Leading repairers set for ARC360 2025
Many of the UK’s leading repairers have already confirmed their support of ARC360’s 2025 conference which takes place on Thursday 22 May at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon.
Titled ‘A new era – the changing dynamics of a sector’, the event will deliver the most engaging and interactive automotive incident repair/motor insurance claims focused event of the year. Full story
Repairer News
Gemini ARC has celebrated the loyalty of its team with an impressive 21.5% of its workforce earning long-service awards for over 10 or 20 years of dedication.
Turners Accident Repair has unveiled its seventh site in Chester-Le-Street, Durham. The 16,000 sqft repair centre follows an investment of more than £700,000. Full story
Fix Auto UK has announced that the group has reached a remarkable milestone after recording £1bn in deployed sales into the ever-growing franchised network as it continues its upward trajectory. Full story
Fix Auto Caldicot has officially got Renault/ Dacia to join our manufacturer approvals alongside Stellantis & Suzuki.
Dave Willett has left M&M Vehicle Repairs after 37 years.
Fix Auto UK’s Managing Director Ian Pugh has been appointed as Group Managing Director to the newly formed Advantage Group of Companies. The UK-based group encompasses Fix Auto UK, Advantage Parts Solutions UK, and Fix Auto UK’s division of owned repair centres. Full story
VM News
Implementation of ADAS technology continues to improve, as Thatcham Research announces safest car of the year shortlist
Automotive Risk Intelligence company Thatcham Research has revealed the contenders for the 2025 What Car? Safety Award, with this year’s shortlist representing the safest vehicles available on UK roads. The vehicles were chosen by Thatcham Research, Euro NCAP and What Car? judges based on Euro NCAP safety test scores alongside other criteria such as expected market volume. Full story
Euro NCAP boosts capacity with approval of DEKRA and TRANSPOLIS test centres
Euro NCAP has announced that DEKRA and TRANSPOLIS have been accredited for Euro NCAP active safety testing, formally joining its network of approved testing facilities around Europe. These facilities will build on existing expertise to successfully deliver consumer testing of passenger cars, vans, and trucks. Full story
JLR and Tata Communications to deliver smarter, data-driven connected cars
JLR has announced an enhanced partnership with Tata Communications to improve its connected vehicle ecosystem through the Tata Communications MOVE platform. The collaboration will empower JLR’s next-generation software-defined vehicles with continuous connectivity and access to intelligent services even in the remotest locations across 120 countries. Full story
BMW Group scores circular economy win with high-voltage batteries
The BMW Group has launched a pan-European partnership with SK tes, a leading provider of innovative technology lifecycle solutions. The special recycling process recovers cobalt, nickel and lithium from used batteries before returning them to the value chain to make new batteries. This closed-loop system is set to expand to the US-Mexico-Canada region as early as 2026. Full story
Polestar targets profitability in 2025; Polestar 7 will be a premium compact SUV from Europe
Polestar has unveiled an updated strategy, targeting compound annual retail sales volume growth of 30-35% for 2025 to 2027 and a positive adjusted EBITDA in 2025. Gaining commercial and operational momentum, further margin, fixed costs and working capital improvements are expected from 2026 onwards, with a positive free cash flow after investments expected in 2027. Full story
Industry News
NWVA introduces new Stolen Vehicle Recovery division
ARC360 Corporate Partner, NWVA (Nationwide Assistance Group) has introduced a new Stolen Vehicle Recovery division to tackle the rapidly increasing levels of vehicle theft across the UK. Having successfully supported police forces across the country for a number of years in the recovery of stolen vehicles, NWVA has now introduced its own all-encompassing service. Full story
Drivers neglecting basic vehicle checks
Research from eBay has revealed a significant number of drivers are neglecting basic car maintenance tasks. The data found that one in four (25%) drivers only checked their tyre pressure on a quarterly basis, while 11% admitted to only checking their tyre tread on a yearly basis. Full story
Trend Tracker – trends to look out for in 2025
Following on from the publication of its The UK Motor Claims and Body Repair Report 2024-25, Trend Tracker has been sharing predictions for 2025, a year that will deliver a raft of changes, some challenges but, promisingly, several opportunities for those willing to embrace the changes. So, what’s on the horizon for 2025 in the vehicle repair and motor claims sector? Full story
Ben shares ways for automotive people to improve wellbeing
With Blue Monday approaching on 20 January, Ben is sharing ways it can help automotive people improve their health and wellbeing in 2025. January is also a time when people consider setting new goals, and Ben’s free Life Coaching service supports automotive people to make positive changes, whether at work or home. Full story
Zenzic and IMI launch CAM skills survey
Zenzic has launched a new Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Skills Survey to better understand the recruitment and skills challenges facing the sector. The survey, which is being run in partnership with the Institute of the Motor Industry, is divided into four categories: current pain points, sources of hiring, activities for skills scouting, and company values and culture. Full story
Apprenticeship Central publishes white paper on apprenticeship reforms
Apprenticeship Central has published a white paper highlighting the reforms taking place within UK apprenticeships, and considering what they mean for automotive employers. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall initiated the reforms last November with the publication of the ‘Get Britain Working’ white paper. Full story
Automotive industry leaders set for Ben’s Sahara Desert Trek
A total of 11 automotive leaders will feel the heat next month in Ben’s Industry Leader Challenge Sahara Desert Trek, which is taking place from 26 February to 5 March. Divided into five teams, they will spend five days trekking across the Sahara Desert in Morocco to raise a minimum of £20,000 per team for Ben. Full story
BASF Coatings enters into a strategic partnership for the aftersales market
BASF’s Coatings division announces that BMW Group has selected the premium refinish brands Glasurit and R-M among their preferred paint brands for its aftersales network. This strategic partnership includes 50 markets where BMW Group is not present with its private label. Full story
IMI launches employment engagement survey to drive automotive talent forward
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has launched a new Employment Engagement Survey to gather critical insights that will help tackle the growing skills gap in the automotive sector. This 15-minute survey invites input from employers, educators, and industry professionals to identify recruitment challenges, highlight essential skills, and improve training and education. Full story
Copart’s 2024 ESG Report highlights sustainability progress
Copart has revealed it has avoided more than 12 million metric tons of CO2e during the past financial year. Its 2024 ESG Report has revealed that the company’s global operations achieved the figure by extending the lifecycle of vehicles and harvesting green parts. Full story
People
Eddie Longworth, Founder and Director of JEL Consulting Ltd, has been named CEO of e2e Total Loss Vehicle Management.
SYNETIQ, an IAA company and one of the UK’s leading vehicle salvage, dismantling and recycling companies, has appointed Jonathan Pervin as Managing Director.
Stellantis has announced a number of key changes to its UK management team. Nicola Dobson has been appointed as Peugeot Managing Director, Giuseppe Cava as Managing Director for Fiat, Fiat Professional & Abarth, Nick Richards as Pre-Owned Vehicles Director and Tom Ray as B2B Director.
National Windscreens has appointed James Reynolds as Director of Commercial and Finance for all Cary/National Windscreens sales and revenue interests in the UK.
Auto Windscreens has appointed Mima Rybanska as new Head of Strategic Partnerships.
Garage Hive has announced the appointment of Tom Langridge as Head of Training.
