Category: Environment

Preventing distracted driving

How can OEMs deliver crucial data and information to drivers without impacting attention and safety? Driving distractions are a growing concern in modern transportation. In the UK alone, distracted driving caused 458 fatalities in 2022 – a 51% increase compared to deaths caused by speeding. Meanwhile, in the US distracted driving accounts for over 3,000 deaths annually. Full story

MINI Cooper Electric and Audi A6 e‑tron gain five-star ratings

The latest results from Euro NCAP’s new car safety tests show that when it comes to choosing a safe car, size isn’t everything. The latest Mini Cooper E and Audi A6 e-tron were awarded a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating, illustrating how size and cost is no barrier when it comes to choosing a safe car. Full story

Mobility for everyone: with the ID. EVERY1, Volkswagen is providing a preview of an entry-level electric model

Since the Beetle, Volkswagen has been enabling affordable mobility for millions of people with compact and likeable cars. With the ID. EVERY1 concept car, the German car manufacturer is now showing an entry-level all-electric model. Volkswagen will launch the production version in 2027 – with a starting price of around 20,000 euros. Full story

EVs account for one in four new car registrations in flat February market

The UK new car market fell slightly in February, down -1.0% to 84,054 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Electrified vehicle uptake continued to grow, with plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) rising 19.3% and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) up 7.9%. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations were up by 41.7% to 21,244 units, securing a 25.3% market share compared with 17.7% a year ago. Full story

Electric vans up as overall market contracts in February

Demand for new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) fell by 19.3% in February to 14,476 units, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The third consecutive monthly decline led to the month’s lowest outturn since 2020. Full story

Hyundai pairs up with Yandex spinoff Avride to develop robotaxis

Hyundai Motor Company and Avride have agreed to jointly develop autonomous vehicles in a tie up that will deepen the relationship between the two companies. Full story

In a class of its own – here is the all-new, fully electric Volvo ES90

Volvo has unveiled its first fully electric model that’s not an SUV. Priced at £69,000, the ES90 hatchback has a range well in excess of 400 miles. The Swedish brand is positioning the 5m-long ES90 as its technological flagship, thanks to a series of advanced features and mighty computing power that will allow it to be extensively updated and refreshed over the air with new, additional features during its lifetime. Full story

Women in automotive spotlight: Can you identify any challenges you’ve overcome as a woman in this industry?

The women in our industry face challenges unique to them, but their ability to turn obstacles into opportunities is nothing short of inspiring.

At the NBRA, we’re proud to showcase women who have not only built successful careers but have become leaders and mentors, helping shape the future of automotive repair. Full story

Industry leaders collaborate to develop new sustainability standard

As the automotive industry faces growing environmental pressures, a number of leading companies have united to create a new sustainability standard following the planned phase-out of PAS2060.

The initiative, known as ARIES (Accident Repair Industry Environmental Standard), is designed to provide a structured, measurable, and inclusive framework for reducing carbon emissions across the vehicle repair sector. Full story

NWVA makes new appointment to SVR team

Following the success of supporting Police forces across the country in recovering stolen vehicles, NWVA recently launched their dedicated Stolen Vehicle Recovery division – designed to alleviate pressure on the Police whilst expediting the speedy and safe return of stolen vehicles.

Joining the team in heading up ‘SVR’, is Phil Pentelow, who has 18 years’ experience working for Essex Police, the last five spent on the Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit (SVIU). This work included stolen vehicle examination, tracking and recovery. Full story

ACSO calls for root and branch review of OIC Claims Portal

The Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO), which represents consumers in the civil justice system, has called for a government review to determine the success or failure of a raft of recent personal injury legal reforms. The call comes as the Official Injury Claim portal (OIC), which processes minor injury claims worth less than £5,000, approaches its fourth birthday, with more than one million claims submitted and around 300,000 processed. Full story

Motor insurance premiums continue to slow and home insurance premiums fall for third consecutive month

