Fix Auto Basingstoke launches LCV site

Fix Auto Basingstoke owner Dale Morris has opened his second repair centre and the first within Fix Auto UK’s network solely dedicated to repairing vans, LCVs and motorhomes.

The 15,000 sqft site complements the business’s existing car repair facility nearby.

Dale said, “Thanks to the detailed and meticulous planning prior to getting the keys to the building, as soon as we were able to set to work we did and the team around me have been fantastic. They’ve realised the potential of the project and really have gone above and beyond what you’d normally expect and have worked tirelessly to help develop the new site.

“While I had hoped to be open for business by the end of the month, in reality I would have been happy if we’d have been completed by early February so to say we are now repairing vehicles from the site is mightily impressive.”

The facility includes two oversized spraybooths designed specifically accommodate vans, LCVs and motorhomes, as well as a raft of brand-new equipment.

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Grey remains car buyers’ colour of choice

Grey is still the most popular colour for car buyers with a market share of 26.8%, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Black and white are the second and third most popular choices, meaning 63.5% of all new cars joining UK roads in 2023 were monochrome.

Blue is the fourth most popular colour with a 10.9% market share, while red remain fifth choice and Green reached its highest volume since 2005 with 53,426 units and a market share of 2.8%.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “2023 was a bumper year for the British new car market, as buyers continued to gravitate towards familiar monochrome hues for another year – even as ever more motorists embrace new technologies. Car manufacturers have diligently expanded their offerings, with a huge selection of colour options available across hundreds of models and thousands of specification options. The extensive variety allows drivers flexibility in choosing a tint that embodies their individuality and style.”

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Activate Group secures Elysian Capital investment

Activate Group will expand its accident repair network with four new sites this year after securing major investment from Elysian Capital.

The private equity firm has acquired a majority share in the group to accelerate an ambitious growth strategy.

As part of the deal, Elysian Capital partner James Cunningham becomes chairman, while Activate Group co-founder Hannah Wilcox remains CEO.

Co-founders Mark Wilcox and Mark Woods step down from the board, as do Paul Pancham and Jamie Sopp, although Paul and Jamie will continue to provide advisory support.

Hannah said: “Elysian Capital has an outstanding track record of supporting fast-growing businesses like ours, and I’m confident their investment and support will allow us to take Activate Group to the next level.

“In 2024 we’ll open four more purpose-built repair centres to complement the capacity we have within our partner network. The first of these will open in Hampton, South-West London, in March.

“We’ll also continue to invest in technology that drives efficiency and transparency in the services we offer, and we have now signed up with the Living Wage Foundation.”

Activate Group provides end-to-end accident management services to the fleet and insurance industries. It partners with some of the UK’s best-known fleets through its specialist fleet brand, sopp+sopp provides accident management services to big-name insurers like RSA and Marshmallow.

The business also includes a dedicated parts division, Activate Parts, and operates its own repair centres under the name of Activate Accident Repair.

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Fix Auto’s Alena named Inspiring Women Award winner

Automotive 30% Club has named Fix Auto Mid Devon Finance Director Alena Woolacott as its 2024 Inspiring Automotive Women Award winner.

She will collect the prestigious award at a ceremony in London in March, when she will also be in line to win the Institute of Motor Industry’s overall Inspirational Women of the Year award.

Alena said, “I am genuinely honoured to accept one of the Inspiring Automotive Women Awards. This recognition not only acknowledges my contributions to our traditionally male-dominated industry, but also pays tribute to the legacy of three incredible women who paved the way for my journey – my grandmother, Sheila Woolacott, who co-founded our business over 50 years ago, my mother, Louise, our former Managing Director and my sister, Erika, our current Managing Director.

“I am genuinely honoured to accept one of the Inspiring Automotive Women Awards. To be one of only a small number of winners from the repairer community within the automotive industry is also special and I would like to thank Grace Weddell of Fix Auto UK for raising awareness of these awards and encouraging the Fix Auto network to submit nominations. I can think of numerous women within the Fix Auto UK who are just as deserving of this award as I am and so I accept it in their name too.”

Julia Muir, founder of the Automotive 30% Club, said, “Alena is a deserving winner of an Inspiring Automotive Women Award because she has created a workplace culture that is inclusive, supportive and provides equal opportunities for women.”

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Fix Auto UK expands footprint in Wales

Fix Auto UK has announced that South Wales repairer Select Accident Repair Centre has joined its network and will now operate as Fix Auto Neath.

The business was founded by Kevin Joseph and Kevin Davies and underwent significant investment, including moving to a new 6,000 sqft site, before joining Fix Auto UK as a franchise partner last month.

Kevin Davies said, “We have known of Fix Auto UK for an awful long time. In fact, I used to work for a partner well over 13 years ago. Like so many repairers who have joined, we are ambitious, but we also recognise we need business help, support and guidance to reach our full potential.”

Kevin Joseph added, “The foundation of everything has always been to repair vehicles to the highest standards possible and it is through that and our reputation locally that has helped us to steadily progress.

