Bodyshop Archives - Page 22 of 106

ARC360 News – Friday, 26 July 2024

26 July 2024

Bodyshop, Environment, Finance, Insurance, Mobility, People, Salvage, Supplier, Technology, Training, Vehicle Repair, vehicle sales, wellbeing and Words

Bodyshop Briefs

Steer Automotive Group has unveiled its first purpose-built electric vehicle repair site, Steer Electric Eastleigh.
The collaboration between Gemini Accident Repair Group, Mac Tools UK, and Emtec Colleges will announce the winners of the MacNIFICENT Toolbox Design Competition shortly.
Adlington-based ST Accident Repair Centre has been awarded the BSI Kitemark Accreditation for vehicle damage repair.
Silvester Crash Repair has achieved carbon neutrality in accordance with PAS 2060.
Whaley Bridge ARC has taken delivery of its new KECO Glue Pull Repair System.
Brandon Accident Repair has become a Tesla approved bodyshop.
Steer Automotive Group has achieved carbon neutrality in accordance with PAS2060 for the second year in a row after reducing CO2 emissions by an additional 5.3%
In collaboration with Emtec Colleges, Steer Automotive Group has welcomed 60 more apprentices to the group.
Greg Biggam Accident Repair Centre has passed its first unannounced BS 10125 Kitemark audit.
Thatcham Research hosted the AutoRaise trustee board for a day of learning and insights.

Industry News

Matt Freeman of cap hpi delivers keynote address

The used car market, electric vehicles, and new technologies were the subject of a keynote address delivered by Matt Freeman, Managing Consultant, cap hpi, at ARC360’s Future Vehicle Technology themed conference.

Enterprise Repair Partner Event 2024: A showcase of innovation and partnership

The third annual Enterprise Repair Partner Event took place on 11 July 2024 at the prestigious Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth marking the second consecutive year the venue has hosted this key gathering. Attended by industry leaders, partners, and stakeholders, the event highlighted the innovations, challenges, and successes within the vehicle repair and mobility sector. ARC360 was on hand to find out more.

Motor conference set to explore key market dynamics

ILC’s Exclusive Motor Claims Conference 2024 is set to explore the key market dynamics shaping the motor insurance claims sector in 2024 and beyond.

Themed ‘Preparing for a better tomorrow’, the event takes place on Thursday 3 October at the UK’s highest event space – Landing Forty-Two in the Leadenhall Building London.

Thatcham Research sets government seven challenges

Thatcham Research is asking the new government to address seven key areas of concern within the automotive sector, including skills, autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, and cyber security.

SYNETIQ and cap hpi agree salvage data deal

Vehicle remarketing and salvage company SYNETIQ has signed a data deal with vehicle provenance check company cap hpi to provide customers with information around total losses.

Premiums fall for second successive quarter

Comprehensive car insurance premiums fell six per cent, or £59, between April and June this year, according to the latest Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index in association with WTW.

Home and motor insurance show resilience after IT outage

Consumer Intelligence has reported that the insurance industry has shown considerable resilience and is recovering after the largest IT outage in history.

LKQ Europe sets concept network target of 10,000 workshops

Leading distributor of automotive aftermarket parts, services and solutions in Europe, LKQ Europe, has launched a central workshop concept hub to bring its 16 concept brands closer together.

Ageas reveals new crash for cash scam targeting van drivers

Ageas has identified a worrying new trend of so called ‘crash for cash’ scams involving vans and mopeds. This new type of fraud sees moped-riders deliberately manoeuvring their vehicles into the path of reversing vans.

AND-E acquires assets of Nukula

AND-E, the captive insurer for the Toyota and Lexus brands through its subsidiary business Toyota Insurance Management (TIM), has acquired the trading assets of Nukula, the former administrator for Toyota and Lexus add-on insurance products in the UK.

One in ten motorists have had a collision while driving abroad

New research from Aviva reveals that almost one in seven motorists have had an incident abroad with 11% experiencing a collision while driving overseas.

ADAS market to swell by £26.2bn in four years

The size of the global ADAS market is expected to grow by £26.2bn from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio.

