Bodyshop briefs
- Porters Bodyshop has successfully passed its Volkswagen Audi Group audit with a score of 98%.
- L&I Eaton ARC has acquired Brooklands Autobody Lincoln South.
- D Gawthorpe ACR has been appointed to the Ford Certified Collision Network.
- The Pennings Group recently hosted colleagues from Collision Experts Ireland, demonstrating its industry-leading technology and solutions.
- Fix Auto Lichfield owner Andy Johnson will take part in the 3,000km Panda Raid charity drive across the Moroccan desert to raise funds for Carter The Brave, which has been set up to raise money for the Oncology Ward, Clinic and Research department at Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital.
Industry News
ARC360 introduces inaugural Breakfast Think Tank
ARC360’s first online Breakfast Think Tank took place this week, when more than 20 leading figures from the across the vehicle incident repair sector met to share their views on the year ahead.
The session featured contributions from a panel of experts from vehicle repair, vehicle manufacturing, insurance, training and mobility.
Monthly Key Metrics
Trend Tracker’s latest monthly update has revealed that repair cost increases are still higher than inflation, but the rate of increase has slowed to six per cent year-on-year.
Cycle times are reducing although lead times are longer than this time last year, while repair volumes in January were four per cent higher than January 2023.
BASF signs sustainability partnership with INEOS
BASF’s Coatings Division has signed a strategic agreement with INEOS Automotive to develop sustainable vehicle body repair and paint refinish solutions. The partnership also incorporates product supply, shared expertise and training.
New data sees EV myths go up in smoke
Salary sacrifice specialist Tusker has analysed data from its fleet of more than 30,000 electric vehicles and found that they are 20 times less likely than petrol or diesel cars to catch fire.
EV training on the charge
New analysis from the IMI has found that 22% of technicians, or 55,000, are now EV qualified.
This is higher than anticipated, and the IMI has now revised its projection of when the industry will experience a skills gap in this area from 2029 to 2032.
Inclusion starts at the top
Business leaders need to set the standard to create a culture of inclusivity within their companies.
According to Rachel Clift, Health and Wellbeing Director at automotive charity Ben, those at the top of the organisation play a critical role in developing a workforce that is engaged, diverse and inclusive.
Industry interview: Adrian Furness, Managing Director, Motor Repair, Activate Group
Adrian Furness has a unique perspective on the challenges facing automotive claims, having worked on both sides of the sector.
Here, he shares his views on the key issues impacting the industry and explains how Activate Group helps to overcome them through its expanding portfolio of services.
GSF Car Parts attracting industry acolytes
GSF Car Parts, one of the UKs leading suppliers of car parts to the independent aftermarket, is establishing a notable leadership team with some of the industry’s most prominent names coming on board.
Founder and Non-Executive Chairman Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia is joined by CEO Steve Horne, Alistair Preston, Paul Wright, Lee Forty, David Bevan, Chris Barella, Martin Gray, Bill Stimson and Adam White.
Best face forward
BASF subsidiary TrinamiX, a pioneer in biometric face authentication, has launched its next generation of Face Authentication. Developed alongside Continental, the solution enhances vehicle security by offering both external and internal face recognition.
IMI calls for urgent skills focus
The Institute of the Motor Industry has urged the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to focus on electric vehicle skills training in his Spring Budget.
It says that consumer incentives are not enough to secure a successful EV transition.
PartsXCHANGE reaches 600 milestone
NBRA supplier member PartsXCHANGE has achieved the significant milestone of serving 600 bodyshop users.
The company supplies preowned genuine unused and used parts to repairers across the UK.
Plunkys All Stars 2024
The final Plunky’s All Stars charity football match will take place at Norfolk FA’s Football and Development Centre, Bowthorpe Park in Norwich, on 28 June.
The match is fundraising for three charities: Norfolk and Waveney Mind, the East Anglian Air Ambulance and The Fire Fighters Charity.
To donate or find out more, please email stephen.plunkett@eu.lotuscars.com
HEVRA adds Dacia to portfolio
HEVRA has added Dacia to its portfolio of more than 40 supported electric and hybrid vehicle brands.
The company’s database now offers technicians the latest repair and maintenance information across a range of 361 models.
Lloyds sets £450m aside for FCA investigation
Banking giant Lloyds has set aside £450m to cover the potential cost of an FCA investigation into car finance deals.
The FCA launched an investigation last month into whether car buyers overpaid as a result of high interest rates, which could have been set to raise commissions for brokers.
Employers obligated to manage the menopause
New regulations from the Equality and Human Rights Commission means employers are now legally obligated to support colleagues going through the menopause.
The help organisations meet their obligations, automotive charity Ben offers four different training courses aimed at supporting both employers and employees.
NVIDIA develops the ‘simulated’ world
NVIDIA has unveiled Omniverse, which used AI and digital technology to enable its automotive partners to ‘build’ factories and ‘manufacture’ new vehicles in simulation before any physical development begins.
This enables them to test efficiencies and validate new solutions such as ADAS.
VM news
Stellantis to begin EV production in Luton
Stellantis will manufacture all-electric vans at its Luton site from the middle of next year. It will produce the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, Peugeot E-Expert, Citroën ë-Dispatch and Fiat E-Scudo, becoming the second Stellantis UK site producing EVs after Ellesmere Port.
Volkswagen and Mahindra enhance EV agreement
Volkswagen Group has signed a supply agreement on components of its MEB for Mahindra’s purpose-built electric platform INGLO.
The deal, which also includes the supply of electric parts, underpins the two companies e-mobility collaboration.
Ford unveils new propulsion centre
Ford has unveiled its new £24m Propulsion Development Laboratory at its Essex-based UK headquarters.
Situated at the Dunton Campus’ research and development centre, the site comprises eight vehicle-size rooms capable of testing electric power units and propulsion systems
Porsche adds E-Hybrid variants
Porsche is expanding its Panamera model range with the 4 E-Hybrid and 4S E-Hybrid variants, offering 59 miles electric range.
Volvo standardises EV names
Volvo Cars is renaming and standardising its fully electric cars. The XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge models are renamed to EX40 and EC40 respectively to align with its other models, the EX30, EX90 and EM90.
People
- A1 ADAS Solutions has appointed Matt Hume as its UK sales manager.
- Autotech Group has appointed William Charsley and Alana Fuller as Trainee Recruitment Consultants. Meanwhile, Darren Dowling has joined as Client Services Director, Declan Gleghorn has been appointed Marketing Executive, and Colin Hankey has been named Business Relationship Manager. Other appointments include Chris Haber, Automotive Technical Trainer, Natalie Hodgson, Marketing Director, Finn Molloy, Specialist Headhunter, Pavithra Shankar, Business Data Analyst, Barry Williams, Business Relationship Director, and Ivan Zabolotny, Admin and Sales Apprentice.
