Category: Insurance

NBRA exclusive: Q&A with Executive Director Martyn Rowley

In an exclusive interview with ARC360, new NBRA/VBRA director Martyn Rowley discusses his first few months in charge, his plans for the organisation, and how he hopes the NBRA/VBRA can support members and the industry further in the coming years.

Motor insurance payouts spike 21%

The Association of British Insurers has revealed that motor insurance payouts by insurers jumped by 21% in the third quarter of the year compared to the same period in 2022, surpassing £2.5bn for the second consecutive quarter.

Maldon open for business

Maldon Accident Repair Centre officially opened its doors this week which saw 200 people visit over two days.

Maldon ARC is a state-of-the-art, BSI-accredited collision repair specialist for cars and commercial vehicles.

Solera emphasises EV risks and opportunities

Solera has highlighted the challenges the sector faces with more than a million EVs now on UK roads.

It says correct repair methodology is more critical than ever, but its tools and broad data coverage can support businesses get it right first time. It points to XpertEstimate, which enables insurers to manage claims and maintain service standards

Meanwhile, Audatex has updated AudaEnterpriseGold and with 16 new and 74 updated model sheets.

Gemini receives 5% Club certificate

Gemini Accident Repair Centres Managing Director David Sargeant and Head of Training John Henderson received the group’s 5% Club Platinum membership certificate at Mansion House, London, recently.

The day also included meaningful discussions with other members about the value of apprenticeships.

Colleagues invited to take part in Ben wellbeing survey

Automotive industry charity Ben is inviting anyone who works or has worked in the sector to share their experiences to help it mould its support services to better suit the industry.

Its Health and Wellbeing Survey 2023 has been designed to help the charity identify the issues that have most impacted colleagues over the last year.

Big news for XL Motors

Coventry-based repairer XL Motors has been awarded with the new Lotus Bodyshop Approval.

Certification demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to manufacturer standards of repair, ensuring exceptional quality and outstanding customer satisfaction within the industry.

Individual Specialist Cars adds Lotus to prestigious list

Individual Specialist Cars has announced it has secured approved bodyshop status from Lotus.

Certification adds to a prestigious list of vehicle manufacturer approvals for the Birmingham-based site that includes the likes of Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Rolls Royce, and Tesla.

Repairify offers free remote services to new customers

Repairify has announced a new initiative that will offer new customers three months of free access to its remote services.

Available from 1 December, the promotion provides new customers or customers who have not used remote services in the last six months full access to Repairify’s remote solutions. This means they will be able to scan, diagnose, calibrate or programme vehicles using Repairify’s IMI-trained technicians and data centre of OE tools.

Solus cuts ribbon on new repair centre

Solus has cut the ribbon to its latest site in Newport, South Wales.

The new 23,000 sqft centre is the first Solus site in Wales and continues the wider strategy of delivering repair solutions to customer where they are, with 22 Solus sites across the UK.

The repair centre will create more than 30 jobs.

Steer Group secures PAS 2060 certification

Steer Automotive Group has achieved PAS 2060 accreditation across all its 98 sites following a combination of operational enhancements and carbon offsetting initiatives.

The group now plans to achieve net zero and carbon neutrality without relying on carbon offsetting by increasing the use of sustainable paint, more green parts in repairs, and using more sustainable energy sources across the business.

Industry accolades for Steer Automotive Group

Steer Automotive Group was named B2B Business of the Year: Large at the Growing Business Awards.

Meanwhile, the group was also for nominated for Large Employer of the Year and Apprenticeship Champion of the Year (Steve Hoe) at the National Apprenticeship Awards.

Fix Auto Devon’s Alena nominated for IAW award

Fix Auto Devon Finance Director Alena Woolacott has been shortlisted for the 2024 Automotive 30% Club IAW Awards.

Cap hpi predicts continued price deflation

Cap hpi has published its latest car market overview, which revealed that 153,529 cars were registered in October, a 14.3% increase on the same month last year and 7.2% above pre-pandemic October 2019.

Meanwhile, average used car values have dropped by 8.4% or £1,625 in the last two months. It predicts values will continue to drop until the end of the year, with the fall in prices slowing during 2024.