£350m sale of PI group in the offing as turnover and profit soar

Private-equity backed personal injury business Winn Group has reported soaring revenue and profit amid talk that it is to be sold for £350m.

Rooster attempts to disrupt UK motor market

UK insurtech motor provider Rooster is looking at new ways to target the younger generation of drivers with innovative policies.

WhoCanFixMyCar rebrands to FixMyCar

The UK’s largest online marketplace for car repairs & maintenance, WhoCanFixMyCar, has rebranded to FixMyCar.

Perfect Paint flourishes in ITAS audit

ITAS has recently carried out a successful audit of Perfect Paint Centre Milton Keynes on behalf of the Honda and Mazda brands.

Todd Engineering upgrades Zeus spraybooth

Todd Engineering has announced an upgrade to its Zeus all-electric spraybooth, which offers advanced technology for efficient and eco-friendly curing.

Vector Group acquires vehicle measurement tech manufacturer CSM

CSM Computer-Systeme-Messtechnik, a manufacturer of networked measurement technology and data loggers for vehicles and test benches, has been acquired by software specialist Vector Informatik.

Car-O-Liner hosts ADAS awareness day for NBRA

Car-O-Liner proudly hosted an ADAS Awareness Day on behalf of the National Body Repair Association (NBRA) at their UK headquarters.

Vehicle theft remains at 15-year high according to Government statistics

The number of vehicles stolen in the UK remains at a record high level, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

VM News

VW and Xpeng pursue electric dreams

Volkswagen and Chinese EV pure play start-up Xpeng have entered into a new agreement to jointly develop electric architecture based on Volkswagen’s China Main (CMP) and Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) platforms.

ZEV mandate targets slip out of reach for major brands

Car makers including Renault, Volkswagen, Land Rover, Ford and Toyota are falling far behind targets for the UK’s ZEV Mandate, which requires 22% of this year’s sales to be of zero-emission models.

Mercedes-AMG reorganises its GT Sport division

Mercedes‑AMG has taken groundbreaking measures to strategically reorganise its motorsport division to meet future requirements and plans.

Toyota joins Coca-Cola in hydrogen fuel cell testing

Toyota has started testing a new hydrogen-fuelled truck with Coca-Cola as part of the drinks company’s supply operations.

End of an era at Bentley

Bentley Motors is celebrating production of the last hand-built, high performance 12-cylinder engine at the company’s UK headquarters in Crewe.

People

Craig Brooks has been named Technical Director – Motor TPA at Davies.
SATA has expanded its technical team with the appointment of Terry Oxley as Sales & Technical Manager for The Midlands.
Tony Fearon has joined Vertu Accident Repair Centre Nottingham.
Shaun Hopkins, Supply Chain Manager at AXA, is raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support through an all-day darts event.

More Insights

ARC360 Conference 2025: Unpacking the future of claims and collision repair

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

Associate Partners

Fix Auto Buckingham and Loughborough secure PAS 2060

26 July 2024

Bodyshop, Environment, Mobility, People, Supplier, Vehicle Repair and Words

Fix Auto Buckingham and Fix Auto Loughborough have secured their PAS 2060 accreditations, with the support of Purchase Direct.

Fix Auto Buckingham owner Richard Taylor, said, “We have long operated as lean and carbon neutral as possible. In fact, we really were ahead of the game in terms of the systems we have had in place for a long time. We invested in energy efficient LED lighting five years ago and then, just prior to Covid, we installed a large bank of solar panels and have long had various recycling programmes in place for our waste plastic and cardboard.

“Operating a carbon neutral repair centre must be a goal of every repairer in the country. Numerous sites within the Fix Auto UK network are already PAS 2060 certified and are leading the way for the industry with numerous initiatives to ensure their carbon footprints are dramatically reduced year-on-year, I am just delighted to be joining them.”

Paul Smith, owner of Fix Auto Loughborough, added, “We were one of the first businesses in Loughborough to invest significantly in solar panels to help power the site. That was several years ago, and we have since built on that platform by constantly introducing various initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint. Receiving PAS 2060 certification completes the process.”

