ARC360 News – Friday 28 March 2025

Industry-leading speaker line-up set for ARC360

The ARC360 Conference 2025, set for Thursday 22 May at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, is set to be one of the most influential industry gatherings of the year.

With a focus on “A new era – the changing dynamics of a sector,” the conference will bring together leading insurers, repairers, vehicle manufacturers, and supply chain experts to explore the evolving landscape of motor claims and vehicle repair. Read more

Gemini ARC joined esure Group for a charity day with The Conservation Volunteers, supporting its Plant A Tree Scheme by planting around 250 trees at Haslam Park in Bolton.

KC Autos Stoke has received a 100% pass rate for its BS10125 audit.

Maldon ARC has had its second jig system installed by Car-O-Liner.

Motofix Group Oxford has celebrated a clear BS10125 Kitemark audit.

Chaplane ARC passed back-to-back audits with VWG and BS10125 all in one week.

Peggs ARC has passed its recent BSI Kitemark BS10125 audit.

Car Market Overview – April 2025

This monthly overview presents an update on the current state of the new and used car markets in the UK. We will be reporting on new car registrations up to the end of February 2025, as well as the latest activity in the used car market as of the date of this writing. Read more

EV drivers now clocking more miles than petrol car owners, Solera cap hpi reveals

Motorists in the UK are now driving further in electric vehicles (EVs) than in petrol-powered models, according to new data from Solera cap hpi, a global leader in vehicle lifecycle management. Read more

Is technology ruining new cars?

New research from Which? reveals that more than half of drivers are turning off safety tech in their cars with many finding the tech annoying, distracting or even dangerous. We explain why, and how to get the best from your current car or your next purchase. Read more

Volkswagen Group UK becomes a Silver Carbon Literate Organisation

Volkswagen Group UK has been named a Silver Carbon Literate Organisation (CLO), highlighting its dedication towards tackling climate change, reducing its carbon emissions, and commitment to working towards a zero carbon future. Read more

Safety: New parking features and advanced assistance systems

The new Škoda Enyaq and Škoda Enyaq Coupé offer an even higher level of active and passive safety, thanks in particular to their range of standard assistance systems, which has been further expanded with Side Assist and Crew Protect Assist. Read more

Chinese-owned car brands outsell Tesla in Europe in February

A total of 966,300 new passenger cars were registered in Europe last month, marking a decline of 3% compared to the corresponding month last year. According to JATO Dynamics data for 28 markets*, decreases in Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Ireland were the main drivers of this trend. Year-to-date registrations fell by 2% to a total of 1,962,850 units. Read more

Volkswagen Group cooperates with Valeo and Mobileye to enhance driver assistance in future MQB vehicles

Volkswagen Group is working with Valeo and Mobileye to upgrade the advanced driver assistance systems up to Level 2+ (‘enhanced partially automated driving’) in its upcoming vehicle portfolio based on the MQB platform. Launching in the next few years, this cooperation will improve safety and driving comfort in high-volume vehicles, addressing both customer expectations and regulatory requirements. Read more

Electrifying times for Nissan: Britain’s biggest car maker prepares for arrival of third generation LEAF and updated Qashqai e-POWER, plus new Juke EV coming in FY26

Nissan’s ongoing electrified product offensive will be powered up with the launch of two all-new electric vehicles in 2025 – and a third coming soon – as well as an update to one of its most innovative and popular technologies. Read more

US auto tariffs will hurt global automakers and US manufacturing at the same time

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) is deeply concerned by the US President’s announcement of additional tariffs on our sector. It comes at a watershed moment for our industry’s transformation and as fierce international competition mounts. Read more

ILC announces Mobility in Insurance Conference 2025

ILC is thrilled to launch the Mobility in Insurance Conference 2025, set to take place on Thursday, 16 October 2025, at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon.  

The groundbreaking event, in association with The CHO, will bring together key industry stakeholders to explore the future of mobility within the motor insurance sector. Read more

Car insurance premiums fall by 17% during last 12 months

Comprehensive car insurance premiums have fallen by 17% (£164) during the last 12 months, with UK motorists now paying £777 on average, according to the latest Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index in association with WTW, a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company. Read more

What Makes S&G Response the architects of accident management?

Success can never be left to chance when it comes to accident management, in fact, it needs to be carefully designed, expertly crafted and built on strong foundations.