The latest General Insurance Price Index from Pearson Ham Group for February 2025 shows that motor insurance premiums continued to decline, but at a slower pace. Prices fell by 0.9%, marking the smallest monthly decrease in the past 12 months and bringing the annual movement rate to -19.3%. Full story

Call to close drug-driving roadside test loophole

The government is being urged to update drug-driving legislation and allow police to take evidential saliva tests at the roadside. Currently, if a driver tests positive at the roadside, police must obtain an evidential blood sample, which is not always possible. Even when it is, there can be a delay of up to six months before results return from the laboratory, during which time the offender remains free to drive. Full story

Could self-healing asphalt end the UK’s pothole problem?

Self-healing asphalt roads, created from biomass waste and developed with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, could be used to tackle the UK’s pothole crisis.

A research team comprised of experts from Swansea University, King’s College London, and scientists in Chile are designing a new type of self-repairing asphalt that can repair its own cracks without the need for human intervention or maintenance. Full story

Motorists applaud government’s decision to abandon Graduated Driver Licensing for young adults

New research conducted by training and compliance expert TTC, found that 60% of adults it surveyed welcomed the Government’s decision to abandon plans for a graduated driver licensing (GDL). The scheme would have placed a set of restrictions on new drivers aged 17-24, who have recently passed their practical test for an initial period of time. Full story

EV battery services centre to open in Rugby

Cox Automotive and DHL Supply Chain have teamed up to deliver a large scale battery management and maintenance operation in the UK, with the opening of a dedicated space for battery services within DHL’s 146,000-square-foot EV Centre of Excellence in Rugby, UK. Full story

New car appetite ramps up ahead of key selling month as Auto Trader reports record start to 2025

The latest data from Auto Trader points to a promising month ahead for the new car market with the automotive platform reporting a significant rise in interest from consumers for brand new cars. Visits to its new car platform increased 15% month-on-month (MoM) in February, whilst year-on-year (YoY) it jumped by a massive 23%. Full story

Brothers Dan and Ashley Mustoe have opened their second Fix Auto UK repair centre, honouring the promise they made upon joining The Group less than 12 months ago.

iRG Repair Group’s state-of-the-art Cardiff repair facility has received its updated BSI Kitemark certification, officially approving it for structural aluminium repairs.

XL Motors has demonstrated an eight per cent reduction in absolute emissions and a 12% reduction in emissions intensity during its recent PAS 2060 audit.

Grainger Motor Group has opened its sixth Kia showroom in Stapleford, Cambridgeshire.

Dawsongroup has adopted epyx’s 1link Service Network to manage service, maintenance and repair (SMR) for its 13,000-van fleet.

Core Diagnostics has been presented with its IMI Approved Training Centre Award.

Revive! Auto Innovations has delivered just under £24m in network sales during 2024, up 13% year-on-year.

Vehicle production down in January as sector faces global headwinds

UK vehicle production declined by 17.7% in the first month of the year, with factories turning out 71,104 cars and 6,908 commercial vehicles (CVs) for a total of 78,012 units, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The performance follows a bumper January last year, when car and CV output surged by 21.0% and 27.5% respectively, and reflects weakness in key markets, notably the EU, China and the UK itself, combined with planned model changeovers. Full story

Faster and further than any Volvo car before: new ES90 adds 300km in 10 minutes and goes 700km on one charge

How about a new, fully electric Volvo car that can go just that little bit further with less charging time? The upcoming Volvo ES90 does exactly that, thanks to our new 800V technology which makes its debut in our latest fully electric model. Full story

Stellantis publishes full year 2024 results

Stellantis has reported that annual net revenues last year were £129.7bn, a 17% fall on 2023, while net profits were down 70% to £4.5bn. John Elkann, Chairman, said, “We are firmly focused on gaining market share and improving financial performance as 2025 progresses.” Full story