More Insights

ARC360 Conference 2025: Unpacking the future of claims and collision repair

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

Associate Partners

Matt Freeman of cap hpi delivers keynote address

26 July 2024

Bodyshop, Car Rental, Finance, Insurance, Mobility, People, Supplier, Vehicle Repair, vehicle sales and Words

Taking place on 27 June at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, the conference featured insights from insurers, vehicle manufacturers, repairers and leaders on how the sector is evolving.

The used car market

Focusing first on the used car market, Matt said that values remained fairly-stable until the pandemic struck, typically falling three to six per cent a year through the life cycle of a vehicle.

However, in the wake of the pandemic used car values spiked by nearly a third. They peaked in March 2022 at 31.2% and then remained at that level for nearly a year.

Since this time the market has returned to ‘normal’, with correction taking place throughout 2023, although cap hpi data indicates that values have not fallen back to pre-pandemic levels and remain 13.8% up on February 2021 levels.

The EV market

The fall in values has been most noticeable in electric vehicles, with average values plummeting by 60% since September 2022. In fact, half of the 10 fastest depreciating models since then are electric.

In contrast, used petrol and diesel models remain 16% and 14% higher than they were in 2021, with hybrids also tracking at similarly inflated levels.

In terms of EV numbers, Matt said that about five per cent of the total UK car parc is now electric (eight per cent in the car sector), which equates to more than a million vehicles.

But when looking at new registrations, electric models account for well over a third of the sales, with pure battery electric vehicles more than half of that (16.5%).

He said, “We’ve seen a very significant change in the kind of cars that are flowing through into the parc and will ultimately then flow through from the new market into the used market. And that’s obviously going to accelerate because of the ZEV (zero emissions vehicle) mandate which is going to have a significant impact on the shape of the vehicle parc.”

He suggested that if OEMs get anywhere near meeting ZEV targets it could drive EVs towards a 20% share of the parc by 2030.

New technology

The growing number of EVs is clearly going to impact both values, not least because the rapidly advancing innovations around battery technology is accelerating obsolescence.

Matt explained that as batteries develop, even the latest versions are being left behind in a matter of years. This is impacting their value dramatically, as is the continued concerns around a lack of charging infrastructure.

However, although there are only around 60,000 public charging stations in the UK today, that is expected to reach the 100,000 milestone by next August, which Matt suggests could have a psychological impact on customer confidence and a tangible impact on their driving experience.

But innovation is not limited to powertrains.

Matt said, “This is an industry which prides itself on innovation, but I don’t think we’ve had a pace of change and a concentration of change like this in the 30 years I’ve been in the automotive industry.”

There is an argument though that the speed of innovation is making vehicles difficult to value in the eyes of customers, who are not prepared to pay for what they can’t see, don’t understand, and don’t believe they will use regularly.

For example, Matt pointed to research carried out by Ford around its self-parking function. It found that customers rarely use the feature and as such the brand is now removing it from many models.

While many similar features around autonomy are in-built, many are available as a ‘function on demand’, which is also creating confusion for the customer.

Matt said, “Function-on-demand sounds great, the ability to add technology. But you’ve got to pay for it usually and customers value the wheels that are already on a car, not the wheels you potentially can add.”

Brands

Alongside this, there are a number of new brands entering the market, with many Chinese manufacturers poised to enter the UK market with 10 models in a range. UK customers have traditionally been open to new entrants from Europe, Japan and Korea, but there is uncertainty around how they will value many Chinese brands in an already crowded market.

Matt concluded, “We’re in an era of unprecedented change. But the path is set and the external forces like government legislation are going to move consumers into these new technologies, as well as the manufacturers introducing them and wanting to profit from them.

“But there are many, many factors which create uncertainty and we should expect continuing turbulence. Data is vital to signpost those changes. We need to look across the industry for that data to take the opportunity to use new and mix datasets to better understand what’s going on around us.”

