Bodyshop Briefs
- Miguel Harvey of Steer Automotive Group has won gold at The SATA Challenge in Toronto, Canada. Representing World Skills UK, Miguel showcased his incredible skills against competitors from Canada, USA, Germany, Barbados, and the UK during the final pressure test before World Skills Lyon this September.
- Chartwell hosted Bentley Motors at its state-of-the art bodyshop after it was chosen to host the filming of its new paint and body campaign.
- Walton Accident Repair Centre’s partnership with S&G Response has been featured in the Northwest Bodyshop Suppliers magazine, showcasing its teamwork and service.
- Brandon Accident Repair Centre has now achieved full multi brand approval status for the Stellantis UK Accident Repair Programme.
- Novo Automotive Group is following up the launch of its Witham site in February with a second site due to open in Colchester in September.
- Trenhams has achieved carbon neutrality certification as part of PAS2060 for the second year running.
- Fix Auto Manchester East has been named as a finalist at the Oldham Business Awards for the second year in a row.
- Lancashire-based bodyshop ST Accident Repair Centre has been awarded the BSI Kitemark Accreditation for Vehicle Damage Repair.
- Two leading UK repairers – Allied Automotive and Peggs Accident Repair Centre Ltd – have recently featured on popular YouTube channel videos from Matt Armstrong (2.3m views) and Mark McCann (760k views).
Industry News
Global outage causes massive disruption
A global IT outage has caused massive disruption to businesses and services in all sectors.
Cyber security company Crowdstrike is reportedly the source of the tech issue, although the cause of it is not yet known.
e2e partners with ARC360
e2e Total Loss Claims Management – the UK-wide network of progressive salvage and recycling agents – has joined ARC360 as a Partner.
Its network of independent salvage and automotive recyclers provides clients with a market leading, sustainable, nationwide solution for vehicle salvage, disposal and reclaimed parts.
Stellantis provides network with full access
Stellantis brought together it’s UK-wide repairer network for its first National Repairer Forum back in June.
The event, which took place at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry – to tie-in with the Stellantis-sponsored ARC360 Future Vehicle Technology themed event – provided around 100 of its approved accident repairers with the chance to hear the latest insights and initiatives; raise any queries; and enjoy networking. ARC360 was on hand to capture the key themes from the day.
Insurers suffer worst year in a decade
The UK motor insurance market experienced its worst performing year since 2011 last year, recording a loss-making Net Combined Ratio (NCR) of 112.8%, according to EY’s latest UK Motor Insurance Results.
Premiums fall for second successive quarter
Comprehensive car insurance premiums fell six per cent, or £59, between April and June this year.
Car insurance premiums have now fallen for two consecutive quarters after a dip of five per cent in the first three months of 2024, with average annual premiums now £882, according to the latest Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index in association with WTW.
S&G Response marks birthday milestone
S&G Response is celebrating its 15th birthday this year. To mark the milestone, it hosted a Summer Party at Champneys Mottram Hall and a golf day to raise funds for The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust.
Repairify continues Australian development
Repairify has celebrated the progress it has made it Australia in just two years, with operations in Sydney and a partnership with Capricorn in Perth helping to deliver its repair solutions to repairers across the country and New Zealand.
Revive! unveils cosmetic car insurance
Revive! Auto Innovations has signed a new five-year deal to provide cosmetic insurance to more than 3,000 UK dealers who retail motor warranty products from Assurant.
The arrangement will see a range of products covering bodywork scratches and dents, and alloy wheel damage.
Autoglass re-opens sites after polish
Autoglass has re-opened two sites – Gloucester and Worsley – after carrying out refurbishment works.
ACIS system delivers cost-cutting AIMS
An ACIS study during the first half of 2024 has found that bodyshops using its Inventory Management System AIMS have reported a significant reduction in costs per sold hour.
ACIS launched the web-based system in 2022 as a successor to Ascribe.
cinch opens first store
Hot on the heels of selling its 200,000th car online, cinch has announced the launch of its first physical cinch Store.
The store will open in Bedford Road, Northampton next week – with other locations following soon after, including Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester.
Van drivers face £1.64bn theft bill
New research by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has revealed that 19% of van drivers have been the victims of theft in the last year, with the average value of stolen items at £1,700.