Aston Martin to cut 170 jobs in cost-cutting drive

Luxury carmaker Aston Martin is planning to cut 170 jobs in a bid to drive down costs and turnaround a struggling share price. The plans involve axing five per cent of its global workforce, which it estimates will save around £25m. Full story

Maextro S800 luxury sedan released in China as Maybach rival with 6C charging

The Maextro S800 luxury sedan was officially released in China as the domestic rival for the Mercedes-Benz Maybach S-Class. The S800 has all-electric or range-extended powertrain options, 32 ADAS sensors, and up to 635 kW (852 hp). Full story

Stellantis expands its Eurorepar parts range

Following the successful launch of Eurorepar Body Parts last year, Stellantis has announced that the range has been extended with an additional 20 new bumpers and 14 front grilles.  This brings the total number of Eurorepar body parts available to 254, covering a wide range of popular models across the Stellantis passenger car and commercial vehicle brands. Full story

BMW delays electric Mini over ‘uncertainty’

BMW has confirmed it is delaying the reintroduction of electric vehicle production at its Oxford Mini plant. The vehicle manufacturer said “multiple uncertainties facing the automotive industry” had led to its decision to pause work on the £600m upgrade of its plant in Cowley. Full story

Dacia announces a sub-£15k electric city car

Dacia has announced it will be bringing a budget-friendly new city electric vehicle specifically designed for Europe. Bosses promised the yet-to-be-named EV will cost less than £15,000 and be available in just 16 months – meaning it should be here in 2026. Full story

ILC forges partnership with BTCC rising star

ILC, in collaboration with Ben Taylor, Business Development Director – Verisk Claims (Automated Insurance Solutions), has forged an exciting partnership with BTCC rising star Ronan Pearson for the 2025 season. Full story

New Generation interview: Jack Meekings, Head of Network, Engineering and Audit, Innovation Group

Here, we talk to Jack Meekings about how a casual enquiry about Saturday work ignited a long and varied career in the industry, and what impact he thinks Chinese models will have on automotive claims and repairs. Full story

Survey unveils key barriers to employing apprentices

A recent survey conducted by Apprenticeship Central has highlighted the primary obstacles businesses face when considering apprenticeships with the most common being a lack of time for training, concerns about cost and difficulty finding suitable candidates. Full story

New legislation on theft devices marks important step in vehicle security evolution, says Thatcham Research

The UK’s leading automotive risk intelligence organisation, Thatcham Research, welcomes the government’s new Crime and Policing Bill targeting electronic devices used in vehicle theft, while emphasising the need for a comprehensive approach to combat increasingly sophisticated criminal operations. Full story

Car repair costs accelerate to ‘all time high’

The rising cost of car repairs is hitting consumers and repairers hard according to Warranty company AutoProtect which said its average warranty claim in 2024 was £502.07, up 9% year-on-year. AutoProtect cited the Motor Ombudsman’s latest annual survey of vehicle repairers, more than half of repairers expect motorists to reduce essential repairs to save money. Full story

Inspiring the Next Generation at ‘Future First’ Insight Day

Auto Windscreens recently opened its doors to 15 Level 1 students from Chesterfield College for its inaugural ‘Future First’ Insight Day, held during National Apprenticeship Week. The event was organised in partnership with social mobility charity, Future First, to encourage young people to explore career opportunities in the automotive sector. Full story

Local authorities need more funding to improve road safety

Government recently pledged an additional £1.6bn to tackle the pothole plague that some are calling a “national embarrassment”. However, this won’t begin to put a dent in the backlog of potholes that plague the nation as it’s estimated that £15.6bn is needed to repair the local road network. Zurich reported a 19% increase in damage-related claims last year, with potholes causing £2.6m worth of damage to vehicles. Full story

New car registrations down 2.6% in January; EVs take 15% market share

In January, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) made up 15% of the market share, up from the low baseline of comparison of 10.9% in January 2024. Hybrid-electric vehicles surged ahead, commanding nearly 34.9% of the market and becoming again the first most preferred choice among EU car buyers. Meanwhile, the combined market share of petrol and diesel cars fell to 39.4% in January 2025, down from 48.7% one year ago. Full story