The event was sponsored by Activate Group, Thatcham Research, and Stellantis, and supported by Corporate Partners: BASF, CAPS, Copart, Entegral, Enterprise, Mirka, Nationwide Vehicle Assistance, S&G Response, Solera Audatex; along with Partners: e2e, Gemini ARC, Repairify and Prasco.

More Insights

ARC360 Conference 2025: Unpacking the future of claims and collision repair

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

Associate Partners

Home and motor insurance show resilience after IT outage

26 July 2024

Bodyshop, Environment, People, Technology, Vehicle Repair, vehicle sales and Words

Consumer Intelligence has reported that the insurance industry has shown considerable resilience and is recovering after the largest IT outage in history.

On Friday, 19 July, a flawed Windows update from CrowdStrike affected IT systems around the world, causing widespread pricing and quotability disruption.

According to reports, 8.5 million devices were impacted, including many operating within the UK motor and home insurance sectors. Disruptions included registration look up failures, underwriting changes causing large price increases, and significant drops in quotability.

In home, price increases were recorded for 17 brands on Friday, with four brands seeing average day-on-day increases ranging from 32% to a 65% for annual premiums. However, by Saturday, home insurance pricing appeared to stabilise, although further analysis is needed to understand the long-term impacts fully.

In motor, 25 brands showed price increases on Friday, with many of the more significant increases likely to have resulted from registration lookups failures. Some sites were unable to use services that match registration numbers to vehicle details, therefore requiring consumers to input makes and models manually.

While most of these issues have now been resolved, several brands continue to report disruption to their contact centres and live chat availability. Other knock-on impacts could include progressing claims and confirming coverage.

More Insights

ARC360 Conference 2025: Unpacking the future of claims and collision repair

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

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Corporate Partners

Partners

Associate Partners

Steer Automotive Group launches dedicated EV repairer

24 July 2024

Bodyshop, Environment, Mobility, People, Supplier, Technology, Vehicle Repair and Words

Steer Automotive Group has unveiled its first purpose-built electric vehicle repair site.

Based in Eastleigh near Southampton, Steer Electric Eastleigh is a 14,000 sqft facility dedicated to EV repairs.

It features full aluminium structural repair capabilities and integrates advanced EV technology tooling and equipment to meet the demands of the current and future electric vehicle parc.

All technicians have undergone extensive EV training around safety, battery management, and high-voltage systems, while long-term partnerships with leading industry bodies and educational institutions will ensure continuous professional development to keep pace with evolving technologies.

The facility also includes EV rapid chargers available for both colleagues and customers.

More Insights

ARC360 Conference 2025: Unpacking the future of claims and collision repair

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

Associate Partners

SYNETIQ and cap hpi agree salvage data deal

24 July 2024

Bodyshop, Environment, Mobility, People, Salvage, Supplier, Vehicle Repair, vehicle sales and Words

Vehicle remarketing and salvage company SYNETIQ has signed a data deal with vehicle provenance check company cap hpi to provide customers with information around total losses.

The agreement ensures that vehicle provenance checks offer a fuller picture of a vehicle’s history, with SYNETIQ providing contextual information for vehicles passing through its facilities.

Hugh Leslie, IT Director for SYNETIQ, said, “We continue to invest in pushing standards forward across the industry, and our new data agreement with cap hpi will help to keep consumers and the supply chain informed about the vehicles they buy. Everyone in the industry must play their part to increase transparency and raise standards.”

The HPI Check is a fully comprehensive vehicle check and report that provides vital information about cars for sale, protecting drivers and businesses from motoring scams and fraud.

Jon Clay, Identification Director at cap hpi, said, “As technology and data advance, we are able to connect parts of the industry to increase transparency across the sector. We can layer information to provide a richer picture of every vehicle.

“The team at cap hpi continues to work with stakeholders, including the police and industry bodies, to help keep motorists and businesses safe. It’s important to our customers that our data is collected ethically and is reliable, and that’s why we are pleased to team up with SYNETIQ on this important milestone.”

