’s repair volumes by directly overseeing its regional post-coded deployment process.

Volvo adds new training date

Volvo has added another date for its Product/Technology Update training course.

The course informs delegates of wide-ranging updates to its full range of cars, covering structure and materials, unique repair methods, safety systems, windscreens and ADAS, bumper repairs, SRS and WHIPS systems, as well as hybrid and electric vehicle technology.

The course is aimed at vehicle damage assessors, engineers, accident management companies, fleet providers, training colleges and non-approved bodyshops.

Vella Group twice recognised at industry awards

The Vella Group was twice highly commended at the Modern Insurance Magazine’s Customer Service Excellence Awards.

It was recognised for its commitment to apprentices, particularly in the areas of ADAS and EVs, in the Learning and Development category, and was also highly commended in the Giving It Back to Charity award category following its work with community partners The Mersey Forest and Manchester Young Lives, as well automotive charity AutoRaise.

Marc Holding, Managing Director, said, “It is an honour to be recognised by the judges for the work that we do in two areas that we are so passionate about, and it is a great accolade for all the team members who work tirelessly on our learning and development and community programmes.”

Cripps celebrates Unsung Hero award

Motofix General Manager for Standards and Compliance Sue Cripps won the Unsung Hero award at the Modern Insurance Magazine’s 2022 UK Customer Service Excellence Awards.

The awards celebrate customer service success in the insurer and broker markets.

Cripps has been at Motofix for more than eight years and has more than two decades experience in the industry.

IMI calls for ‘significant change’

The IMI Diversity Task Force has concluded that a lack of diversity is contributing to the skills gap in the UK automotive sector, and that doing what it has always done will not resolve the issue.

It says the sector must broaden its appeal and that ‘significant change’ is required to promote it to a wider demographic and to create a work environment that is inclusive and supportive.

The IMI Diversity Task Force was established in 2021 to understand the challenges under-represented groups face when working in or trying to enter the automotive industry.

Audatex bolsters UK sales force

Audatex has announced that Tim Davis has joined its UK sales team. Davis, who first helped in a family-run bodyshop when he was seven and now has more than 30 years in the sector, will support customers in Wales and down the M4 corridor to Bristol.

Neil Garrett, UK and South Africa Sales Director, Audatex, said, “Tim’s wealth of knowledge across the UK vehicle repair sector will be vital in supporting our repairer customers alongside Stewart Myles, Steven Hames and Steve Warwick.”

Smith secures national ITAS role

Scott Smith has been named National Accounts Director of ITAS. He has been a key part of the company’s expansion over the last two years, supporting the management team with strategic and commercial decisions both within the UK and overseas.

He said, “I am extremely proud and honoured to be given this fantastic opportunity with ITAS. I am grateful to the senior management team and all my colleagues for their support and guidance of the last two and a half years. I am excited with what the future holds with the expansion of the company both in the UK and overseas, and pleased I get to be a key part of that.”

SYNETIQ celebrates carbon commitments

SYNETIQ has announced that more than 200 colleagues have achieved carbon literacy certification since it introduced its carbon literacy training initiative a year ago. The training, which has also been delivered to a range of SYNETIQ customers, helps groups and individuals measure and then reduce their own carbon footprints.

Anne Reade, Client Relationship Manager, said, “I couldn’t have imagined what we’d managed to achieve with carbon literacy in just the first years. The impact of the training sessions we’ve offered have been felt by colleagues, clients and people within our communities, and is already making a massive difference.”

Steer turns spotlight on new talent

Steer Automotive Group celebrated its recently-qualified apprentices at its Apprentices Awards Night, while also enrolling its next wave of talent following successful roadshows in Tamworth, Leicester, Northampton and Luton.

Peter Randhawa, Group General Manager, said, “These were our first set of apprentices passing their year two awards. It’s a massive life skill achievement for them; it will give them the confidence to take a positive step to becoming professionals in their own fields and having fantastic career prospects. We are proud of them all.”

Liability ‘complex and nuanced’ in automated world

Mercedes-Benz has announced it will accept legal responsibility for collisions that occur in cars fitted with an ‘L3’ Automated Lane Keeping System, when directly caused by a fault with its technology. Here Matthew Avery, Chief Research Strategy Officer, Thatcham Research, comments on the ‘complex and nuanced’ issue of legal liability for the first iterations of the technology.

March 2022 webinARC: Vehicle Technology 

In this webinARC we hear from a broad cross-section of the industry to explore the changes taking place with vehicle technology and how repair management is changing to keep pace. 

Featuring: 

– Andrew Hooker, Head of Technical, Solus Accident Repair Centres 

– Franco Iannotta, Bodyshop Development Manager, Volkswagen Group UK 

– Phil Peace, Managing Director (International), Repairify Inc 

ARC360 unveils brand new event

ARC360 and ILC’s Motor Claims division have joined forces to introduce the Motor Claims Showcase Event at the CBS Arena, Coventry, on 29 June.