At S&G Response, we pride ourselves on being the architects of accident management, constructing seamless processes that support insurers, fleets, brokers and drivers at every stage of their journey. But every expert build takes an incredibly careful process, and we’re pleased to say that we have our strategies down to a T. Read more

Rising costs of car ownership drive interest in subscription models

Research commissioned by vehicle subscription service Pivotal highlights the growing financial and logistical challenges of car ownership in the UK. Rising insurance premiums, maintenance costs, and time-consuming servicing requirements are prompting consumers to explore alternative mobility solutions. Read more

Van insurance premiums see modest 1.6% rise amid signs of decline

Quoted van insurance premiums rose 1.6% in the year to the end of February but prices are starting to fall, according to the latest Consumer Intelligence Van Insurance Price Index¹.

The three months to the end of February saw quoted premiums drop 0.8% as competition increased and providers started to cut rates. Read more

Enterprise Mobility bolsters community support with £155m commitment

Enterprise Mobility announced it will expand efforts to address food insecurity and advance social equity by committing more than £155m through its Fill Your Tank programme and ROAD Forward initiative. The grant funding will continue to strengthen communities where Enterprise Mobility operates in North America and Europe by supporting local nonprofit organizations and key partners. Read more

Sort ‘pothole plague’ or lose cash, councils warned

Councils in England must show how they are improving roads and tackling what the government describes as a “pothole plague” or lose out on millions of pounds in funding.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said local authorities’ road maintenance pot would be boosted by £500m from mid-April. Read more

Behind the skills gap – 35% of apprentices drop out early

The bodyshop industry is facing a well-publicised skills crisis and while apprenticeships are recognised as a key solution to long term workforce sustainability, the sector is losing too many promising young recruits before they qualify. Read more

Groundbreaking Research: The Consumer Struggle with Rising Collision Repair Prices

US: The Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) is proud to present “High Costs, Hard Hits: The Consumer Struggle with Rising Collision Repair Prices”, a comprehensive research report shedding light on the growing financial burden placed on American drivers due to soaring repair costs. Read more

Prasco UK reaffirms commitment to stable pricing amid rising business costs 

Prasco UK is assuring its valued customers it has no plans to increase prices across its range of replacement parts despite the rises to business costs that come into effect from 1 April 2025. Read more

Final Call: Showcase star apprentices in the IMI Skills Competitions 2025

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is making a final call for entries to the prestigious Skills Competitions 2025, with an emphasis on its Heavy Vehicle Technology and Body Repair streams as both have received fewer entries compared to last year. Read more

Roy Darch of Thatcham Research has started a new role as Senior Account Director, Insurance Data & Subscription Services.

Chris Payne, recently appointed Head of Direct Line Group Auto Services, has continued his support of the Automotive 30% Club with renewal of his silver membership.

S&G has become the latest investor in AutoRaise – supporting the next generation of skilled professionals in the vehicle repair industry.

A1 ADAS Group has become the latest School of Thought Automotive partner.

Michael Massey has been appointed as Brand Development Manager at Morelli Group.

Derren Martin founder of Black and Gold Consulting, and previously director of valuations at cap hpi, is consulting for Percayso Vehicle Intelligence (formerly Cazana) on a part-time basis.

Steve Hoe, Head of Academy & Organisation Development at Steer Automotive Group is a finalist in The Apprenticeship Guide Awards finalists for the Leadership in Apprenticeship Awards.

Satty Nanuwa has started a new role as National Sales & Partnership Manager at Repairify Europe.

IAM RoadSmart has announced the appointment of Shona Johnstone to the position of Chair, with outgoing Chair Stuart Donald QPM named Vice President.

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has announced that Kevin Finn, Interim Executive Chair of the Board, will be stepping down from his role, effective from 31 March 2025. He is superseded by Sarah Sillars OBE, Hon FIMI as Interim Chief Executive Officer.

The IMI Jobs Portal now supports work experience placements for school-aged pupils, connecting educators, businesses and learners under 16.

More Insights

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

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

Bodyshop | Mobility | People | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | wellbeing | Words

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

REPAIRIFY

Associate Partners

Bodyshop recruitment challenges: 58% struggle to attract talent

According to a recent survey conducted at the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Repair Partner Event, over half of respondents admitted that the most significant staffing challenge is attracting talent.

