Bodyshop Briefs
- Fix Auto has announced that Lennons Accident Repair Specialists has joined the network and will now operate as Fix Auto Cookstown. Meanwhile, Kevin Dunlop has opened Fix Auto Hereford alongside Fix Auto Tewkesbury. Full story
- Activate Group has opened a new Activate Accident Repair centre in Nottingham. Full story
- Solus has cut the ribbon on its new 40,000sqft state-of-the-art repair site in Dunstable. It will also create around 30 jobs with the opening of a new vehicle repair centre in Sunderland. Full story
- USI has completed another new repair shop for KC Autos. The Stockport-based site has 3 USI ITALIA chronotech booths with inbuilt pneumatic floors and heat recovery systems.
- HB Accident Repair Network has unveiled a new 16,000sqft North West bodyshop.
- M&A Coachworks has been named Bentley Bodyshop of the Year.
Industry News
Major new crackdown on insurance fraud
Insurance companies have united to step up efforts to crack down on fraudsters seeking to manipulate the UK insurance market with bogus claims and duping innocent people into buying fake insurance policies.
The new voluntary charter is designed to identify loopholes in the insurance market, enhance collaboration and criminal justice outcomes, better understand the scale of the problem and improve victim support. Full story
Welsh Government hails road safety improvement, pointing to timing of 20mph limit introduction
The Welsh Government has released latest police recorded road collision statistics from April to June this year showing that both collisions (24%) and casualties (24%) on 20mph and 30mph roads (combined) have fallen by almost a quarter compared to the same period of 2023 – the lowest recorded outside of the pandemic. Full story
IAM RoadSmart urges the Chancellor to take radical steps to save lives on the roads
The UK’s leading road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, is calling on the Chancellor to take steps to both saves lives and reduce the impact of road traffic collisions in her Autumn Budget. By incentivising the take-up of additional road safety courses through the tax system, it will also help save motorists money as the UK emerges from a cost-of-living crisis. Full story
Half of UK truck drivers switch off safety assistance systems
As part of this year’s 12th Allianz Motor Day, road users across five countries were surveyed regarding the safety of vulnerable road users in urban areas. The key finding of the survey showed that 54% percent of UK heavy vehicle drivers, such as trucks and vans, ‘often’ or ‘sometimes’ switch off the driver assistance systems in their vehicles. Full story
‘Why are headlights allowed to be that bright?’
The AA has warned motorists to drive carefully as the shorter days and worsening weather create more difficult driving conditions. Managing director Tim Rankin said drivers should ensure their headlights were set up appropriately after the company found an 11% rise in crashes after the clocks change, meaning it gets dark an hour earlier. Full story
Enterprise Flex-E-Rent welcomes new cohort
Enterprise Flex-E-Rent has recruited a new cohort of 15 apprentices in the UK and Ireland to join its two-year HGV mechanic or panel beater apprentice programme. Full story
IPO campaign highlights dangers of counterfeit vehicle parts
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has launched its latest national awareness campaign, warning consumers of the dangers of purchasing counterfeit vehicle parts. Driving home a clear message that ‘Fake Always Breaks’, the IPO’s new campaign alerts drivers to the life-threatening dangers such counterfeits pose. These include items such as brakes, headlights and air bags. Full story
UK Electric Vehicle buying intent rises despite challenges, EY report reveals
UK consumer sentiment towards Electric Vehicles (EVs) is gathering significant momentum while buying intent for petrol and diesel vehicles continues to decline, according to EY’s latest Mobility Consumer Index. Full story
Graduated Driver Licences could save 58 lives annually
At least 58 lives could be saved annually by graduated driver licensing (GDL), estimates The AA as it steps up its calls for the system to be introduced. Introducing such a system could also see at least 260 serious injuries avoided on UK roads. Full story
AA unveils car wellness app
The AA has unveiled its new car wellness app, Vixa, a new AI-powered solution that connects to cars and monitors them in real-time in order to alert drivers at the first sign of trouble. The app also provides detailed driving insights and maintenance solutions. Full story
The hidden threat to independent garages in the age of cybercrime
The UK’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 revealed that half of all businesses experienced a cyberattack or breach in the past year. According to reports, 60% of SMEs cease trading within six months of a cyber attack. Full story
LKQ Corporation announces results for third quarter
LKQ Corporation has reported third quarter revenues of £2.8bn. This is a 0.5% increase on the same period in 2023. Full story
How we’re updating the Autocar road test
Autocar has announced it will move its road tests from Millbrook to the Horiba MIRA proving ground as part of a wider update to ensure tests are suitable for modern EV and ADAS-equipped cars. Full story
High mileage heroes – increased mileage doesn’t equal increased costs
Even the most frugal of general consumers are often turned off by a car with seemingly increased mileage. The common thinking is that as a car ages not only does the number of issues increase, but the cost of said issues also increases. Full story
Klarius Group of Companies announces acquisition by CorpAcq
The Klarius Group of Companies, which includes Klarius, Emissco, KMT, Autologistiks and TIMEC, has been acquired by the private investment company CorpAcq. This acquisition represents a positive new chapter for the company, with no disruption to daily operations or the team’s existing management structure. Full story
VM News
Stellantis and Factorial take next step to accelerate the future of EVs
Stellantis and Factorial unveiled the next chapter in their partnership to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation electric vehicles, powered by Factorial’s solid-state battery technology. This initiative builds upon the £58m investment Stellantis made in Factorial in 2021. Full story
Mixed results in latest Euro NCAP testing
Euro NCAP has assessed the assisted highway driving features of five new models, with one Chinese model receiving a rating of ‘not recommended’. Ratings are based on two key areas: assistance competence – the balance between automation and ensuring driver engagement; and safety backup – measures taken in an emergency to avoid a collision. Full story
JLR expands global innovation network with hub in India
JLR has announced the launch of its latest Open Innovation Hub in India to identify and work closely with startups to develop the next generation of products and services that will help to define JLR’s future client experiences. Full story
Green steel for sustainable mobility
Volkswagen Group and Thyssenkrupp Steel have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the planned supply to Volkswagen Group of low-carbon steel from Thyssenkrupp Steel’s future direct reduction plant. This agreement underscores the two companies’ joint commitment to sustainability and climate protection. Full story
Corolla makes history as Toyota’s five millionth UK-built car
Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK) is celebrating the five millionth car to be built at its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire. Parked nose-to-tail, the UK-built Toyotas would form a line almost 14,000 miles long – more than half way around the world. Full story
People
- Accident management expert FMG has promoted Andy Chandler to the role of Managing Director.
- Paula Griffiths has been named VP – Insurance & Partnerships at Marshmallow.