ITAS delivers EV training to Fisker

ITAS has supported Fisker with a range of training sessions to enable colleagues to handle EVs safely.

The course provided an introduction to Fisker’s all-electric Ocean SUV, helping delegates identify high voltage components and then carry out a high voltage disconnect.

BEVS drive production surge

Battery electric vehicles made up 40% of all new cars produced in the UK in October, according to The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

BEV production rose 52% in the month, driving up overall car growth of 31.6% to 91,512 units.

Meanwhile, UK commercial vehicle (CV) production returned to growth last month, rising 47.1% year on year with 12,853 vans, buses, trucks, coaches and taxis entering the market.

2023 IMI Skills Competition winners announced

The winners of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) 2023 Skills Competition have been revealed.

Gold went to Ben Turner of Harris DAF High Wycombe (Skillnet) in the Heavy Vehicle category, while Oisin Mckerr of Porters Bodyshop (Southern Regional College) won Refinishing gold, Adrian Matthews of Ultimate Accident Repair Services (S&B Automotive Academy) won gold in the Body Repair category and Oliver Young from J&R Auto Services (Perth UHI) won gold in the Light Vehicle category.

All the finalists can now take part in the World Skills International competition in Lyon in September 2024.

Nissan accelerates EV shift in Sunderland

Nissan has confirmed that all three models manufactured at its Sunderland plant, the Qashqai, Juke and Leaf, will go 100% electric.

Following a £3bn investment, the EV36Zero hub will also include three gigafactories.

High Mobility delivers access to Tesla data

High Mobility has announced that Tesla vehicle data is now available through its developer-focused tools, enabling businesses to track vehicle location, status alerts, usage patterns and maintenance signals.

Meanwhile, the company has entered into a new partnership with IMS, which delivers connected solutions to insurers, mobility operators and governments.

UK Auto manufacturing charges up with £20bn investment boost in 2023

The UK automotive industry has so far attracted approximately £20bn in private investment this year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

On top of industry’s backing for new and upgraded R&D and manufacturing facilities, the government committed a further £2bn for the sector, backed by an Advanced Manufacturing Plan and battery strategy that will drive green economic growth and create jobs across every part of the country.

NBRA disappointed by Audatex Price Increase

The National Body Repair Association (NBRA) and the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association (VBRA) has criticised Audatex for an 8.5% price increase.

It says that the 8.5% hike is not justifiable in comparison to the 6.1% Retail Price Index (RPI).

AkzoNobel celebrates carbon reduction initiative

AkzoNobel has celebrated a global initiative with partners and industry stakeholders to collaborate on more sustainable solutions in vehicle repair.

Focusing on three key areas -energy transition, process efficiency and circular solutions – solutions include adapting repair manuals to improve repairability and the creation of an academy to train more sustainable practices.

Investment fundamental to survival

CEO of LKQ Euro Car Parts Andy Hamilton has assessed the challenges facing repairers in 2024.

He said that continued investment in skills and equipment will be critical to continue serving a rapidly-evolving sector.

Hella to acquire TMD Friction stake in Hella Pagid

Hella has announced it will become the sole owner of Brake joint venture Hella Pagid, which supplies brake systems to the industry.

Hella will acquire the 50 % share currently held by TMD Friction.

Carpenters Group continues Brake sponsorship

Carpenters Group has announced it is continuing to support Brake, the road safety charity, as a corporate partner.

The partnership will help fund Brake’s work supporting road crash victims and campaigning for safe and healthy mobility.

Industry Insights celebrates racing silver

Leicestershire-based Industry Insights Race Team has been named second in class overall for the race season in the Open series of the Classic Sports Car Club (CSCC) end of season awards.

People

Intelligent Motoring has appointed Mike Williams as Head of Business Development.   

Mike Begginton has been appointed as Mazda’s fourth technical trainer.

WorldSkills UK winners celebrated

The best apprentices in the UK were celebrated at WorldSkills UK’s glittering ceremony at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall.

More than 6,000 young people registered to take part in the WorldSkills UK Competitions, with the winners announced following six months of local and regional qualifiers and two days of competition at the National Finals.

Uninsured driver hotspots revealed

New data has revealed that Leeds, Bristol, Salford and Manchester top the UK list of uninsured drivers.