Apprenticeships offer businesses a strategic solution for long-term talent development and future-proofing. Given the diverse career options available to young people today, finding the right talent can be challenging but that’s where Apprenticeship Central step in.

As part of their RECRUIT programme, Apprenticeship Central run a multi-channel recruitment campaign which captures well performing students ready to enter the automotive industry. This comprehensive process does the leg work and presents the bodyshop with qualified, vetted candidates.

Now is the perfect time to start thinking about your staffing strategies for 2025.

Commercial Director, Eleanor Baker Barnes, said, “Our RECRUIT service is specially designed to take away the time and energy that bodyshops have to spend sourcing good talent. We provide a bespoke solution that delivers qualified candidates and we’re excited about supporting businesses in 2025.”

More Insights

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

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

Bodyshop | Mobility | People | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | wellbeing | Words

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

REPAIRIFY

Associate Partners

Repairer profile: Grove Autos

Here we catch up with Allan Biggs, Director of Grove Autos following the business recently being awarded the Enterprise Repair Partner Award 2024 for Best Fleet Repair Partner – South East.

How would you ‘sell’ your business to prospective capacity acquirers?

We are sustainable and meet PAS2060 requirements. We are a small family-run business that meets and exceeds BS10125. We never over promise and are realistic with SLAs.

What makes your business ‘award winning’?

Maybe this is more a question for the work provider but it’s important to understand the provider’s needs and expectations, and always be communicative; if there are issues we try to deal with them ‘head on’ and be open and honest.

Enterprise needs to keep its vehicles on the road and we fully understand the need for prompt throughput. We have a small team with a lot of experience and we have to be efficient and adaptable to maintain the key-to-key times we currently achieve. It’s not unusual for our VDA to drop a car back to branch or our panel beater to lend a hand cleaning a car. Personally, I enjoy being at work and facing the challenges it brings and it’s a pleasure working with the team we have.

How would you describe the industry at present?

I’ve seen many changes over my career of 37 years in the industry. Compliance has changed it for the better. Work provision is more than adequate and I feel that the industry is becoming more valued by insurers and work providers. I would never class myself as a businessman – I came from being a mechanic – however, I feel that bodyshops have some of the most talented people out there running them, because it takes resourcefulness, patience, efficiency and extremely hard work with long hours. But if you get the mix right the profits will come. 

What do you see as your greatest opportunity?

I work with my eldest son, who is a partner in the company. On a personal level my aim is to eventually leave the business in a solid situation to provide an ongoing incoming for him, the staff and my grandchildren.

What one issue do you feel will impact the sector most in the coming years?

Green issues and the move to EVs are already having a big influence, as is the huge push on sustainability. This will see recycling, energy saving and environmental considerations being major considerations for work providers.

I also feel we will see a move in the future to even less direct ownership of private vehicles, especially in ‘chimney pot’ areas such as ours. Leasing and rental is becoming more prevalent. 

What steps are you taking to future-proof the business?

We purchased and moved to our current location during the first lockdown of 2020. The site was in a dilapidated condition. We refurbished it completely by August of 2020, using the opportunity to install LED lighting, solar panels, in-floor scissor lifts, and the latest tech spray oven.

We are always looking at equipment and methods that boost sustainability and help streamline repairs. The fact that the property is owned by the company means that investment in the maintenance and improvement of the site is always worthwhile.

More Insights

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

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

Bodyshop | Mobility | People | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | wellbeing | Words

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

REPAIRIFY

Associate Partners

Thatcham Research urges Apprenticeship Levy cap increase

Thatcham Research is urging Skills England and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) to increase the Apprenticeship Levy funding cap which has remained unchanged since 2019. 

The levy, capped at £15,000 per apprentice, has not kept pace with inflation and no longer meets modern training standards, resulting in a real-term reduction in training capacity.  

All businesses with a wage bill of more than £3m per year must pay 0.5% of their monthly payroll as levy tax. These contributions are then used to pay for their apprenticeship training. However, if funds are not used within 24 months, they are returned to the Treasury.  

Reliable and flexible access to apprenticeship funding is crucial in supporting businesses to address the skills crisis, enabling adequate provision of training opportunities for new starters. 