More Insights

ARC360 Conference 2025: Unpacking the future of claims and collision repair

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

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ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

Associate Partners

Enterprise Repair Partner Event 2024: A showcase of innovation and partnership

23 July 2024

Bodyshop, Car Rental, Finance, Mobility, People, Supplier, Technology, Training, Vehicle Repair, vehicle sales and Words

Ryan Johnson, Senior Vice President of UK and Ireland Enterprise Mobility, kicked off the event with an inspiring keynote address centred around the changing world of mobility, the rebranding of the business and the value of its people.

He emphasised Enterprise’s longstanding commitment to ‘leading by listening’ and building bespoke solutions tailored to the needs of vehicle manufacturers, repairers, and customers.

“At Enterprise, our mission is to advance the world one journey at a time,” stated Ryan, reflecting on the company’s 65-year history, spanning 90 countries, and with a fleet of 2.3 million vehicles worldwide – including 150,000 in the UK.

Ryan also addressed the challenge of integrating Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) into Enterprise’s fleet and the need for innovative solutions and infrastructure development to support the transition to greener fleets.

“It is an exciting but challenging time – we want to be a central part of helping to connect vehicle manufacturers, repairers and customers,” stated Ryan.

Repair highlights and strategic insights

Nick Sweetman, Assistant Vice President of Vehicle Operations for UK and Ireland, Enterprise Mobility, presented the highlights and strategic insights across its repair network from the past year. He celebrated the successes in relationships, data integration through Entegral, vehicle collection, and engineering performance.

However, he also pointed out areas of opportunity, including deployment strategies, parts management, delegated authority, and enhancing EV capabilities.

On the customer repair side of the business he highlighted the growth in the number of partners and a static work mix as key success factors. He also reiterated the point that over three quarters of work volumes come with an Enterprise mobility solution – relieving the costs and pressures associated with courtesy car provision.

Joining Nick on stage to announce the new LKQ Loyalty Programme, Danny Watkins, Head of Network Relationship Management at LKQ, explained how the initiative would result in network members accruing points on purchases to redeem on training and equipment.

The scheme is officially set to get underway from 1 August and Enterprise will be communicating full details with its network in the coming weeks.

Technological advances

The event featured several insightful presentations from key industry figures.

Mark Marshall, BMW Group Technical Trainer, along with Andrew Rodbourne, Manager- Bodyshop Development at BMW UK highlighted BMW’s advancements in EV technology, now in its fifth generation. They showcased the new sixth-generation models which are set to offer a 620-mile range and 30% quicker charging times.

Mark also highlighted how the business currently has 1,000 hydrogen IX5 vehicles on test – illustrating the brand’s commitment to diverse green technologies.

With the technology advances the manufacturer has made, Andrew emphasised the necessity for BMW vehicles to be repaired in its approved network and promoted its total loss borderline programme as a valuable support solution.

Tom Leggett, Vehicle Technology Manager at Thatcham Research, was next to explore the advances in ACE+ (Assisted and Automated; Connected; Electrified; and Everything Else), shedding light on the future of vehicle technology and its implications for the repair industry.

Tom said, “Systems will get more advanced and more complicated. This is partly being driven by demand from regulators around increasing safety standards, and a lot of technology is now fitted as standard. We’ve not yet seen the reduction in claims frequency we’d like to, but there has been a reduction in severity.”

Industry trends

Paul Sell, Managing Director of Trend Tracker, provided a market insight, noting the rapid evolution from surplus demand to surplus supply in the repair market. Paul said, “While repair volumes have seen a slight decline, the overall outlook remains positive,” highlighting increased capacity and reduced cycle times.

He continued, “However, the skills shortage remains a key issue requiring investment, along with the need to cope with the plethora of new manufacturers entering the rapidly growing BEV market in coming years.”

Steve Silverwood, Managing Director, ECA, provided an overview of energy in accident repair centres. Despite a decrease from 2022’s peak, Steve was keen to emphasise that average energy costs per job were still 55% higher than 2020 (pre-pandemic). He urged repairers to buy better, use less and pay for what you use. Steve cited that behaviour was one of the most basic costs controls within a bodyshop. He also predicted a 10-20% increase in the next two years.

