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Motor Claims Showcase set for technology keynote
Dean Lander, Head of Repair Sector Services at Thatcham Research, will provide a keynote address at the forthcoming Motor Claims Showcase Event highlighting the changes technology is having on the sector.
The session, ‘Automotive technology – influences and trends,’ will explore the technology and complexity of modern-day vehicles, highlighting how these advancements will reshape the motor claims supply chain both from a technical and strategic perspective.
Market report makes grim reading
Trend Tracker’s Repair Market Snapshot Report for April has revealed the volatility of the market at the moment, with challenges coming through inflation, supply, and labour.
While the data gathered in April can be considered something of an anomaly due to school holidays and Bank Holidays, the report found that the issues faced by the entire motor eco-system were deeper than expected.
Singer hits the right note for Shorade
Shorade UK has announced that Brian Singer has joined the company as Operations Director.
He has more than 35 years’ experience in the sector at both operational and management level, with extensive expertise in running prestige, manufacturer-approved bodyshops.
Managing Director Leon Coupland said, “Having worked with Brian for a number of years, we knew he was an excellent fit for Shorade UK. Brian will be an integral part of the business as it grows, his experience and expertise have already proved invaluable.”
Father and son celebrate apprentice awards
Thatcham Research emphasised its continued commitment to apprenticeships in the automotive sector by recognising both apprentices and mentors who have shown true dedication in the last year.
Bradley Rankin of FMG Gloucester was named Apprentice of the Year while father Lee, also of FMG Gloucester, ensured it was a double celebration for the family by collecting the Mentor’s award.
Insurance fraud on the rise
Aviva has reported a 13% rise in insurance fraud during 2021, with motor fraud accounting for 60% of all detected fraudulent claims.
In total, it uncovered more than 11,000 instances of claims fraud last year – an average of more than 30 every day – worth an accumulated total of £122m.
The insurer is still investigating a further 16,700 potentially fraudulent claims.
Copart strengthens ‘Greenest Fleet’ claims
Copart has further developed its ambition to operate the ‘Greenest Fleet on the Street’ by taking delivery of 20 new DAF 3-car transporters, all of which are Euro VI and DVS compliant.
The vehicles will be distributed across its nationwide Operation Centres in the next few months.
S&G Response launches month-long training initiative
S&G Response has launched a month-long programme of training and development to coincide with the launch of Learning at Work Week.
It has extended the one-week initiative to ensure that all colleagues have the opportunity to make the most of the training activities on offer, which focus on three key areas: uncovering learning potential, uncovering hidden powers, and uncovering new dimensions.
Going with the flow
Cash flow has been a growing concern for a number of organisations in the automotive aftermarket, with fluctuating volumes, inflation and the ramifications of Covid-19 all putting a strain on resources.
Here, we speak to ACG’s Sales Director, Peter Bass about what makes its proposition stand out from the crowd.
GT Motive bolsters expansion team
GT Motive has appointed Layton Davies to accelerate growth in the UK claims market.
Davies joins from Audatex, where he managed strategic third-party relationships and product development.
BASF announces R&D investment
BASF has enhanced its research and development capabilities with the expansion of its Automotive Coatings Application Centre in India.
The site now occupies more than 400sqm of floor space and is equipped with the latest technology to support the development customer-centric innovations.
Patrick Zhao, Senior Vice President, BASF Coatings Solutions Asia Pacific, said, “This investment is a significant milestone in our effort to further strengthen our R&D footprint in Asia Pacific, as well as improve our proximity to customers in one of the fastest growing regions for our automotive coatings solutions.”
Aviva sets the motor insurance pace
New research by Consumer Intelligence has found that Aviva was the fastest growing car insurer in the six months to 31 March.
Its Insurance Behaviour Tracker, which records consumer action through the renewal process, found that Aviva increased its market share by 1.7%, nearly twice as much as the second-placed insurer, RAC.
The research identified price comparison website distribution as a key driver behind Aviva growth, with more than half of customers taking out polices through an aggregator compared to just 30% who bought online or over the phone.
IMI diversity drive moves up a gear
The IMI is accelerating its push towards diversity in the workforce by encouraging more automotive businesses to join its Diversity Task Force.
The Task Force was set up to understand how the sector can become more attractive to a wider demographic.
The industry body is also developing qualifications to support the sector which it hopes will, in time, lead to more diverse role models.
Car production suffers April stutter
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has reported that production fell 11.3% to 60,554 units during April. It attributed the decline to the global shortage of semi-conductors coupled with the impact of the war in Ukraine.
However, the drive towards electrification continued with 26.4% of new cars produced during the month battery-powered, with pure EVs taking a 9.9% market share.
Meanwhile, commercial vehicle production surged by 27.6% in April, marking the fourth straight month of growth. Vehicles built for export rose by 58%, with production for the UK market remaining stable.
Marshall CEO steps down
Marshall Motors CEO Daksh Gupta has announced that he is stepping down with immediate effect.
During his 14 years with the company he has overseen growth from a small privately owned group in East Anglia with revenues of £300m to a publicly listed national retailer operating in 37 counties with revenues heading towards £4bn, while headcount has increased 10-fold to more than 5,000 colleagues.
He said, “What’s been achieved with the team has been amazing, however from a personal perspective, I feel the time is now right for me to explore new opportunities.”
Davies warns of e-scooter claims surge
Davies has sounded the alarm following the publication by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) of a new report considering the implications of legalising the use of electric scooters on roads and cycle lanes.
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webinARC – business strategies & best practices
1.30pm Wednesday 15 June
In this webinARC we explore the latest in vehicle incident repair management strategies and best practices.