Jonathan Hewett, Chief Executive at Thatcham Research, said, “The automotive sector is facing a perfect storm of rapid technological change, a reduction in upskilling and recruitment, and an ageing workforce. Revisions to apprenticeship levy funding must be addressed as a priority by Skills England and IfATE, unlocking funding to deliver much-needed technical training to the repair sector.” 

Thatcham Research has also warned that the Automated, Connected and Electric (ACE) agenda is exacerbating the skills crisis, and is now inviting trainers, garages, bodyshops and others within the repair chain to sign a petition calling for Skills England and IfATE to review the 2019 cap. 

Hewett said, “Without a robust and qualified technical workforce in our repair sector, the UK will also be at risk of increased insurance premiums and the emergence of the ‘throwaway vehicle’. 

“I encourage everyone throughout the UK auto repair supply chain to sign our petition and show their support for change to the apprenticeship levy. With fairer funding we would expect to see a recovery in training capacity and a reversal of colleges closing their automotive divisions, providing the industry with much needed support to attract new talent.”

Click here to find out more & sign the petition

More Insights

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

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

Bodyshop | Mobility | People | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | wellbeing | Words

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

REPAIRIFY

Associate Partners

New EV sales take 22% market share

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has reported a modest 1.3% fall in the UK’s new car market in August.

It found that 84,575 units were registered during the month, with fleet purchases accounting for six in 10 sales.

Petrol and diesel uptake fell by 10.1% and 7.3% respectively, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) registrations declined 12.3% and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) uptake increased by 36.1%. Pure electric sales rose 10.8% to account for 22.6% of sales.

Meanwhile, the UK’s new light commercial vehicle was up 1.7% in the month, although BEV registrations fell for a third successive month, down 30.3% year on year.

Jamie Hamilton, Head of Electric Vehicles at Deloitte said: “In a role reversal for the month of August, fleet sales have seen a slight decrease while private sales remain steady. However, fleet sales continue to dominate in terms of market share.

“We expect September to be a better indicator of where the market stands with the new registration plates set to be introduced and a number of attractive incentives and discounts likely to be offered.

“As pressure mounts on the industry to sell more electric vehicles to meet the required 22% market share, as set out in the zero-emission vehicle mandate, we expect further incentives for drivers to be introduced, making the switch to electric easier. Growing confidence in the second-hand market for electric vehicles should provide more clarity on residuals which could support lower pricing of new vehicles. 

“Concerns around charging is still a major barrier to purchase for consumers without access to off-street parking, so efforts to rollout superfast charging infrastructure will be crucial in the growth of this developing market.”

More Insights

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

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

Bodyshop | Mobility | People | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | wellbeing | Words

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

REPAIRIFY

Associate Partners

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.

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

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

Bodyshop | Mobility | People | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | wellbeing | Words

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

REPAIRIFY

Associate Partners

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. 

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

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

Bodyshop | Mobility | People | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | wellbeing | Words

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

REPAIRIFY

Associate Partners

ARC360 News – Friday 10 May 2024

Senior analyst joins ARC360 line-up

Matthew Freeman, Managing Consultant at Solera cap hpi is the latest key name added to ARC360’s ‘future vehicle technology’ themed event agenda.

Taking place on Thursday 27 June 2024 at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, ARC360 is supported by Corporate Partners: BASF, CAPS, Copart, Entegral, Enterprise, Mirka, Nationwide Vehicle Assistance, S&G Response, Solera Audatex; along with Partners: Gemini ARC, Repairify and Prasco.

The specialist event is sponsored by Activate Group and Thatcham Research along with Stellantis which will host the ‘Stellantis Zone’ on the day.

Bodyshop Briefs

Miguel & David heading to Worldskills

Miguel Harvey and David McKeown have been named as part of the Team UK Worldskills Lyon 2024 squad. Miguel, employed and trained by Steer Automotive will compete in the Car Painting competition, whilst David working for James McKeown Accident Repair and trained by Riverpark Training will take part in the Autobody Repair section.

Industry News

Report published to support AV Bill

Thatcham Research and Association of British Insurers have published a joint report on insurance requirements for Automated Vehicles (AVs) as the landmark Automated Vehicles Bill 2024 approaches Royal Assent.

To support the Bill progress through the Houses of Parliament, and the creation of subsequent secondary legislation, Thatcham Research and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) collaborated on the ‘Insurer Requirements for Automated Vehicles’ report, offering industry expertise and strategic recommendations.