Integration and optimisation

Olly Chambers, Assistant Vice President of Sales and Operations at Entegral, provided an update on technological advancements. He discussed the exponential growth of CAPS in the UK, which now connects 1.3 million claims per annum and supports 90% of UK repairers. Olly offered various guidance around CAPS’ best practice to ensure users were optimising the opportunity it presents.

He referenced The CAPS National Advisory Council which provides expert-led governance, explaining that future development is in the hands of industry leaders and experts. Two areas of current focus for development are vehicle recovery and glass repair/replace, whilst a new scorecard has also been launched to get data to users faster. The next phase of development is assignment management enhancements and enhanced WIP analytics.

Closing out the session Olly provided a brief update on management system, Bodyshop 360 – which is composed of five modules including the customer app launched earlier this year and updates to Core.

The event concluded with an interactive panel session hosted by Stuart Sandell, Assistant Vice President of Sales for UK and Ireland, which centred on the challenges of attracting new talent and retaining existing skillsets within the sector. References were made to the need for government support, cross industry collaboration, better promotion of the industry, changing generational behaviours, and the need to listen.

The Enterprise Repair Partner Event 2024 showcased the resilience, innovation, and collaborative spirit of the vehicle repair and mobility sector. With a focus on technological advancements, strategic partnerships, and overcoming industry challenges, the event reinforced Enterprise’s role as a leader and connector within the industry.

Enterprise Repair Partner Awards 2024

The evening culminated in the prestigious Enterprise Repair Partner Awards 2024, hosted by Andrew Mackenzie, UK and Ireland Network Manager. The awards recognised outstanding performance and contributions across various regions. The winners included:

Best Fleet Repair Partner – South East: Grove Autos
Best Customer Repair Partner – South East: Drive Vauxhall – Bury St Edmonds
Best Fleet Repair Partner – South West: Smart Bodyshop Solutions Ltd – Exeter
Best Customer Repair Partner – South West: Carbody Banbury Ltd
Best Fleet Repair Partner – North West: Lichfield ARC
Best Customer Repair Partner – North West: KC Autos – Northwich
Best Fleet Repair Partner – North East: Bodyline Dunston Ltd
Best Customer Repair Partner – North East: Vertu Accident Repair – Teesside
Best Fleet Repair Partner – Scotland & Northern Ireland: QA Vehicle Solutions
Best Customer Repair Partner – Scotland & Northern Ireland: Arnold Clark – Ayr
Customer Excellence 2024: Rye Street Broxbourne Ltd & KC Autos – Blackburn

Guest Speaker

Guest speaker Gerald Ratner, widely credited with making the ultimate off-the-cuff gaffe with his infamous ‘it’s total crap’ description of some of his company’s products, entertained attendees by regaling his riches to rags story. Gerald closed by telling attendees: “Value what you’ve got – brand is everything. It takes years to build up so cherish it.”

More Insights

ARC360 Conference 2025: Unpacking the future of claims and collision repair

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

Associate Partners

ARC360 News – Friday, 19 July 2024

19 July 2024

Bodyshop, Environment, Finance, Insurance, Mobility, People, Salvage, Supplier, Technology, Vehicle Repair, vehicle sales and Words

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 15^th 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.

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Corporate Partners

Partners

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e2e partners with ARC360

19 July 2024

Bodyshop, Mobility, People, Salvage, Supplier, Vehicle Repair and Words

e2e Total Loss Claims Management – the UK-wide network of progressive salvage and recycling agents – has joined ARC360 as a Partner.

With its origins dating back to 1985 as the National Salvage Group, and later incorporating NASA to form National Salvage Association (NSA), e2e Total Loss Claims Management is one of the UK’s largest, most innovative and established salvage dismantling and recycling companies.

Its network of independent salvage and automotive recyclers provides clients with a market leading, sustainable, nationwide solution for vehicle salvage, disposal and reclaimed parts. The network supply model, underpinned by consistent quality service standards, provides flexibility, agility and capacity benefits of a multi-supplier approach, combined with economies of scale and centralised, efficient processes.