“Acting as a second-tier support centre really gave us a great insight into the benefits of being part of Fix Auto UK but, in being honest with ourselves, we knew we needed to relocate into a far superior building, a building that not only enables us to further develop the business, but one which really provides us with the image that supports our credibility of being a first class repairer.”

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ARC360 News Round-Up – Friday 19 January 2024

Bodyshop briefs

  • The five winners of Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s Net Promoter Score (NPS) awards are: Arnold Clark Aberdeen; Fylde Coast ARC; Ipswich ARC; The Car Refurb Centre; and Alton Cars Hull.
  • ECF Accident Repair Centre has secured a 100% NPS across all Volkswagen brands for three consecutive months.
  • Steer Automotive Group has introduced a new skills competition to help prepare technicians for the IMI Skills Competition. The competition will focus on refinishing and repair.
  • Drive Motor Retail has announced that Drive Redcar topped its Estimator League last year, which measures accuracy and performance.

Industry News

Industry mourns passing of ‘true gentleman’

The UK vehicle repair industry is mourning the loss of dedicated apprentice pioneer, Bob Linwood who sadly passed away on Wednesday 17 January 2024.

Bob was a driving force behind the founding of industry apprenticeship initiative Autoraise in 2015, a year later securing its recognition from the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Bob was CEO of Autoraise until May 2021.

Dane Loosley, another industry stalwart, has also passed this week.

ILC and ARC360 would like to wish our condolences to both Bob and Dane’s families.

Steer secures Oakley investment

Steer Automotive Group has announced substantial new investment from Oakley Capital, a leading pan-European private equity investor.

Oakley will acquire the shares held by Keyhaven Capital Partners and Chiltern Capital while founder Richard Steer and the current management team will continue to lead the business.

Shortlist for What Car? Safety Awards revealed

Thatcham Research has announced the five-car shortlist for the What Car? Safety Award 2024.

Selected by judges based on Euro NCAP test scores as well as passive and active safety technology, the shortlist includes the BMW 5 Series, BYD SEAL, Lexus RZ, Mercedes EQE SUV, and Volkswagen ID.7.

Car insurance premiums soar by 58%

Average car insurance premiums rose by 58% in the last 12 months to £995.

According to the latest Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index, produced in association with WTW, the 58% rise represents an increase of £366 and means premiums have risen for nine consecutive quarters.

White shades black in colour charts

BASF has identified a significant colour shift in car popularity, with white still number one but experiencing a notable decrease in market share.

Meanwhile, its 2023 BASF Colour Report revealed that chromatic colours such as red, blue, brown and beige have remained stable, with a 19% market share.

S&G backs school racing team

S&G is sponsoring Exhausted Racing at Wilmslow High School, helping the team to design, create, market, and race in regional, national and international inter-school competitions.

EV repair costs edge above £3k

Gecko data has revealed that average BEV repairs costs have risen to £3,012, with labour costs at £628 and repair times stretching to 27 days.

Meanwhile, it found there were 968,528 BEVs on UK roads at the end of December.

Innovation tackles deepening pothole problem

Nearly 630,000 potholes were reported across the UK from January to November last year, costing drivers upwards of £500m in repairs.

However, innovation such as self-healing roads and digital maps could soon be available to tackle the issue.

NBRA confirms Greener Bodyshop Awards date

The National Body Repair Association (NBRA) has announced that the 2024 Greener Body Shop Awards (GBSA) will take place at the Coventry Building Society Arena on 10 September.

The awards recognise the businesses that have made great strides towards sustainability and introducing greener initiatives.

London traffic worst in the world

London traffic is the slowest in the world, according to a new report published by TomTom.

Its annual traffic index revealed that average speeds decreased in 228 of the 387 cities it analysed, with a typical 10k drive in London now taking 37 minutes and 20 seconds.

BenBus on the road

Automotive industry charity Ben has unveiled its new BenBus, a branded VW Transporter campervan which will raise awareness of the support it offers to those who have worked or are working in the sector.

The Ben on the road team will be visiting sites around the UK to showcase the van and promote the charity’s services.

Avant unveils new logo and website

Avant Consult has continued a major rebrand by unveiling its new logo and updated and upgraded website.

Stellantis announces updated EV training

Stellantis has announced that delegates can now book their places on the IMI-accredited Morelli Eyebox Training Centre Courses.

Modules include Introductory Awareness Courses designed for customer service teams, drivers, and non-production staff, as well as advanced Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Awareness Levels 1 & 3 courses.

Auto Windscreens signs digital deal with AA

Auto Windscreens has signed a digital claims partnership with The AA, enabling customers to arrange a glass repair or replacement online or via The AA’s app.

Dedicated AFV course set for February

Park Lodge International and Jeff Mack Consultancy will host its next safety course around Alternative Fuelled Vehicles on 6 February.

The eight-hour, IMI-accredited course will take place in Burnley, focusing on three key areas around AFVs: on-scene assessment of battery damage and potential risks; the safe repair of AFVs with high voltage battery damage; the safe storage of damaged AFVs at repair sites.

VM news

Tesla defends Autopilot safety standards

Tesla has hit back at media reports critical of its Autopilot technology, arguing that many of the articles lacked context.

