Join us…
Join us on Wednesday 21 April at 1.30pm as we explore the insights to stem from the latest Trend Tracker, in partnership with ARC360 and NBRA, market survey: UK Body Repair Market – Emerging from COVID-19 lockdown, Spring of 2021. Plus, we continue to highlight all the latest data sources and other happenings from across the sector.
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Data shows big shift in traffic
Data from TomTom shows that traffic across many UK cities exceeded 2019 levels on Monday 12 April as further steps to ease restrictions were made across the UK.
With hairdressers, hospitality, leisure facilities and non-essential retail making a return, TomTom’s Traffic Index data shows that for long periods throughout the day traffic volumes exceeded those of 2020 and 2019 figures.
TomTom data from Birmingham-Wolverhampton; Bristol; and London showed a significant uplift in traffic congestion between the hours of 9am to 4pm – where levels were up by as much as 27%.
Claims exchange volumes show dip
Unique claims exchange volumes have continued to show a dip in recent recorded weeks according to the CAPS Claims Analysis Report for week ending 10 April.
The latest report shows that following a period of steady increase, the past two recorded week periods have seen unique claims exchanges dip by eight per cent from 85% week ending 20 March to 77% week ending 10 April.
Car buyers offered ‘vast choice’
Consumers were greeted by a ‘vast choice of the cleanest ever vehicles’ when dealerships reopened on Monday 12 April according to new research by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The latest analysis reveals that there are now 462 individual car models available in around 4,650 standard specifications augmented by an almost infinite number of options, with the widest ever choice of zero-emission cars – accounting for one in three available models.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “After one of the hardest years in living memory for everyone, reopening showrooms takes the handbrake off UK Auto. With the widest and greenest choice of cars ever seen, unleashing pent up consumer demand can accelerate the industry’s recovery and that of the economy.”
EV safety standards boosted by latest results
Vehicle safety standards within the electrical vehicle (EV) market have been further boosted after the Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq emerged from the latest round of Euro NCAP assessments with maximum five-star safety ratings.
Matthew Avery, Thatcham Research’s Director of Insurance Research, welcomed Volkswagen Group’s latest Euro NCAP results. He said, “It’s very satisfying to see the VW ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq being awarded five-star ratings because they represent the future of all-electric motoring and will account for many sales in the EV crossover market.”
Meanwhile, the budget supermini category Dacia Sandero emerged with just a two-star rating.
Grove Group and Fleet Factors create Amicus
Grove Group and Fleet Factors have teamed up to create Amicus, a new national distribution network.
Under the ‘Working Together’ slogan, Amicus aims to bring together innovative and creative supply solutions via multiple organisations to form a single distribution network.
Grove Group and Fleet Factors are using their close partnerships, expertise, knowledge and standing in the industry to deliver what they claim will be an ‘industry-leading service’.
Online job adverts back to pre-pandemic levels
UK job vacancies have returned to the same level as before the first lockdown, according to data from Adzuna and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
According to Adzuna, total online job adverts reached 100% of their February 2020 average on 9 April, a three per cent increase from the week previous.
There has been a number of opportunities appear across the sector in recent weeks with the likes of ABL 1 Touch, Artis Accident Care, Pennings and LD Autovogue Ltd all recruiting via LinkedIn.
Listen up…
In this episode we talk to Richard Smith, managing director of RS Motors ARC who provides us with an insight into the business and takes us on a bit of a journey explaining how his love for ‘fixing things’ all began in his younger years modifying bikes, moving on to modern day classic cars and now culminates in him heading up a multi-vehicle manufacturer approved accident repair operation.
