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Catch up on webinARC 3.7: the data jigsaw as we explore what the ‘summer’ has meant for claims; do the numbers tell the full story; and what can we expect in the coming weeks as work/life patterns resume.
Featuring: Paul Sell, Associate Director, Trend Tracker; Jordan Chinn, Network Manager, Innovation Group; Rob Hopkins, Insurance Claims Operations Specialist.
Enterprise backs apprentices with levy transfer
Enterprise has again committed to a levy transfer enabling its approved repairer network to apply for a funding grant towards the costs of training and assessing apprentices.
The initiative, administered by AutoRaise, was one of the first to be set up in the industry and sees Enterprise continue with its commitment in supporting apprentices by transferring some of its unspent apprenticeship levy.
Nick Sweetman, Managing Director of EHI said, “We are delighted to be able to support our network with this important initiative and help invest in the future talent of the vehicle repair industry.”
Vehicle usage shows divide
Motor vehicle use in Great Britain increased month-on-month in August to an average figure of 101% per day according to Department of Transport data.
However, the data shows that weekends continue to be the peak periods of road transport usage with ‘all motor vehicle’ use averaging 110% during weekends, compared to 97% during weekdays.
Trend Tracker reports August volumes at 86%
Trend Tracker has reported accident repair volumes for August 2021 at 86% of August 2019.
Whilst the total number of repairs in August dropped by 3,500 from July (source: Audatex UK), according to Trend Tracker it was in keeping with the seasonal trend.
In comparison to 2019, August was a better month than July, with July 2021 at 77% of 2019 levels.
Keeping the faith
Repairers and insurers have built up a new level of trust with consumers during Covid-19, but it is fragile and must not be taken for granted as the country begins to emerge from the pandemic.
That was the insightful message of the first post-summer ARC360 live webinar, held in association with I Love Claims.
The Data Jigsaw invited Jordan Chinn of the Innovation Group; insurance claims operations specialist Rob Hopkins; and Paul Sell of Trend Tracker to pick their way through the latest industry figures, but it was a far less scientific conclusion that resonated loudest.
Zenzic and Thatcham Research reveal plans
Zenzic, the organisation dedicated to accelerating the self-driving revolution in the UK, has announced funding for a proof-of-concept consumer safety rating for Automated Driving Systems, via Thatcham Research and CAM Testbed partners.
Initially, the independent rating will focus on Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS). This technology could see motorists driving hands-free on UK motorways at limited speeds within a year. The goal is that this project will act as a basis for consumer safety rating of future Automated Driving Systems, and it is anticipated that it will later be adopted by consumer safety organisations such as Euro NCAP.
Survey finds EV ownership rising fast
Over seven per cent of respondents to Trend Tracker’s EV Readiness report have an EV or hybrid vehicle – more than a five per cent increase on the expected conversion reported by ET&T in 2020.
From the 980 people who answered the survey, 71 had at least one electric or hybrid vehicle, equating to 7.2% market conversion as of June 2021.
The finding comes as data shows new car sales are seeing an exponential rise in electric and hybrid vehicles, with 38% of new vehicle sales being an electric, hybrid or mild hybrid vehicle from January to June 2021, a 94% increase from 2020 according to SMMT.
Mindset modification for VMs
Audi has said vehicle manufacturers need to change their mindsets to ensure their products remain safe to drive post sale.
Jan Michel, chief transition architect at the brand’s technical development department, said that to ensure vehicles can be updated throughout their lifespan, manufacturers need to change their entire product development process.
He said, ‘We no longer think sequentially from procurement to development to production to sales. We have to continue working on the software even after the car is on the market, make advancements to the sensor technology, and ensure that the vehicle can be updated.’
Zurich partners on green parts
Zurich Insurance UK and Synetiq have agreed a new green parts partnership.
David Nichols, Zurich’s Chief Claims Officer, said: “Green parts are a more sustainable way to repair components that are non-safety critical. By extending the life of parts that would otherwise be scrapped, we can reduce harmful carbon emissions while continuing to offer our customers high quality repairs. This partnership reflects our wider commitment to embed sustainability across our business, and we very much look forward to working with Synetiq.”
Seven sentenced for fictitious collision
Seven men have been sentenced for attempting to make insurance claims for a bogus road traffic collision.
The City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) began investigating the case in September 2019, after six men claimed to have been involved in a collision between two vehicles. However, as the insurer became suspicious of their claims and investigated further, discrepancies began to show, revealing the cars had been deliberately.
Another man, the owner of a local recovery service, was also sentenced for his involvement in the plot.
Alternative propulsions powers five-star ratings
In the latest round of Euro NCAP testing, the Audi Q4 e-tron, Lynk and Co 01, NIO ES8, Subaru Outback and Toyota Mirai all achieved five-star safety ratings, with all but the Subaru Outback using alternative propulsion methods.
The hydrogen powered Toyota Mirai performed very well in testing, scoring highly in the Adult (88%) and Child Occupant (85%) Protection categories.
Matthew Avery, Director of Insurance Research, Thatcham Research, said, “Despite consumer concerns surrounding their potential volatility due to the high-pressure tank, the Toyota Mirai demonstrates that hydrogen fuelled vehicles can be just as secure and safe as their combustion and electric-propelled equivalents.”
Automated test platform raises further $32m
Foretellix, a platform provider automating the testing, verification and validation for automated driving systems, has secured $32m in its latest series B funding round, bringing its total raised capital to over $50m.
Founded in 2018 Fortellix uses a quantifiable approach to safety and hyper-automation to create and test all possible scenarios these systems may encounter, along with big data analytics to ensure the safety and completeness of the testing processes.
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ARC360 Gaining Ground Together Q4 2021 – themed Back to the Future – will focus on just what the past means for the future. Is it a completely new world the incident repair sector is operating in or does the past still provide some meaning for the future?