It details four key asks from the UK motor insurance industry required for AVs to be safe and insurable in the UK: Safety First; Visibility; Data Access; and Cyber security.

IMI urges skills understanding

With the Automated Vehicles Bill 2024 set to receive Royal Assent, the Institute of the Motor Industry believes there is still work to be done to ensure the funding is available for the upskilling required to work on and calibrate automated vehicles for safe use. 

The IMI’s latest data shows that at the end of March 2024 there were 4,150 technicians qualified to work on vehicles with level 2 autonomy, representing just 2% of all UK technicians. Level 2 autonomy is the pre-cursor to fully automated vehicles and currently 12% of the UK car parc features some form of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

Sales tick up for 21st straight month

Car sales edged up by one per cent in April to 134,274 units, completing 21 consecutive months of growth.

According to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), sales to fleets surged by 18.5% but private buyer uptake fell by 17.7%.

Enterprise Mobility highlighted for DEI

Fairygodboss, the largest online career community for women to find jobs, advice, and support has listed Enterprise Mobility as one of 13 companies that make diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) a priority.

Motor insurance complaints more than double next product line

New figures from the Financial Conduct Authority have revealed that complaints received about motor insurers have risen by 18.2% in the last year.

Customers made more than 280,000 complaints about motor insurance over the second half of 2023, up from a little under 240,000 for the same period in 2022.

Wayve receives $1bn automated driving backing

Wayve, a market leader in Embodied Artificial Intelligence (AI) for autonomous driving, has announced the successful closure of $1.05bn in Series C funding.

The round was led by SoftBank Group, with contributions from new investor NVIDIA and existing investor Microsoft. This investment will accelerate Wayve’s mission to reimagine autonomous mobility through embodied intelligence.

Plunkys All Stars break £15k barrier

Support from the Vella Group – amongst many others – has helped take this year’s Plunkys All Stars fundraising total to beyond the £15,000 barrier.

The charity football match will take place on 28 June at the Football Development Centre in Norwich, raising valuable funds for Norfolk and Waveney MIND, East Anglian Air Ambulance and the Fire Fighters Charity.

VM News

Volvo sales up 27% in April

Volvo Cars reports global sales of 65,838 cars, up 27% compared to the same period last year. The sales increase was primarily driven by a strong performance in Europe as well as the company’s fully electric small SUV, the EX30.

The company’s electrified models, with a fully electric or plug-in hybrid powertrain, grew 53 per cent compared to the same period last year and accounted for 48% of all cars sold during April. The share of fully electric cars constituted 26% for the month.

NIO announces ONVO

Global smart electric vehicle company, NIO has announced at the ceremony celebrating the production of 500,000 vehicles that its second brand ONVO will make its global debut on 15 May.

According to the company, ONVO’s first model L60 is a family-centric smart BEV in the same segment as Tesla Model Y, and promises to ‘redefine the standards of family cars’.

People

  • Direct Line Group has announced three new appointments to its Executive Committee. Craig Thornton will be appointed Managing Director Home and Growth, Martin Milliner as Managing Director of Claims and Hugh Hessing as Chief Operating Officer.
  • Allianz has promoted Caroline Johnson to Claims Director in the company’s personal lines business, while Nicola George has taken over from Mike Crane as Managing Director.
  • Jane Pocock, CEO of Copart UK & Ireland, has been recognised in the 2024 Autocar Great Women Top 100, celebrating the most influential women in the British car industry today.
  • The MIB has announced Angus Eaton as its new CEO, taking over from Dominic Clayden in July.
  • Charlotte Stafford has been appointed as Customer Experience Advisor at Steer Automotive Group.
  • Ron Morris has taken up a new role as Head of Corporate, Fleet and Remarketing at VinFast UK.

More Insights

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

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

Bodyshop | Mobility | People | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | wellbeing | Words

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

REPAIRIFY

Associate Partners

ARC360 News – Friday, 26 April 2024

Vehicle technology conference piques interest

More than 40 of the UK’s most influential names from within insurance are already confirmed to attend ARC360’s specialist ‘future vehicle technology’ conference, taking place on Thursday 27 June 2024 at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry.