Powered by the latest technology and member data, e2e’s intelligent capacity management process allows the business to flex and scale services to support clients’ business needs and respond rapidly in the event of regional weather-related surges.

Jim Loughran, CEO of e2e commented, “We are delighted to be involved with ARC360, especially as we look forward to the imminent launch of our new parts sourcing and ordering system. Working alongside ARC360 will give us the opportunity to showcase this new development, as well as being able to support the great events and activities that they offer throughout the year.”

Mark Hadaway, Co-Founder of ARC360 said, “It is great to welcome e2e – a long standing ILC Corporate Partner – onboard as an ARC360 Partner. With its highly influential member network, centrally connected via the latest technologies, and a variety of new developments planned for the near future – ARC360 is looking forward to helping share e2e’s wealth of the knowledge throughout the ARC360 community.”

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Corporate Partners

Partners

Associate Partners

Stellantis provides network with full access

19 July 2024

Bodyshop, Environment, Insurance, Mobility, People, Supplier, Technology, vehicle sales and Words

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.

Hosted throughout by Robert Snook, CEO of Business Success Global and training partner to the Stellantis network, the event emphasised the importance of the body repair network and showcased Stellantis’ commitment to its partners.

Paul Glover, Network Manager – Accident Repair Programme, kicked-off proceedings by outlining how Stellantis has maintained a stable network of 168 repairers for some four years, freezing fees to support long-term partnerships.

“We trust you guys. You do a fabulous job for us,” Paul stated, emphasising the network’s value.

Three-time consecutive winner of Bodyshop Magazine’s Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year Award due to initiatives including regional repairer forums, Paul said, “I want it to be more than just a manufacturer-approved network. I want it to be a real club.”

As part of the ongoing progress of the network, Paul also declared that all Stellantis-approved accident repair centres will automatically become full RMI National Body Repair Association (NBRA) members from 1 July 2024. Membership, valued at circa £1,000 each, offers numerous benefits and reinforces Stellantis’ commitment to supporting its network.

ZEV mandate

Following on from Paul, Chris Downing, Head of Sales & Operations, addressed the implications of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate on the industry. Chris outlined how it requires a specific percentage of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) such as battery electric and hydrogen vehicles to be sold annually. In 2024, this figure is 22% of passenger cars and 10% of commercial vehicles. Each vehicle sold outside of this quota carries with it a potential £15,000 penalty.

To comply, manufacturers like Stellantis must adjust their sales strategies. Chris highlighted that Stellantis would not trade ZEV credits with other manufacturers but would balance these requirements internally. This decision is aimed at avoiding future fines and ensuring a sustainable approach.

However, there are significant pressures within the market which Chris warned: “At the current YTD sales mix, we now have to sell approximately one BEV car to sell three ICE cars. We are absolutely facing the prospect at the end of the year of telling customers they may have to wait until 2025 to take delivery unless it’s a BEV.”

Training

Robert Snook shared insights into the network’s training initiatives and the importance of collaboration among bodyshop partners. Emphasising continuous improvement and engagement, Robert encouraged repairers to “slow down to speed up,” advocating for a focus on quality and strategic thinking.

Highlighting success stories from around the network, Robert acknowledged the efforts of various bodyshops including M&M in Stoke-on-Trent; Peggs in Birmingham; and Devonshire Motors in Barnstaple.

“We’ve got best in class for all these different things. Somewhere in the group is the perfect bodyshop,” Robert noted. “The only difference between the high performers and the low performers is implementation.”

LCVs

Bradley Miller, Head of LCV Product at Stellantis, discussed the company’s strategies for achieving zero emissions in light commercial vehicles (LCVs).

Bradley highlighted that Stellantis holds a 30% marketshare in the LCV segment, excluding pick-up trucks, with Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroën, and Fiat leading the way in ZEV sales. In 2022, these brands collectively held 47.9% of the marketshare for ZEV LCVs.

Stellantis is committed to meeting strict CO2 and zero-emission targets. The company plans to maintain its lead by continually exceeding the mandated ZEV targets. For example, while the organic rate for vans is six per cent, Stellantis is already at eight per cent and is confident in achieving the 10% target for 2024.