The figures have been released by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau ahead of the launch of Operation Drive Insured, an annual campaign to get uninsured drivers off the road. 

Steer plans to nearly double apprentice numbers

Steer Automotive Group plans to nearly double its apprenticeship numbers by the end of next year.

It already has 159 apprentices employed across 90% of its 98 sites but plans to increase that substantially in the next 12 months so apprentices make up 16% of its technical workforce.

Meanwhile, it has also welcomed apprentices from the Apollo and Balgores regions at 3M’s state-of-the-art training centre.

Fix Auto UK expands service and footprint

Fix Auto Penzance has installed a bank of on-site electric car chargers for customers and colleagues alike. The company has installed two 40 KW fast charge DC units along with a 20 KW AC fast charger, while an app enables drivers to pay for the service ensuring there is no cost to the business.

Meanwhile, the Fix Auto UK network is continuing to grow in Northern Ireland with the appointment of MRB Auto Body, a 10,000 sqft site which will now operate as Fix Auto Ballymoney.

Ben pilots apprenticeships with driving lessons

Automotive charity Ben has joined forces with industry body The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to support apprentices progress in the sector through funded driving lessons.

The pilot scheme, Drive to Thrive, will offer apprentices from disadvantaged backgrounds up to 44 hours of funded driving lessons while they are learning their trade.

Making the most of the autonomous revolution

The road ahead has been cleared for autonomous driving in the UK, with the government committed to a ‘transport revolution’ in the coming years.

In this contributed feature, ARC360 partner Repairify considers the implications for automotive repair sector, and what opportunities self-driving may present.

Mixed reviews to Autumn Budget

The NBRA has given mixed reviews to the government’s Autumn Statement, welcoming general measures to boost industry but highlighting a lack of support directly targeting the automotive repair sector.

Executive director Martin Rowley said, “In the aftermath of the Autumn Statement, NBRA acknowledges certain government initiatives supporting our members. However, we underscore the ongoing need for precise support measures aimed at sustaining the automotive repair sector amidst economic uncertainties.”

Trio celebrate Lotus accreditation

Steer Prestige, Farnham (South), Chaplane Colchester and East Bilney Coachworks have all been named approved repairers for Lotus.

Accreditation recognises the company’s long-standing commitment to meeting the exacting standards of the prestige vehicle manufacturer in terms of training, tools, repair methods and on-site facilities.

Accreditation achievements

Fix Auto Leicester, L&I Eaton Sheffield and Elite Carbody in Milton Keynes have all secured a positive recommendation to transition to BS10125:2022.

Meanwhile, Coventry-based C&C Vehicle Services has also passed its BS10125:2022 Stage 2 audit.

SMMT welcomes manufacturing investment

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has welcomed the government’s £4.5bn investment in strategic manufacturing.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “This government investment reflects the fact the UK automotive sector has the talent, the innovation and the determination necessary to thrive in the face of fierce global competition. It will deliver benefits not just for the automotive sector but for the whole country in terms of growth, high value jobs and productivity. It also sends a powerful signal that the UK is open for business.”

Stellantis cuts ribbon on sustainability hub

Stellantis has unveiled its SUSTAINera Circular Economy Hub in Turin, Italy.

The Hub has been created to extend the life of parts and vehicles where possible, and recycle the materials of parts that can’t be reused.

Stellantis supports AutoRaise at recruitment festival

Stellantis supported AutoRaise at the recent National School and College Leavers Festival in Birmingham, donating vehicle parts and panels to enable the charity to better showcase the skills and opportunities within the sector.

ITAS introduces spot repair courses

ITAS has introduced a range of new courses focused on spot repairs. It recognises that new technology is making smaller repairs more commonplace and is committed to ensuring the industry has the skills to carry them out safely.

ThingCo cuts speeding events by a quarter

Telematics solutions provider ThingCo has revealed that its wireless telematics device Theo has helped cut speeding events by 25% and reduce speed on 60mph roads by six per cent.

ThingCo collects data every second and ensures precision in identifying speeding events.

Report warns of growing EV battery production gap

A report by a cross-party Committee of MPs has warned that the UK is falling behind other countries in creating an attractive environment for EV battery production.