Silverlake celebrates police services
Silverlake has secured two four-year police contracts from the Automobile Association Developments Contractor Management.
It has renewed its contract with Sussex & Surrey Police while also winning a new contract with Hampshire & IOW Constabulary.
3M wins prestigious design award
3M is celebrating after winning a 2024 Red Dot Product Design Award for its Perfect-It Random Orbital Polisher, a handheld power tool developed for automotive repair paint finishing.
Allianz tailors motor insurance to suit individual
Allianz is now offering two levels of motor insurance, a product tailored to provide basic cover and a more comprehensive product. Both offer cover for accidental damage, windscreen damage, European cover and car thefts.
AkzoNobel expands Sustainable Repair Network to Scandinavia
AkzoNobel has announced that Danish repairer Qars 4M Lakering has become the first Scandinavian site to join its Sustainable Repair Network.
The Sustainable Repair Network has been developed to support businesses move towards net zero operations.
Chinese tariffs will have little impact
International research and strategy organisation ICDP has said that tariffs imposed on Chinese EV imports will have little impact on European markets.
However, it warns that one unintended consequence could be retaliatory tariffs from China that weaken European brands in the country.
Kwik Fit enhances motor insurance offering
Kwik Fit is partnering with Aioi Nissay Dowa Europe, a subsidiary of MS&AD, to offer motor insurance through its website.
Policies, which were introduced to price comparison websites last year, include cover for misfuelling and lost, stolen or accidentally damaged keys.
EV charging infrastructure on target
A new white paper by ChargeUK, Powering Ahead to 2030, has predicted that there will be more than 300,000 public charging points in the UK by the end of the decade, with a new point installed every 25 minutes.
Repairify announces NAPA deal
Remote diagnostics, calibrations and programming expert Repairify has signed a preferred partnership deal with NAPA to release asTech Mechanical across America.
The solution is a single device capable of accessing the majority of original equipment (OE) tools for shop owners.
VM News
Lucid announces EV range breakthrough
Lucid has unveiled a range of updates to the Lucid Air Pure that will see range increase to 420 miles from a battery pack that is just 84 kilowatt-hours. This makes it the first vehicle in the world to achieve a ratio of five miles of range per kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy.
Kia tops Customer Satisfaction Index
Kia UK has topped the latest UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI), compiled by The Institute of Customer Service, with 81.4 points compared to the automotive sector average of 78 points.
Volkswagen wins EV innovation award
Volkswagen has been named the most innovative volume brand in electric vehicles by the Center of Automotive Management (CAM). It collected the AutomotiveINNOVATIONS Award 2024 for advancements in range and charging capacity.
Audi unveils A5 family
Audi has introduced the new A5 family to the mid-size segment, 30 years after unveiling the first Audi A4. Going forward, the brand has said that even numbers will represent electric models and odd numbers will be reserved for combustion engines.
MG rejuvenates SUV line-up
MG is rejuvenating its HS SUV line-up with petrol and plug-in hybrid models.
All models feature the MG Pilot package, with Active Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Bicycle Detection, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning System, Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist, Driver Attention Alert, Forward Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Door Open Warning as standard.
People
- Motability Operations has announced Andy Broadfield will be joining the business from November as Managing Director of Electric & Insurance.
- Vicki Starrs has been named Operational Excellence Consultant at Solus.
- Simon Downing has joined Rapid Repair Network as Strategic Key Accounts Manager.
- Michael Massey has been appointed as Head of Technical Capability & Innovation at FMG Repair Services
- Tom Rumboll, UK Managing Director for IAA and CEO of SYNETIQ, has left the business to pursue other opportunities.
- Autotech Group has appointed Nadege Gavarret-Clark as Group Project Manager and Jim Odams as Business Relationship Manager.
- Ford has appointed Neal Sholto-Douglas as Aftermarket Fleet Support Manager.
- Paul Grimbley has joined Direct Line Group as External Automotive Claims Engineer.
- Jo Howcroft has been promoted to Senior Business Development Manager (Global) – Kitemark.
- Craig Bridgman has been named New Senior Editor on cap hpi’s valuations team.
- Marshall Motor Group has appointed Matt Southall as Strategy and Technology Director and David Johnson as Property Director.
