Register now (Wednesday 26 January 2022 – 1.30pm)
In this webinARC we explore the key themes of sustainability across the industry to discover just what it means to different operations – from large corporates through to independent businesses –at this current time.
Featuring:
- Charlotte Burnige, company secretary, Coachwork Renovations Ltd
- Joe March, head of commercial & network management, The Green Parts Specialists
- Chris Payne, head of networks & engineering – home & motor, LV=
- Stuart Sandell, assistant vice president – sales, UK & Ireland, Enterprise Holdings
Qashqai secures safety top spot
Nissan’s Qashqai is pound-for-pound the UK’s safest car in 2022. That’s the expert conclusion that independent testing organisation Thatcham Research has drawn after completing its judging for the coveted What Car? Safety Award.
Choosing a winner of the UK’s leading car safety award is a responsibility shared between Thatcham Research, Euro NCAP and What Car? journalists.
NEARC goes carbon neutral
North East Accident Repair Centres (NEARC) has achieved Carbon Neutrality in accordance with PAS 2060 across all three sites.
Roger Collings, director at NEARC said, “The business has always been conscious of our impact on the environment and we continue to invest in technology to reduce our carbon footprint.”
NEARC worked with Purchase Direct to achieve the PAS 2060 status.
Feature interview: Jane Pocock, Copart
Copart is a global leader in vehicle remarketing and recycling, handling more than 500,000 used and salvage vehicles every year in the UK alone. Here, we speak to UK & Ireland managing director Jane Pocock about Copart’s focus on and commitment to sustainability, and ask what that means for the business on a day-to-day basis.
Thatcham Research reveals UK’s safest new cars of 2021
Thatcham Research has revealed the UK’s safest new cars of 2021, with EV and Hybrid models demonstrating impressive safety advancements ahead of the 2030 ban on new Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) sales.
Making a positive impact this year are the safety-conscious EQS from Mercedes-EQ, Nissan’s popular Qashqai, and the all-electric Enyaq by Škoda. Also featured are the Volvo-derived Polestar 2 and the hybrid-electric Toyota Yaris Cross.
Mitchell and asTech deliver integrated solution
Technology and information provider for the claims and collision repair industries Mitchell has partnered with asTech to introduce a new diagnostics solution that is intended to simplify and speed up customer service.
The MD-OE22 combines asTech’s OEM scanning device and remote services with Mitchell’s cloud-based ecosystem and collision repair software. This improves efficiency by centralising document management and distribution on a single platform. Further, the solution standardises scan reporting, making them easy to understand for insurers and customers alike.
Four-week free trial
BMS Eclipse is offering all customers a four-week free trial of its ‘Service Certainty – Image Capture’ application.
The solution speeds up key-to-key times by enabling customers to upload images of their damaged vehicle by a unique link. Repairers can then create an estimate and order parts before the vehicle arrives on site.
Complete Fleet partners The Grove Group
Complete Fleet UK has announced a new partnership with The Grove Group which it believes will provide its bodyshop partners with all the tools, training and equipment necessary to succeed in the modern aftermarket space.
The Grove Group delivers EV training and bespoke bodyshop improvement programmes, while also providing refinishing supplies, digital solutions and stock management tools.
New calls for MVBER extension
The European Commission has announced that the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations (MVBER) could be postponed from 2023 until 2028.
UK AFCAR, the lobbying group comprising automotive trade associations and commercial organisations, is now calling for the UK government to follow suit. It wants the MVBER to be revised to suit today’s vehicles, and says it is gathering increasing evidence that vehicle manufacturers are misinterpreting the existing MVBER and denying independent garages access to technical information.
IIHS announces new safety ratings
A new ratings system is being developed that will determine if the safeguards used to keep drivers engaged in semi-autonomous vehicles are good, acceptable, marginal or poor.
‘Good’ systems will need to ensure the driver is focused on the road and holding or the steering wheel, while escalating alerts and emergency procedures will also be required.
The ratings are being set by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and are expected by be released later this year.
Wayve of support for AI solution
London-based start-up Wayve has secured $200m Series B backing, taking total equity raised to more than $258m. Support came from long-time backer Eclipse Ventures as well as new global financial investors.
Wayve is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence in the global autonomous driving market.
Ben launches self-referral to free Life Coaching service
Ben, the automotive industry charity, has launched a new self-referral route to access its free Life Coaching service.
Anyone who works, or has worked, in the automotive industry, can now register for free Life Coaching sessions by completing a short self-referral form online.
The personalised Life Coaching service gives automotive people the opportunity to work with a qualified professional to identify the change they’d like to see in their lives, set goals and maximise their potential to become the best version of themselves.
ARC360 Podcast Episode 20 – Back to business – Lee Johnson, LD AutoVogue
In this episode, we catch up with Lee Johnson, managing director at independent repair outfit LD Autovogue based in Norwich.
A thriving business, everything changed in the middle of last year when the business experienced a fire. Thankfully, no one was injured but the whole episode has not only proved a real challenge – physically and psychologically – for all involved – but so too has it been an ‘eye opener’ in many respects.