Batteries for electric vehicles has warned that the UK faces a huge ‘gigafactory gap’, with less battery production capacity than needed for the nation’s future needs. 

JLR fights back against thefts

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) UK has reported that models built on its most advanced electrical architecture, which feature the latest security features, are proving nearly theft-proof.

Since 2020 just 0.07% of new Range Rover and new Range Rover Sports have been stolen and only 0.3% of new Defenders.

Eco Repair Systems and FMG agree training deal

Eco Repair Systems has announced a new training partnership with FMG Repair Services, which operates 65 repair sites nationwide.

As part of the deal, Eco Repair Systems will supply plastic repair equipment to FMG for use in its IMI-approved technical training centre.

VW unveils EV transition tools

Volkswagen has unveiled new digital resources to support customers transition to EVs. The three e-mobility tools provide instant data on range, charging times and running costs for each VW model.

Euro NCAP and ANCAP sign MOU

Euro NCAP and its Australian equivalent ANCAP have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cement their existing relationship and pave the way for closer collaboration in the future.

Happy first birthday

PartsXChange is celebrating its first birthday. It now has more than 400 users buying and selling new and used parts on its platform and has been nominated for three different industry awards in three different sectors.

Dean Shines in charity challenge

Dean Meadows of Shine! has so far raised more than £260 as part of the Movember challenge. He is cycling and walking 190 miles to support men’s mental health, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.

Porsche goes live with First Contact

Porsche has unveiled its new First Contact customer services solution ahead of schedule.

The objective of First Contact is for Porsche to support every customer contact in Europe itself. This required designing new processes, implementing new IT, and hiring 140 experts for its new Porsche Customer Relations Hubs.

Nissan confirms £1.2bn Sunderland investment

Nissan has confirmed it will invest about £1.2bn in its Sunderland plant to manufacture the electric Qashqai and Juke models, protecting about 6,000 jobs.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “This new announcement underlines Britain’s position as an increasingly competitive location for electric vehicle production.”

People

Repairify has appointed Richard Davis and Toby Anderson to join its team of technicians at its Luton-based technical centre of excellence.

October Market Intelligence report

ARC360 has published its latest market report in partnership with Trend Tracker, which reveals that repair volumes in October were 95% of 2019 levels but 105% compared to the same month last year.

Meanwhile, repair costs are up eight per cent year on year, but this is down from the 16% recorded in June.

JLR apologises for parts delays

Jaguar Land Rover has apologised to customers after a shortage of parts has delayed repairs to nearly 5,000 cars.

The company has downsized its UK parts supply network from 18 UK warehouses to one super centre but has experienced a crisis in parts supply since then.

Gemini celebrates Platinum status of The 5% Club

Gemini Accident Repair Group has secured Platinum Membership status in The 5% Club Employer Audit for 2023-2024.

The 5% Club recognises those employers who have committed to developing new talent through earn and learn skills training plans. Only three per cent of all members achieved Platinum status this year.

Steer recognises apprentices with dedicated awards ceremony

Steer Automotive celebrated the emerging talent within the group during a special awards ceremony dedicated to its apprentices.

The Steer Apprentice Academy Awards was attended by industry professionals and partners and included a session on the future of the automotive industry led by Dean Lander, Head of Repair Sector Services from Thatcham Research.

LV= unveils new charity initiative

LV= has raised more than £600 for its charity partner Family Action through a new initiative that also tackles the challenges around finding courtesy cars.

The LV= initiative involves its network repairers inviting customers to opt out of taking a courtesy car while their vehicle is being repaired, with the bodyshop donating at least £25 to the charity instead.

SMMT urges government to unlock CAM windfall

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has urged the government to clear the path for the UK to capitalise on a potential £66bn connected and automated mobility windfall by 2040.

In a new report, Connected and automated mobility: The UK economic and market opportunities, the SMMT also says CAM technology has the potential to create an additional 342,000 skilled jobs and prevent upwards of 60,000 serious accidents.

Premium prices spike 29% in third quarter

Motor insurance premiums have risen to £561 in the third quarter of the year, according to data from the Association of British Insurers.

This represents a 29% increase on the same period last year and is nine per cent higher than the second quarter of 2023.

