Category: Salvage

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.

Inflationary Insights

Inflation is not a sector-specific challenge; businesses throughout the supply chain have all been facing steepling costs for months.

However, the consequences and coping mechanisms put in place have varied widely.

This was addressed during two sessions, Inflationary Insights Parts One and Two, that were held during the Exclusive Motor Claims Conference at Landing Forty-Two, London.

Read the full article here.

Enterprise Mobility ushers in new era

Enterprise, a pioneer in mobility solutions for over six decades, has unveiled its new corporate brand: Enterprise Mobility.

As the global leader reaffirms its mobility ambition and looks to partner with others to help shape future experiences, the business is connecting its full portfolio of offerings – car rental, fleet management, flexible vehicle hire, carsharing, vanpooling, car sales, truck rental, vehicle subscription, luxury rental, technology solutions and more – under the new corporate brand.

Sky reports Steer heading towards auction

Sky News has reported Richard Steer, the mastermind behind Steer Automotive Group is working with DC Advisory on the potential sale of a large stake in the company.

Motor Repair Network launches Activate Initiate

Accident management specialists Motor Repair Network has launched Activate Initiate, a new eNOL app to help customers throughout the claims journey.

The app helps to guide the customer through the stages of FNOL, asks them to provide the important information and photographs, and efficiently triages the vehicle and recognises any engineering decisions.

New repair centre partners with WHUFC women

Maldon Accident Repair Centre has become an Official Back of Shorts partner for West Ham United women’s team.

Based in Essex, Maldon Accident Repair Centre is a state-of-the-art crash repair specialist offering services to private individuals, fleet operators, insurance and accident assistance companies and manufacturers.

Thatcham highlights EV challenges

Thatcham Research has highlighted a lack of insight and understanding surrounding high voltage battery condition diagnostics, and detailed repair methods for damaged EVs as the most pressing concerns during the shift towards electrification.

Thatcham Research states the uncertainty has led to inflated insurance premiums and has even resulted in some providers opting out of covering EVs altogether. Adrian Watson, Head of Engineering at Thatcham Research, said, “We must understand whether the battery has been compromised or damaged post incident. What we need at the moment is clarity on the tools required to perform appropriate battery diagnostic.”

Chinese manufacturers achieve five-star Euro NCAP

Euro NCAP has revealed three Chinese electric family cars: the BYD Seal, XPENG P7 and the BYD Dolphin have all achieved five-star ratings.

According to Euro NCAP ‘all three have achieved Euro NCAP’s highest star rating, with little to choose between them, particularly in the areas of adult and child crash protection. All three are well-equipped with an impressive range of safety technologies, including lane and speed assistance.’

ITAS partners with IAEA

ITAS has partnered with The Institute of Automotive Engineer Assessors (IAEA) to create a new era of modernisation and efficiency.

The partnership aims to enhance IAEA’s services; deliver extended value; increase and secure membership numbers; and provide a fresh approach to its operations; online training and CPD content; and partnership opportunities.

ACG marks record growth with move

Accident Credit Group (ACG) Ltd, a leading funding partner for the accident repair and credit hire sectors, has relocated to new offices following a record year of growth.

ACG Operations Director, Ian Budsworth. “The joint efforts by every part of the business have resulted in this incredible milestone, and we’re excited to see what the next chapter has in store for us”.

Thatcham Research welcomes work experience

Thatcham Research recently welcomed 24 young people to its family work experience day at its Berkshire HQ.

The young visitors took part in a carousel of activities across Thatcham Research’s sites including: witnessing a live crash test followed by a post-impact walk around assessment; demonstrations of car security; hands-on virtual spraybooth simulator; demonstration of safe driving and active safety technology, assisted driving, and automated parking; and some were also given insight into the work of our recruitment and data teams.

Seventy-eight per cent of attendees said following the event they would consider a career in automotive research.