£120m to roll-out more electric vans, taxis and motorbikes

Drivers, cabbies and businesses are set to benefit from £120 million in government funding to make the switch to cleaner vans, wheelchair accessible vehicles and taxis easier, faster and cheaper. Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed that the department is extending the Plug-in van grant for another year, to help van drivers and businesses transition to zero emission vehicles. Full story

The IGA seeks industry input ahead of crucial meeting

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is calling on independent garage owners and operators to provide critical input ahead of a key meeting regarding the long-standing MOT fee freeze and the financial impact of the recent Autumn Budget. The IGA has been invited to discuss these pressing issues at a meeting on 11March, with the office of Lilian Greenwood MP. Full story

Ross Pengilly has started a new position as Director of Automotive Industry Solutions at Powerverse.

Mike Slater has taken on a new role as Head of Network for Blackthorn Repair Management.

Plasnomic, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to revolutionising plastic repairs in the collision industry, is proud to announce Brian Driehost as CEO. 

FAI Automotive has appointed Lewis Wykes as Head of Sales (UK and Ireland).

The former chief executive of the National Transport Authority Anne Graham has been appointed chair of the Road Safety Authority.

Bentley Motors has announced the appointment of Axel Dewitz as Board Member for Finance and IT.

First Line has welcomed Kevin Neaverson as Commercial Director.

Audatex UK has restructured its crash repair team with the appointment of Joe Baynham to the BDM role.

Tim Moss has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

ARC360 event continues to raise the bar

More than 25 insurer brands and over 75 of the sector’s leading vehicle repairer entities are already set to join ARC360’s 2025 event in May as it continues to raise the bar across the sector.

The event takes place on Thursday 22 May at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon. Full story

The NBRA has provided an update on EDAM: “The NBRA continue to work at understanding how best to resolve the repercussions to the industry following EDAM being placed into administration. We are in active dialogue with Interpath and their solicitors and have instructed the team at MILS our NBRA solicitors, and legal counsel to draft a response to correspondence outlining the legal position.”

AutoRaise is calling on UK bodyshops to take urgent action to secure the future of the automotive repair industry. The UK’s vehicle repair sector is facing a severe skills shortage, with over 5,000 vacancies currently unfilled and the gap widening each year.

Fix Auto UK has given its full support to Apprenticeship Central, the unique recruitment organisation dedicated to serving the vehicle repair sector. The endorsement could not have been better timed as across the country businesses are celebrating the 18th annual National Apprentice Week (February 10-16).

James Alpe has announced it is now a Tesla approved bodyshop.

Linda Jones has started a new position as Senior Customer Service at HB Accident Repair Network, while Phil Allman has been appointed Commercial Programme Manager.

Daryll O’Keefe has been promoted to Fix Auto Vice President, Strategic Business Development – North America. 

Honda-Nissan multi-billion dollar merger collapses

Merger talks between Honda and Nissan have collapsed after the firms failed to agree on a multi-billion-dollar tie-up. The Japanese carmakers, along with junior partner Mitsubishi, had aimed to combine their businesses to fight back against competition from rival firms, especially in China. Full story

Driving the next generation of automotive talent through apprenticeships

During this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, Volkswagen Group UK is not only celebrating with a visit to the Houses of Parliament to showcase network skills, but also launching a number of new head office apprenticeship roles, covering data, IT, business and finance. Full story

MINI increases personalisation and usability across MINI family

Following the successful launch of the new MINI family, a range of additions and optional extras are set to further enhance the MINI offering from Spring 2025. Increasing personalisation across the MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper Convertible and MINI Countryman, customers now have a wider choice of exterior colours and trim combinations, alongside new digital features and improved practicality. Full story