New car sales hit pre-pandemic high

New car sales have hit their highest point since before the pandemic, according to data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

It found that October’s new car market grew by 14.3% in the month to 153,529, which is 7.2% above pre-pandemic levels.

Meanwhile, light commercial vehicle registrations increased by 17.7% in October to 26,342 unites.

Steer expands Scotland footprint

Steer Automotive Group is expanding its presence in Scotland with the launch of a new state-of-the-art site in Glasgow.

Solera zeroes in on scope 3 emissions

Solera has unveiled a new suite of solutions, Sustainable Estimatics, to help the industry move towards a greener future.

Using its own extensive data in conjunction with a range of industry partnerships, it is able to analyse and measure the CO2 emissions during each stage of a motor claim.

SYNETIQ secures environmental silver

IAA company SYNETIQ has been awarded a silver medal by EcoVadis, an internationally-recognised sustainability platform that evaluates companies across a range of criteria, including environment, social and ethical practices.

SYNETIQ earned a silver medal after being ranked in the top 25% of more than 100,000 international businesses assessed.

IMI highlights dangerous ADAS skills gap

The Institute of the Motor Industry believes there is a now a shortfall of 18,000 technicians in the UK qualified to work on ADAS-equipped vehicles.

It warns the gap will increase as at least one in ten cars on UK roads will feature Level 2 autonomy by the end of the year, and this will grow to almost half of the car parc by 2030.

Belron named IMI TechSafe Centre of Excellence

Belron International has become the latest organisation to be named an IMI TechSafe Centre of Excellence, following significant investment in training facilities for its more than 1,100 UK technicians.

The other IMI TechSafe Centres of Excellence are the BMW Group Academy and Lincoln College.

AkzoNobel announces new Sustainability Challenge

AkzoNobel will launch a 24-hour challenge to accelerate carbon reduction in the vehicle repair industry.

Taking place from 21-22 November and involving insurance companies, fleet and lease companies, bodyshops and OEMs, the Vehicle Repair (VR) Sustainability Challenge will spark dialogue around new innovations in energy transition, process efficiency and circular solutions.

Standard successes

A number of bodyshops have achieved BS10125:2022 certification recently. They include Diss-based Bressingham Car Bodyshop, Patersons ARC, Alton Cars Sheffield, and Cosmetic Repair Solutions in Chesterfield.

Thatcham Research backs autonomous focus

Thatcham Research has backed the government’s plans to accelerate legislation around autonomous vehicles, as highlighted in His Majesty the King’s Speech.

Jonathan Hewett, Thatcham Research’s Chief Executive, said, “Thatcham Research champions stringent standards and comprehensive legislation vital for the secure and effective deployment of self-driving vehicle technology. It is through rigorous safety frameworks, clarity in legal liability, and collaborative efforts between government, industry, and insurers that the full potential of this transformative technology will be realised.”

First Hydrogen and the Potential of FCEVs

Clare Bestall and Craig Gibson from National Windscreens attended MIRA Technology Park in Coventry recently to find out more about the potential of hydrogen as a viable fuel alternative.

MIRA is Europe’s leading mobility R&D location for developing the latest automotive technology.

MONITRR reaches assessment landmark

Outsorc’s software solution MONITRR has now completed over 112,000 assessments and audits in 96 countries using five internet browsers on desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile.

Worrying research identifies EV charging cables risks

New research carried out by What Car? has revealed that some aftermarket electric vehicle charging cables could overheat and shock users.

It bought three ‘Mode 2’ chargers, which allow EV owners to charge their vehicle using a three-pin domestic socket, and found that all three failed all or some of its Residual Current Device (RCD) tests.

Meet the e2e Network

e2e Total Loss Vehicle Management has published the latest instalment of its ‘Meet the Network’ series.

The latest blog focuses on ASM Auto Recycling, which operates from five sites across Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Buckinghamshire. It processes over 35,000 vehicles a year and offers for sale over 1,500 cars, vans, and motorbikes every week via the e2e network online auction Salvage Market platform.

People

Martyn Rowley has officially taken up his new position as Executive Director at NBRA – VBRA.

Komoo has announced that Paul Halligan has joined the business as Group Compliance Manager.

Page Automotive Group has announced two internal promotions, with Neil Pettit and Scott Balson both further their careers within the group.