“Our plan is always to be ahead of the mandate when it comes to zero-emission vehicles,” stated Bradley.

Stellantis offers two primary solutions for zero-emission LCVs: battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Bradley explained that while BEVs are suitable for small to medium vans, larger vans will likely require a mix of BEV and hydrogen solutions to meet range and payload requirements.

Marketing

The Power of Marketing for Bodyshops was the theme of a Gary Chew, founder of Small Torque and Redline Creative, session during which he shared insights on the vital role of marketing in the bodyshop industry.

Gary highlighted the importance of maintaining a positive online presence. Customers today are savvy and have numerous choices, he said, making it crucial for bodyshops to present a professional and trustworthy image online. Effective online reputation management involves actively monitoring and responding to reviews, both positive and negative.

“You need to ensure you’ve got a positive and professional online footprint,” Gary stated.

With the current dip in work volumes, generating retail opportunities has become more critical. Gary shared success stories, such as R&R Autos in Basingstoke, which received over 650 retail estimates in 20 months through its website, with retail now accounting for around 30% of their overall revenue. Similarly, new websites for other clients have quickly generated new business.

Social media is a powerful tool for bodyshops to reach potential customers. Gary explained that bodyshops with around 1,000 followers can achieve substantial engagement, as seen with JS Bodyworx in High Wycombe, which received significant retail quotes through its social media efforts.

“Using your own real photos and videos tends to get around 10 times the engagement as using stock photography,” Chew advised.

Marketing also helps build industry relationships and attract talent. Platforms like LinkedIn are essential for connecting with insurers, fleets, manufacturers, and other bodyshops. Gary shared how Vehicle Body Care in Leeds leveraged LinkedIn to join the Tesla network, showcasing its capabilities in structural aluminium and EV repairs.

ADAS

Rounding out the day, Tim Scothern, a seasoned road policing expert and trainer at Stellantis Performance Academy, shared his insights on the transformative impact of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). With 30 years in road policing, Tim emphasised how ADAS technology is crucial for road safety and the automotive sector.

“We’re reducing serious collisions down to more minor collisions which potentially is going to bring more business in your direction,” Tim stated.

The progression of ADAS technology has been remarkable. From basic rear parking sensors to today’s advanced camera systems, ADAS technology now operates within milliseconds, significantly enhancing real-time vehicle responsiveness.

Tim detailed several core current ADAS technologies and also discussed the future of ADAS and the regulatory environment. While true level 5 autonomy is still constrained by legislation, upcoming General Safety Regulation (GSR) mandates will require several ADAS features on all new vehicles by 2026.

Recruitment

Prior to the final Q&A session, Robert returned to highlight the pressing need for innovation in recruitment within the bodyshop industry. He described how the industry is lagging behind in attracting and retaining talent, not due to a shortage of people but because of outdated recruitment practices.

Robert candidly addressed the industry’s recruitment struggles, stating, “We think we’re good against other people in our industry, but we’re all competing for the same people.” He pointed out that there is no shortage of potential recruits; instead, the industry is failing to appeal to them effectively.

Drawing comparisons to other industries, Robert highlighted how companies like McDonald’s and Estee Lauder attract talent by focusing on values, inclusion, and personalised benefits rather than just job titles and salaries.

Robert urged the industry to adopt modern recruitment practices, such as using engaging and attractive job titles and leveraging technology to streamline the application process. He shared an example of a bodyshop group that switched from email to WhatsApp for job applications, increasing responses from 23 to 247.

“Be actionable in the moment,” Robert advised, emphasising the need for immediate and efficient recruitment processes.

The day rounded out with a Q&A session providing network members to openly ask questions to the Stellantis team. Questions ranged from requests for more information on the RMI NBRA membership – fielded by Martyn Rowley, Executive Director of the NBRA who was on hand throughout, through marketing, vehicle safety, to the wants and needs of repairers.

The candid nature if the final session and the enthusiasm for sharing experiences and insights was clear evidence of the positive culture Stellantis and its repairers have created – an ideal partner for ARC360.