ARC360 conference set to unlock the future of vehicle repair
With the motor claims, vehicle repair and mobility sectors continuing to undergo significant change, ARC360’s 2025 conference is set to offer a unique opportunity to stay ahead of the curve.
Taking place on Thursday 22 May at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, the event is already set to bring together over 25 leading insurer brands, more than 75 key repairers and in excess of 10 vehicle manufacturers, along with some of the industry’s most influential supply chain voices. Full story
Leading voices in the UK automotive repair industry came together at Oulton Park for the AutoRaise Power Panel, a discussion on the future of apprenticeships, industry perception, and breaking down barriers to entry.
Solus, an Aviva company, has announced that Managing Director Simon Smith has become a gold member of the Automotive 30% Club.
Fix Auto UK has appointed Fix Auto Bedford to its network. Formerly known as Quality Repair Centre or QRC for short, the business is owned by Marcin Macioszek and serial entrepreneur Ali Khan.
As an NBRA partner, ILC attended the Ageas Group and NBRA/VBRA Equipment EXPO in Wolverhampton this week, which explored the latest innovations.
Elder and Paton’s Angus Site is now officially a Tesla Approved Bodyshop.
Karen Jakes from Thatcham Research and Martyn Rowley from the NBRA have passed the £25,000 fundraising barrier. They are Trekking the Sahara Desert to raise funds for BEN.
Bolton-based Perfect Finish has passed its latest BSI Kitemark BS10125:2022 audit with 100% compliance.
Perfect Paint is now an official approved Genesis Select Accident Repairer for the Milton Keynes area.
Gillbrand Accident Repair has announced it will offset the costs of installing nine EV Chargers with solar roof panels that will generate 70KWH per hour.
SprayStyle Body Masters has announced it will unveil a new bodyshop in Newcastle-Under-Lyme this summer. To support the development it has appointed automotive Director Dave Willet.
On 7-8 June Lloyds Motor Group Bodyshop Manager Tim Parkinson will take on the Cateran Yomp in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund.
Fix Auto Basingstoke is now PAS2060 certified, meaning its vehicle repair services are fully carbon neutral.
Liam Kenny Motor Body Repairs has successfully passed its latest Mercedes-Benz audit.
Stellantis unveils STLA AutoDrive, hands-free and eyes-off autonomous technology
Stellantis has unveiled STLA AutoDrive 1.0, the Company’s first in-house-developed automated driving system, delivering Hands-Free and Eyes-Off (SAE Level 3) functionality. STLA AutoDrive is a key pillar of Stellantis’ technology stragety, alongside STLA Brain and STLA Smart Cockpit, advancing vehicle intelligence, automation and user experience. Full story
Polestar adds car keys in Apple Wallet, enabling users to lock, unlock, and start their vehicle with iPhone and Apple Watch
Thanks to an over-the-air (OTA) software update, Polestar 3 customers can now enjoy the convenience and added benefits of their car keys in Apple Wallet. Drivers can automatically unlock or lock, and start their vehicle while leaving their iPhone in their pocket or by simply wearing their Apple Watch. Full story
Fireman Access, an exclusive innovation by Renault Group, is now available with a free licence
Renault Group has decided to make the Fireman Access patents freely available to the entire automotive industry. Car manufacturers and parts suppliers can now obtain a free licence for this innovation through the open collaborative platform at www.renault.fr/universalpatent. In return, as part of this collaborative principle, licensees agree that any upgrades will be made available to other members of the community. Full story
Toyota develops new fuel cell system, contributing towards a future hydrogen society
Toyota has announced development of a third generation fuel cell (FC) system as part of its continuing efforts towards realising a hydrogen society. The all-new system is designed to meet the particular needs of the commercial sector, offering the same durability as conventional diesel-powered engines. Full story
Kia February’s front runner as UK’s hottest used car
Auto Trader has revealed the hottest used cars in February, with Kia models taking the top two spots. Both the Kia Ceed (petrol, up to a year old) and the Kia Carens (5-10 years old) are currently taking an average of just 11 days to sell, which is significantly faster than the overall market average of 29 days. Full story
NBRA challenge to non-payment of repairers by EDAM administrators
It has been reported that at least 93 bodyshops are unlikely to receive any payouts on the money owing since EDAM went into administration. The NBRA suggests the number of bodyshops who will not get paid is even higher than the number reported, but is working to challenge to the non-payment. Full story
AutoRaise Power Panel sparks industry action at Oulton Park
Leading figures from the UK’s automotive repair sector gathered at Oulton Park for the AutoRaise Power Panel, a landmark event designed to tackle the pressing issues facing the industry. Chaired by outgoing Dave Sargeant and incoming Simon Smith, the discussion focused on shaping the future of apprenticeships, changing industry perceptions, and removing barriers to entry for new talent. Full story
Enterprise Car Club announced as the new provider for Newcastle City Council
Enterprise Car Club has been announced as the new provider for Newcastle City Council, offering Newcastle businesses and residents access to pay-as-you-go vehicle hire from a wide range of locations across the city. Vehicles are provided by Enterprise Car Club from designated parking bays in the city centre and in residential areas. Full story