More than 400 key persons of influence from the sector will attend the event, which will focus on best practice across the supply chain – specifically the accident damage sector – while offering a host of engagement opportunities from hands-on exhibitions and in-person networking, through to insightful keynote presentations, open panel discussions, ILC key partner insights and much more.

Thatcham Research secures prestigious IMI award

ARC360 Associate Partner Thatcham Research has been recognised by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) for its Outstanding Contribution to the Motor Industry.

It collected the accolade, presented by ITV Lunchtime News presenter Nina Hossain at a gala dinner hosted by the IMI in London on March 17, in recognition of its unwavering support not only for apprentices during the pandemic but also the wider repair sector through its dedicated research and training programmes.

Green light at Driver Academy

Training has commenced at vehicle remarking and recycling experts Copart’s new Driver Academy, which aims to deliver 100 new drivers in the first year alone.

The first part of the three-month course, delivered in association with HGVC, sees drivers shadowing a driver mentor, observing daily duties such as safe loading and unloading from multi-car transporters, before candidates move to practical learning on Copart transports, with off-site tests and assessments.

Verisk and GT Motive announce tech collaboration

Verisk and GT Motive have announced a new technology partnership that will streamline workflows, accelerate claims decisions and reduce manual input. The collaboration will see Verisk integrate its IVI motor repair pricing and triaging solution with GT Motive’s claims calculator.

This is expected to provide rapid assessment of potential total loss and repair costs by allowing the GT Estimate calculation module to be accessed directly from within the Verisk IVI application.

Chartwell sets net zero target

Super brand repairer Chartwell has announced it has started its journey towards net zero operations throughout its Derby-based site. It will be working with Evolution Markets to achieve its targets.

Chartwell is an approved repairer for 12 of the world’s leading super car manufacturers, offering a lifetime repair guarantee.

Shorade confirms LKQ Coatings deal

Shorade UK has announced an exclusive new distribution agreement with LKQ Coatings. The agreement extends to all existing Shorade sites – Shorade Cannock, Finesse Dorking, Finesse Redhill – as well as new sites expected to be announced in the coming months.

Shorade, which has the capacity to handle electric vehicle repairs, ADAS calibration, as well as aluminium and carbon fibre repairs, has said the new distribution agreement will not impact operations or delivery dates.

Smart Repairs launch national recruitment drive

Smart Repairs has announced that it will recruit upwards of 100 technicians this year as it seeks to build on a stellar performance in 2021. Turnover for the Leeds-based company rose from £3m in 2020 to £5m last year, and is expected to reach £7m this year, with profits set to exceed £1m.

The cosmetic repairer has recently acquired a new 18,000sqft freehold premises in Leeds and is now looking to expand within the M25, Essex, the north of England and Scotland.

SMMT welcomes EV grant extension

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has welcomed the government’s decision to extend the Plug-in Van and Truck Grants for a further two years.

Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: “While the van market saw record electric uptake last year, it remains some distance behind cars, with battery electric vans making up just 3.6% of new registrations. The speed of uptake must be increased, therefore, which requires attractive incentives and significant investment in EV charge points especially those that meet the specific needs of commercial vehicles in every region of the UK.”

Good call from NBRA

The NBRA hosted of the first of 10 planned Independent Repairer calls, set up to allow businesses to share experiences and challenges of operating in a post-Covid-19 and post-Brexit marketplace.

The call addressed keys issues such as parts availability, work provision, mobility, sustainability and staffing issues, as well as the influence of work providers continue to have on efficiencies.

Vella Group makes Climate Pledge

The Vella Group has committed to becoming net zero by 2040 after signing up to The Climate Pledge, an international initiative with more than 300 signatories from 29 countries.

As part of the pledge, The Vella Group will report regularly on its emissions, implement businesswide decarbonisation strategies, and offset any remaining emissions with permanent and socially beneficial initiatives.

FMG extends Alphabet partnership

FMG has signed a two-year contract extension with mobility solutions specialists Alphabet, for whom it has provided a full range of incident management services since 2005.

The contract includes 24/7 incident reporting, repair and downtime management as well as uninsured loss recovery for its leasing customers.

US updates autonomous legislation

The US Department for Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has introduced legislation that for the first time directly addresses the safety of occupants in automated vehicles.

The rule clarifies the standards vehicle manufacturers have to meet when developing vehicles with autonomous capabilities, emphasising that the high level of occupant safety provided to traditional vehicles must be maintained in vehicles with ADS technology fitted.

Feature interview: Dean Lander, Thatcham Research 

ARC360 Associate Partner Thatcham Research has been at the cutting edge of vehicle technology since it was established in 1969. Occupying a unique position between motor insurers and vehicle manufacturers, its research is critical to helping the sector understand vehicle safety, security and repair.

Here, we speak to Dean Lander, Head of Repair Sector Services, about the fast development of vehicle tech, and the challenges it poses to repairers.