From the frontline

ARC360 hosted its third Breakfast Think Tank this morning, when more than a dozen industry experts representing repairers, insurers, mobility and data providers discussed the recent decline in repair volumes. A full overview of the session will be published next week.

Bodyshop Briefs

  • The Vella Group has acquired Axiom Accident Repair Centres, which comprises two repair sites in Peterborough and Daventry.
  • Whaley Bridge ARC, which is part of the Stellantis approved network, has been recognised as the world’s first carbon negative bodyshop.
  • Turners Accident Repair has signed a 10-year lease on a new 20,000 sqft site in Ripon, Yorkshire. The new facility will add to existing sites in Doncaster, Leeds, and Sheffield.
  • Fix Auto Loughborough has announced that it has secured Stellantis vehicle manufacturer approval.
  • Devonshire Motors ARC has achieved a 100% score in its BMW/MINI audit, retaining the approval it’s held since 2008.
  • Steer Automotive supported Automotive Work Experience Week by inviting Luke Saunders to its site in Portsmouth. He will now begin a MET apprenticeship when he finishes college.
  • Shorade Bristol is officially carbon neutral after achieving the PAS 2060 standard.
  • Revive! is celebrating after four franchisees, East Anglia, Surrey, Northampton, and Trafford, all turned over more than £1m last year.
  • Fix Auto Penzance was named Stellanis Audatex UK Estimator of the Year – Southern Region, ahead of Rackhams Auto Body Centre and Bodytek Taunton.
  • M&L Coachbuilders has passed its initial BS 10125:2022 stage 2 audit.
  • Komoo has opened its first site in the Midlands. Its new Rugby repair facility is its fourth new site of the year.
  • MG Cannon has installed Glasurit’s all-new waterborne basecoat system, Glasurit 100 Line, in all six of its sites.

Industry News

An interview with…

With more than one million daily transactions from 300,000 global customers in over 100 countries it’s fair to say Solera is big business. Its solutions empower smarter decision-making for anyone involved in vehicle-lifecycle management via AI-enabled technologies which utilise its vast vehicle, repair, performance, and telematics data. Here, we catch up with Arnaud Agostini, Regional Managing Director at Solera and Tom Hart, Claims Sales Director, UK & Ireland at Solera to find out more.

Fall in premiums only short term

Comprehensive car insurance premiums fell by five per cent to an average of £941 in the last three months, according to the latest Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index produced in association with WTW.

However, this is still 43% (£284) higher than they were 12 months ago.

Copart steps up preparations for Gloucester launch

Copart is gearing up for the first auction at its new site in Gloucester, scheduled for next month. The Gloucester development will provide storage for an additional 30,000 vehicles per annum.

Ben launches personal MOTs

Automotive industry charity Ben has introduced free mental and physical health checks through one-on-one conversations with a qualified health professional.

The health checks will also suggest positive steps to support better living and working.

ABI unveils Premium Finance Principles

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has announced a range of new principles to manage consumer costs around premium finance.

The Premium Finance Principles underline what fair practice should look like and revolve around five elements: transparency, affordability, fair value, proportionality and accountability.

Emissions down despite growing car parc

The UK car parc hit a new high last year, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealing the number of cars on UK roads rose by 1.7% to 41,404,589.

However, with almost half a million EVs and plug-in hybrid registered, average CO2 emissions per car dropped by 2.1%.

Automotive production suffers March dip

UK car production fell by 27.1% to 59,467 units in March, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Meanwhile, commercial vehicle output was down by 19.2% in the same month.

Denso launches aftermarket brand

Mobility supplier Denso has unveiled a new standalone aftermarket brand, MobiQ, which will be dedicated to new digital smart mobility products that can be retrofitted to improve driver safety.

Government launches future skills inquiry

The Industry and Regulators Committee is seeking views from industry about what skills will be needed in the future and how policy can support apprenticeships and training.

Written submissions are invited by 30 May.

Repair complaints soaring

Service and repair complaints to the Motor Ombudsman have reached record highs in each of the last two quarters.

It received 1,604 new complaints between January and March, which is 35% higher than the same period last year and also up on the 1,372 complaints received in the final quarter of last year, which was the previous high total.

Motor trades tops vacancy charts

New figures from the Office of National Statistics have revealed that there are around 23,000 vacancies in the UK motor trades industry, which includes the automotive aftermarket.