Rivian opens Dusseldorf centre

Rivian has opened its first Service Center in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The centre is strategically located two hours from Rivian’s EU Parts Distribution Centre in the Netherlands and will focus on servicing EDV’s for its Amazon partners and around the city.

The 34,000sqft features five two post lifts, alignment rack, ADAS, office and lounge space.

The Düsseldorf Service Center will be joined by several other German based Service Centers including locations in Munich and Berlin.

Entegral enabling frictionless claims

Frictionless claims and repairs is a priority for insurers, repairers and drivers alike: Entegral explained to delegates at ILC’s ClaimsTech Live 2023 event how its suite of products are helping to make it a reality.

IMI Diversity Task Force launches toolkit

As part of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) Diversity Task Force’s commitment to supporting more inclusive workplaces, a new Neurodiversity Awareness in the Workplace Toolkit has been launched.

The toolkit provides crucial information, advice and guidance and lived experiences from automotive people to help educate and raise awareness about neurodiversity in the workplace.

Britain’s manufacturers have best September since 2020

Manufacturing figures grew by 39.8% in September with nearly 90,000 vehicles leaving factory production lines in Britain. This makes September the most successful month for growth since September 2020, according to The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

That being said, the tariff-free trade deal with the EU requires crucial maintenance for EVs. The bilateral trade is at risk due to costs of EV batteries that could harm the competitiveness of both UK exports and EU imports. This could potentially raise the average cost of EVs by £3,600.

Synetiq secures ISO recertifications across the board

Synetiq shows their commitment to the highest standards of health and safety, environmental management, quality management and information security management.

“As a leader in the vehicle recycling industry, protecting our client, customer and policyholder data is essential to how we operate,” said UK Managing Director for IAA and SYNETIQ CEO Tom Rumboll. “We are equally proud to achieve recertification for ISO 9001, which highlights our commitment to ensuring we supply our customers and clients with high quality products and services every time.”

eBay UK shed a light on potential fines this winter

While drivers are not obligated to bring spare bulbs on their journeys, waiting one to two weeks before changing a blown bulb could now cause a £100. Reports from eBay UK have stated in the worst case, this could also be challenged and raised to £1,000 in court.

Eatron Technologies foresee battery failure

In utilising artificial intelligence (AI), Eatron Technologies have been able to recognise potential battery failures in EVs before they occur. This could not only help to schedule service visits sooner but also affect the way in which the battery is managed to prevent further damage.

People

HB Accident Repair Network has appointed Steven Gilligan as Group Production Manager.

Rik Green has been appointed as Total Loss Repair Consultant at Solus Accident Repair Centres.

Karen Jakes has started a new position as Group Product Manager – Automotive & Repair at Thatcham Research.

Exclusive Motor Conference proves major success

Around 150 leading influencers from across the UK’s motor claims insurance sector joined ILC at its Exclusive Motor Claims Conference last week in London for discussion, insights, and networking.

Supported by ILC’s Corporate Partners and headline sponsored by Enterprise along with sponsors BHR Assist, Clearspeed, EDAM Group, LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Wiser Academy, the event included a highly influential line-up of speakers focusing on a host of key topics from across the sector.

Repairify updates calibration system

The asTech Digital ADAS Calibration System from Repairify has been updated to support the new Nissan Juke and Nissan Qashqai models.

Prasco extends next-day delivery window

Prasco UK has announced that next-day deliveries will now be available for orders placed before 5.30pm.

This extends the Monday-Friday window for next-day deliveries by 30 minutes. The announcement also includes Saturdays, which previously had a cut-off time of 12.30pm.

Gemini scale Snowdon for Ben

Gemini ARC supported automotive charity Ben by scaling Mount Snowdon. Twenty seven Gemini colleagues climbed the highest peak in Wales, raising more than £2,700.

Thatcham Research unveils espire

Thatcham Research has launched its espire training solution to support bodyshops on their path to BS10125 certification.

The framework covers 18 competencies including ADAS, electric vehicles and vehicle damage assessment and features mandatory knowledge tests and practical assessments.