Thatcham Research partners with Elixirr to deliver more value for its insurance members
Elixirr, the established, global award-winning challenger consultancy, has partnered with Thatcham Research, the leading provider of automotive risk intelligence. Elixirr will deliver greater value for Thatcham Research’s members through its custom-built Value Optimiser model. Full story
National Windscreens announces new site in Luton
National Windscreens continues to expand its UK network with the opening of a purpose designed, 4,600 sqft fitting and calibration centre in Luton. This new centre is designed to meet that demand, with four fitting and calibration bays, complete with specialist LED lighting that facilitates use of the latest ADAS calibration technology by highly trained technicians. Full story
Annual Press Conference on February 28
On Friday, February 28, 2025, the Annual Press Conference of BASF SE will be held in Ludwigshafen, Germany. At 11am. (CET) BASF’s Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors Dr. Markus Kamieth and CFO Dr. Dirk Elvermann will present the 2024 financial results. Full story
Elevating polishing with the help of the new Mirka AIRP 300
Mirka UK is expanding its robotic polishing tool range with the launch of the new Mirka AIRP 300, a cutting-edge solution designed for high-precision and high-efficiency polishing. This new rotary polisher provides an alternative to traditional oscillating polishers and is suitable for use across a range of industries, including automotive. Full story
International Assistance Group expands NWVA partnership
International Assistance Group has expanded its relationship with NWVA Nationwide Assistance Group, by selecting them as Assistance Partner for roadside assistance solutions in Spain. Full story
Colleges Week 2025: Building brighter futures using WorldSkills UK benchmarking resources
Colleges Week 2025, organised by the Association of Colleges (AoC), will take place from Monday 3 to Friday 7 March. This year, the focus will be on celebrating the vital role that colleges play in shaping brighter futures for learners, giving them the skills and confidence to succeed in the workplace. Full story
New Careers Advice Toolkit empowers young people to explore apprenticeship and technical career paths
WorldSkills UK has launched a new Careers Advice Toolkit designed to inspire and empower young people to explore apprenticeship and technical career opportunities. This easy-to-use digital resource provides engaging employability skills and career information, helping students make informed decisions about their future. Full story
VRAC’s Parts Platform will have an estimated 5 million+ parts
In an era where technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, a ground-breaking new Parts Platform led by the Vehicle Recyclers’ Association Certification (VRAC), is setting a new standard for innovation across our industry. Full story
FMG Repair Services launches in-house skills competition across the UK
Accident repair specialist FMG Repair Services continues its support of the next generation of industry talent with the creation of an automotive body repair competition for its apprentices. Full story
Supreme Court allows NFDA to intervene in motor finance case, Treasury bounced out
The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) has been given permission to intervene in the motor finance case taking place in the Supreme Court. It emerged that the Treasury had not been given permission to intervene and will now have to watch events from the sidelines. Full story
Government apprentice requirement reduction a ‘bad fit’ for automotive
Government plans to reduce maths and English requirements for apprentices over 19 could increase overall numbers says Easy2Recruit, but the agency helping garages hire overseas talent is urging the automotive sector to instead work to attract higher-qualified candidates who would thrive in the high-tech industry of tomorrow. Full story
Lloyds puts aside a further £700m for compensation over car finance scandal
Lloyds Banking Group has been forced to put aside a further £700m for potential compensation over the ballooning car loan commission scandal, in a move that knocked its annual profits by 20%. The latest provision brings the sum it will hold back for payouts to almost £1.2bn. Full story
Number of supercars in the UK hits new record with more than half Ferraris
New research has revealed that the number of supercars in the UK is up 4% as the total hit 23,323 for the year ending June 30, 2024. The data from accountancy group UHY Hacker Young showed that Ferrari was the most popular supercar brand in the UK, with 14,714 currently on the road. Full story
Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights 2024 Year in Review
Claims frequency for collision-damaged, repairable battery electric vehicles (BEVs) rose to 2.71% in the US and 3.84% in Canada in 2024, a year-over-year increase of 38% and 34% respectively. US total loss frequency for BEVs increased to 10.2% in 2024 (up from 8% in 2023). Full story
Quarter of drivers affected by bright headlights drive less at night as a result
A quarter of drivers (25%) who find vehicle headlights too bright are driving less at night as a result, while 22% say they wish they could, a major new study on headlight glare from the RAC shows. Findings from what is believed to be the most in-depth research into motorists’ views on the issue reveal that three-quarters (75%) of those who drive less do so because intense headlights make the experience uncomfortable or more difficult. Full story
Industry Insights has welcomed Alan Cottrill to the motor claims business consultancy team.
Charlie Holmes, Customer Services Executive at Thatcham Research, is running the Reading Half-Marathon to raise funds for Ben.