It said that data proved its cars were far safer when Autopilot was engaged, revealing that just one crash for every 4.85 million miles was recorded under Autopilot in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to one crash for every 1.4 million miles driven without it.

Ford launches new gen cruise control

Ford has introduced new generation Adaptive Cruise Control technology to its best-selling Kuga SUV. The system is now able to apply the brakes automatically for curves, junctions and other traffic.

Stellantis signs with SIXT

Stellantis has signed a multi-billion-pound deal with SIXT which could see the mobility service provider buy up to 250,000 Stellantis vehicles in the next three years.

Meanwhile, the manufacturer is investing in Tiamat to support the further development and commercialisation of sodium-ion battery technology.

Hyundai announces Ohme partnership

Hyundai Motor UK has announced a new partnership with smart home charging business Ohme as it continues to develop its elecrification strategy.

People

  • Dominic Clayden is stepping down as CEO of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau.
  • Repairify has appointed Santiago Malbran as Business Development Director to drive expansion across Europe.  
  • Toyota (GB) has appointed Richard Balshaw to the role of Director, Strategy, Business Transformation and People.
  • Graham Connell has been named Group Commercial Director at Alton Cars.
  • Avant Consult has appointed Hayley Ennis as Volkswagen Group Paint and Body Team Manager.
  • Dominic Czechak has joined Verisk as Strategic Account Director.
  • Komoo has named Cary Clark as new Territory Manager.

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White shades black in colour charts

BASF has identified a significant colour shift in car popularity, with white still number one but experiencing a notable decrease in market share.

Its 2023 BASF Colour Report revealed that although white remains the colour of choice, black has surged in popularity.

Meanwhile, chromatic colours such as red, blue, brown and beige have remained stable, with a 19% market share.

When looking at specific regions, there is a growing preference for lighter shades of silver over darker greys in North America, while the trend is reversed in EMEA. Meanwhile, there are specific colour preferences in Europe, with Germany favouring blue (11%), Spain and the UK opting for red and orange (nine per cent), France buyers going green (six per cent), and Italian drivers showing more love for chromatic colours than all five countries (30%).

Mark Gutjahr, Global Head of Automotive Colour Design for BASF, said, “While the achromatic colours are still the most popular, each country appears to have its favourite place on the chromatic realm. Different colour distribution could be seen in each of the major EMEA countries, and in general. Our customers, the automakers, have left a lot of room for individuality and creativity in car dealerships now, and car buyers are taking advantage of that.”

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Tesla defends Autopilot safety standards

Tesla has hit back at media reports critical of its Autopilot technology, arguing that many of the articles lacked context.

It said that data proved its cars were far safer when Autopilot was engaged, revealing that just one crash for every 4.85 million miles was recorded under Autopilot in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to one crash for every 1.4 million miles driven without it.

It added that Autopilot features such as Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer are both Level 2 driver-assist systems, meaning that the driver must still retain control of the vehicle at all the times, and Telsa developed a number of measures to ensure that drivers remain engaged, including torque-based and camera-based monitoring.

The company said, “The more automation technology offered to support the driver, the safer the driver and other road users. Autopilot is about 10 times safer than the US average and about five times safer than a Tesla with no Autopilot tech enabled. When used properly, it provides safety benefits on all road classes.”

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Dedicated AFV course set for February

Park Lodge International and Jeff Mack Consultancy will host its next safety course around Alternative Fuelled Vehicles on 6 February.

The eight-hour, IMI-accredited course will take place in Burnley, focusing on three key areas around AFVs: on-scene assessment of battery damage and potential risks; the safe repair of AFVs with high voltage battery damage; the safe storage of damaged AFVs at repair sites.

Aimed at everyone from insurers to first responders and repair technicians, the course aims to help delegates to: understand the risks of each fuel; appreciate the mechanics of damage in road crashes; gather enough information to carry out an accurate risk assessment; understand how lithium-ion batteries react to an external heat source; appreciate the insurance responsibility and liability; and to provide safe solutions.

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Industry mourns passing of ‘true gentleman’

The UK vehicle repair industry is mourning the loss of dedicated apprentice pioneer, Bob Linwood who sadly passed away on Wednesday 17 January 2024.

Bob was a driving force behind the founding of industry apprenticeship initiative Autoraise in 2015, a year later securing its recognition from the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Bob was CEO of Autoraise until May 2021.

Early in 2023 Bob launched his own business, in partnership with his wife Morag: Apprenticeship Central Ltd and ABLE TO (support services) “to help businesses with their marketing activities and to help employers develop their apprenticeship strategy”.

Bob had been involved in the vehicle repair industry for over four decades representing a number of well-known names including AkzoNobel, NIBS and RM.

Such has been Bob’s influence and popularity within the sector, there has been an outpouring of tributes with many referencing his ‘larger than life’ demeanour; his ‘true gentleman’ characteristics; his willingness to find time for people; and his truly caring nature.

Dane Loosley, another industry stalwart has also passed this week. Dane spent many years at Cornhill, then Allianz prior to later spending a period with Audatex UK. In more recent years Dane operated his own consultancy and acted as non-exec director at ABP.

ILC and ARC360 would like to wish our condolences to both Bob and Dane’s families.

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