This comes after recent revisions to the standard which now include a CPD requirement.

Ready and ABL

ABL 1 Touch Group has welcomed its latest cohort of apprentices, supported by PPG. They will now head to Emtec Colleges for induction.

Komoo expands with Wigan launch

Komoo has cut the ribbon on its 11^th site and first in the North West as it continues to expand its network.

The Komoo Wigan repair centre will be managed by James Francis.

Top marks for 4 Elms

4 Elms Group has secured CARS QA BS10125 certification after receiving a 100% pass on its latest audit.

Suzuki celebrates customer services award

Suzuki GB is celebrating another customer service award after winning UK CXA’s ‘Customers at The Heart of Everything’ award.

The award recognised the company’s outstanding service across all four of its divisions – Car, Motorcycle, Marine and All-Terrain Vehicles.

AEG mitigates claims inflation

Audatex Head of Account Management Tom Hart has explained how bodyshops can mitigate repair inflation through AudatexEnterpriseGold, which delivers right-first-time methodology, while the payment process can be accelerated through AudaInvoice’s quick and frictionless solution.

Team UK honoured at Houses of Parliament

Team UK’s success at EuroSkills Gdańsk was celebrated at the Houses of Parliament this month. The team is now focusing on selection for WorldSkills Lyon 2024.

IMI to review EV National Occupational Standards

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is seeking industry feedback ahead of its review of Electric and Hybrid Vehicle National Occupational Standards (NOS).

The first phase of the consultation will see the IMI running face-to-face and online meetings with industry stakeholders while also carrying out digital surveys, before the second phase will invite wider industry consultations.

AXA highlights EV obstacles

AXA UK has published a new report assessing the obstacles around the UK’s transition to electrification.

The report has underlined the importance of UK gigafactories to attract investment and warned a lack of EV repair skills could deflate the used car market. It has also called for clear regulation and targets around public charging infrastructure and said the industry must do more to raise customer awareness around the cost-benefits of owning and running an EV.

SMMT calls for ROO delay

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has called for a three-year delay to stricter Rules of Origin regulations which are due to be introduced on 1 January.

Rules of Origin apply to the manufacture and import of car batteries, with EVs failing to meet the threshold subject to a 10% tariff.

The SMMT fears this could add a combined bill of £4.3bn to the price of EVs, or £3,400 per car made in Europe and sold in the UK.

Moon shines after ride-along day

Allianz Partners UK and Ireland Chief Executive Patricia Moon witnessed the company’s roadside technicians in action during a ride-along day.

She said, “Our roadside assistance colleagues are incredibly well-skilled and their vehicles carry an impressive number of tools to ensure we are able to help our customers as swiftly as possible.”

NBRA spread talent net far and wide

The NBRA is supporting the industry tackle the skills shortage with its Easy to Recruit initiative.

Easy to Recruit specialises in bringing highly skilled vehicle technicians from overseas, and assisting them through the immigration and settling in period.

James Alpe on the tee for charity

Clitheroe-based Accident Repair Centre and vehicle conversions specialist James Alpe has raised more than £2,000 for the North West Air Ambulance Charity and Ronald McDonald House Charities UK by hosting a golf day at Accrington & District Golf Club and Wilpshire Golf Club.

ABI Luton Airport car park fire update

The ABI has issued its latest response to the fire at Luton Airport’s car park.

It said, “We’ve worked with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau to obtain and share the number plates of the vehicles in the car park with our members, who are contacting customers as quickly as possible. Many insurers are covering the costs of their customers’ journeys home from the airport, others have said they will waive policy excesses and that any claim from the fire will not impact no claims discounts.”

People

Komoo has appointed Catrin Morgan as Head of Business Development for the UK and Ireland.

Matthew Adlem has been named Head of Credit Hire at Acorn Insurance and Financial Services Limited.

The Institute of the Motor Industry has appointed Jason Embery as Product Manager.

Ross Pengilly has been appointed Director of Partnerships at Affinity EV.