Together with hospitality, it is the industry with most severe skills gap in the UK.

VM News

Mobility challenges revealed in global Forum

The second Freedom of Mobility Forum has highlighted key mobility priorities as the industry evolves to meet future challenges.

Initiated by Stellantis and entitled, “How will our planet accommodate the mobility needs of eight billion people?” the global digital debate urged the sector to prioritise innovations around sustainability, address challenges collaboratively, and focus on the needs of economically diverse populations.

Ford launches EV subscriptions

Ford has introduced a new Ford E-Transit subscription service for business owners.

Available on monthly contracts that can be extended indefinitely, Ford Drive enables businesses to increase their fleets flexibly while also trying electric models without commitment.

Innovation the trump card for ACEMAN

MINI has unveiled the MINI Aceman, a mid-size all-electric crossover with a raft of new innovations.

Four surround view cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors help the model identify and initiate parking manoeuvres into tight spaces, while the Parking Assistant Plus option enables parking via a smartphone.

Hyundai establishes Amazon space

Hyundai Motor Europe has launched its own Brand Space on Amazon where customers can view the range of models, link to local Hyundai dealerships, configure features and schedule test drives.

People

  • Ben Townsend has been appointed as Head of Automotive at Thatcham Research.
  • Charles Trent has promoted Harry Merton to the role of Senior Supervisor.
  • Andy Morris has been appointed Proprietor at AKS Accident Repair Centre.
  • BASF SE has appointed Dr. Markus Kamieth as its new Chairman. He succeeds Dr. Martin Brudermüller.
  • Martin Gray has been named National Fleet Manager at CUPRA & SEAT UK, Volkswagen Group UK.

More Insights

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

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

Bodyshop | Mobility | People | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | wellbeing | Words

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

REPAIRIFY

Associate Partners

Momentum building for ARC360 future tech event

ARC360’s ‘future tech’ themed conference taking place on Thursday 27 June 2024 has already gained the interest of a number of key motor insurers.

Following up on last year’s highly acclaimed specialist electric vehicle (EV) event, ARC360 will further explore just how technology is shaping the future of the industry with key persons of influence from: Allianz, Aviva Insurance, Direct Line Group, esure, First Central Services UK Ltd, Hastings Direct, Haven Claims, LV= General Insurance, Markerstudy Insurance Services Ltd, and NOVO Incident Management already confirmed to attend.

The event, which takes place at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, will canvass insights from across the sector and beyond in a bid to explore how the motor claims incident repair sector is transitioning towards a high-tech future.

Underpinning the entire occasion will be a keen focus on what is arguably the most critical factor across the entire industry right now – people and skillsets. Throughout the day, discussions will link back to how the industry – as a combined entity – can help make the automotive incident repair sector a career destination of choice.

Mark Hadaway, Co-Founder of ARC360 and Content Director of ILC, said, “Technology is changing the world around us and the vehicle parc is a primary example of this global transition. The entire automotive supply chain is implicated in this evolution and the insurance claims sector, associated supply chains and, specifically for ARC360, the incident repair community play a vital role in determining a bright future.”

Some key event announcements are pending in the coming weeks, set to provide even more insight and truly bring the event and advancing vehicle technologies to life.

Tickets for the event are on sale now – click here to book

A limited number of special repairer guest passes are available, to join the waiting list please email: mark@iloveclaims.com.

To find out more about the opportunities available to get involved in the event – exhibition or sponsorship – or how to become an ARC360 Partner contact mark@iloveclaims.com or liane@iloveclaims.com.

ARC360 is supported by Corporate Partners: BASF, CAPS, Copart, Entegral, Enterprise, Mirka, Nationwide Vehicle Assistance, S&G Response, Solera Audatex; along with Partners: Gemini ARC, Repairify, Prasco; and Associate Partners: Thatcham Research and Trend Tracker.

More Insights

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

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

16-04-2025

Repair sector urged to act now to secure apprenticeship talents

Bodyshop | Mobility | People | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | wellbeing | Words

14-04-2025

ARC360 News – Friday 11 April 2025

Bodyshop | Environment | Finance | Insurance | Mobility | People | Salvage | Supplier | Technology | Training | Vehicle Repair | vehicle sales | Words

11-04-2025

Corporate Partners

Partners

REPAIRIFY

Associate Partners