Bentley opens doors of new Excellence Centre for Quality & Launch

Bentley Motors has officially opened its new state-of-the-art Excellence Centre for Quality & Launch. The new facility, opened by Gunnar Kilian, Member of the Board of Management at Volkswagen AG, and Bentley’s Board of Management, will be pivotal to the brand’s preparations for the first Bentley BEV. Full story

Stellantis and Mistral AI strengthen strategic partnership

Stellantis and Mistral AI are deepening their strategic collaboration to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) across multiple areas, from vehicle engineering to in-car experiences. This partnership leverages Mistral AI’s expertise in large language models (LLMs) and AI-driven automation to bring AI to many systems and applications across Stellantis enterprise, improving data analysis, streamlining development, and enhancing customer interaction. Full story

BYD expands ‘God’s Eye’ intelligent driving into its entry level cars

BYD threw a bombshell into China’s EV sector with its announcement that its advanced driver assistance system—known as “God’s Eye”—is now available in over 20 models, with the cheapest model, the Seagull, priced at under £8,000. Full story

ID One name seemingly confirmed for VW’s new sub-£20,000 EV

It’s been reported that Volkswagen’s new baby electric car will be called the ID One. The new model will debut in 2027, and has a promised price tag of less than £20,000. Full story

XPENG announces official launch in the UK

XPENG, a Chinese-born global-orientated high-tech automotive company, has announced its official entry to the UK. It will unveil the ultra-smart all-electric mid-size coupe SUV, XPENG G6 in March, with launch price from £39,990. XPENG is partnering with International Motors to open 20 dealerships in the UK this year. Full story

EV transition drives apprentice recruitment as industry skills up for ‘growth decade’

Top employers in the UK automotive sector are investing in a major skills drive to grow apprenticeship numbers by almost a sixth in 2025, according to a new survey by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, as manufacturers embark on a ‘green growth decade’. More than 550 new apprentices already having joined the sector this academic year, with an additional 740 apprenticeships still available. Full story

IMI response to government’s new Apprenticeship Reforms and Skills Strategy

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) cautiously welcomes the government’s announcement on apprenticeship reforms as a step in the right direction. However, it urges that short-term flexibility does not come at the expense of high-quality training and future-proof skills development. Full story

Apprenticeship Central breaks down apprenticeship reforms

In the middle of National Apprentice Week the government announced a wide ranging package of reforms to boost growth of apprenticeship placements. Cutting through the jargon Apprenticeship Central has set out what the announcement means. Full story

Demand for used EVs rises to record levels as second-hand car market grows in 2024

The UK’s used car market grew by 5.5% to 7,643,180 transactions in 2024, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Marking eight quarters of continuous growth, the year saw 400,488 more vehicles change hands than in 2023, with growth in the new car market fuelling availability and wider choice within the used sector. Full story

European auto industry champions policies for future-proof workforce at skills strategic dialogue

Securing quality jobs, delivering on skills and training, and ensuring a thriving, competitive European vehicle industry were all at the top of the agenda at the ACEA’s Strategic Dialogue meeting. Full story

Allianz UK warns motor traders of EV battery fire risks

Allianz UK is warning motor traders to be aware of the risks associated with Electric Vehicle (EV) battery fires, which have caused extensive damage in recent cases and created unique challenges. Full story

ACG has appointed Neil Thomas as its latest Business Development Manager.

Gemma Edwards has been appointed Business Development Manager at Remit Training.

Industry Insights is delighted to welcome Alan Cottrill to the motor claims business consultancy team.

Thatcham Research has announced the appointment of Nick Caplan as Chair of the Board of Directors.

Aviva has announced the appointment of Craig Fazzini-Jones as Group Chief Operating Officer.

Chris Payne has been appointed Head of DLG Auto Services at Direct Line Group.

AutoRaise has also announced that Simon Smith, Managing Director and Aviva Repair lead at Solus, will take over from Dave Sargeant, Managing Director of Gemini, as Chair.