Category: Technology

EV exposure increasing according to ARC360 poll

Nearly seven in 10 respondents to a live poll conducted during ARC360’s Future Vehicle Technology event cited their exposure to EV claims was now moderate or high.

Stellantis repair network joins NBRA

Stellantis has announced that its entire accident repair network has joined the NBRA.

This significant development brings Stellantis and its accident repair programme, representing nine of the 14 global brands in the UK, into a formal association with the NBRA.

Motor premiums up 34% in a year

New data has revealed that the average quoted price of car insurance rose by 34% in the year to May. This is according to the latest Consumer Intelligence Car Insurance Price Index.

GSR2 makes ADAS mandatory from 7 July

The European Union’s New Vehicle General Safety Regulation (GSR2) comes into effect on 7 July, making a number of ADAS features mandatory in vehicles.

These include Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning (DDAW), and Emergency Lane Keeping Systems (ELKS).

Copart unveils Chelmsford Operation Centre

Copart UK has opened a new Operation Centre in Chelmsford, Essex. The new 30-acre site is part of an ongoing expansion strategy with further announcements to come.

Falling capacity creating bottlenecks

Falling capacity in the refurbishment sector is hitting remarketing, creating substantial bottlenecks in preparing cars and vans for sale, according to the Vehicle Remarketing Association.

Irish motor insurance damage costs soar 126%

The cost of Irish motor insurance claims rose 126% to £160m in the first half of 2023.

Drivers reminded to check insurance

Motor Insurers’ Bureau is reminding drivers to check their vehicle is properly insured, after a YouGov study showed 10% of the British public are not aware that it is compulsory for any vehicle used on a public road.

Silverlake hosts Brazilian recycling delegation

Silverlake hosted nine members of the Brazilian Automotive Recycling Association recently to showcase UK best practice around vehicle recycling.

The tour covered all aspects of automotive recycling including processing vehicles for auction or dismantling for reclaimed parts.

Stella partners with global leader in automotive solutions Assurant

Stella has announced a strategic partnership with Assurant, a global leader in insurance solutions. This collaboration aims to redefine automotive cover with a focus on delivering tailored insurance solutions specifically for women.

SYNETIQ colleagues scale Three Peaks for charity

Colleagues at SYNETIQ, an IAA company and one of the UK’s leading integrated vehicle salvage, dismantling, and recycling companies, have completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, raising over £4,000 for suicide prevention charity ANDYSMANCLUB.

Why skills are critical to the future mobility debate

IMI CEO Steve Nash was part of one of a high-profile panel discussion on skills. He formed part of the Auto manufacturing and skills: reshaping the industry in the electric image session at Move.

Tradex joins the IFB’s fraud-fighting membership

Tradex Insurance Company has joined the Insurance Fraud Bureau membership to play a key role in the industry’s collective fight against fraud.  

Car sales pass million mark for 2024

New car sales topped a million units in the first half of the year for the first time since 2019, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Sales in June rose by 1.1% to take total sales so far in 2024 to 1,006,763 units. Meanwhile, the UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market fell for the first time in June after 17 successive months of growth.

Onyx unveils new BMS

Onyx has launched a new bodyshop management system that streamlines workflows and automates core processes like estimating, job scheduling, and parts ordering. It has been developed specifically to address the challenges of legacy systems.

Ben adds details to flagship fundraising events

Automotive charity Ben has announced more details surrounding its two flagship fundraising events, Ben’s Big Breakfast and Ben Ball.

Motor Ombudsman’s Knowledge Base viewed over 170,000 times

The Motor Ombudsman’s online Knowledge Base, the reference tool designed to provide consumers with responses to queries on car ownership, vehicle maintenance and dispute resolution, has seen a rise in usage during the second quarter of 2024.

Final whistle blows on Plunkys All Stars

The final Plunkys All Stars charity match raised more than £26,000 for its three charities Norkfolk and Waveney Mind, East Anglian Air Ambulance, and the Fire Fighters Charity.

The annual matches, the brainchild of industry stalwart Steve Plunkett, have been played for more than a decade now, raising over £119,000 collectively for valuable causes.

MAHLE Powertrain expands dedicated hydrogen powertrain testing capabilities

MAHLE Powertrain is expanding its Northampton facility to include a dedicated hydrogen powertrain testing capability. The capacity to hold two tube-trailers on-site with rapid switch-over functionality between them will ensure a near-continuous supply of hydrogen.

Stellantis joins with CEA to pursue next-generation battery cell technology

Stellantis and CEA, one of the world’s most innovative research institutions, have announced a new, five-year collaboration that targets in-house design of next-generation battery cells for electric vehicles.

Geotab and BYD Trucks Europe announce integration

Geotab has announced an integration of its European-based fleet management solutions with BYD Trucks Europe. This collaboration provides BYD Trucks Europe with a robust fleet management solution across Europe.

Commercial Van safety performance improving significantly

The latest Euro NCAP Commercial Van ratings show a significant improvement in the performance of ADAS available on commercial vans. Seven of the tested vehicles (40%) received Euro NCAP’s Commercial Van Platinum rating and performed substantially better than the EU General Safety Regulation.

Toyota to host IAATI conference

Toyota will host the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators UK Branch national vehicle crime conference on 9-10 July at its manufacturing plant in Derbyshire, underscoring it’s commitment to combating vehicle crime.

Rimac unveils Verne EV

Rimac has shifted from hypercars to autonomous transportation with the unveiling of Verne, a new electric, autonomous fleet of taxis to be launched in Zagreb in 2026.

ARC360 conference set for next week

ARC360’s Future Vehicle Technology themed conference, set to deliver the highest calibre of attendees, contributors and debate in the UK body repair industry event calendar, is all set for next week.

Taking place on Thursday 27 June 2024 at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, the sell-out event will provide shared insights, interactive exhibits and networking opportunity for the UK’s key persons of influence from across the UK vehicle incident repair and insurance claims sector.

Uninsured driver numbers on the increase

Data released by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau has revealed that there is an average of 300,000 uninsured vehicles driving on UK roads every day.

BASF and WHW Recycling make battery cell production more sustainable

BASF has entered an agreement on the processing of cathode and anode waste to make battery cell production in Europe more sustainable. 

Thatcham Research unveils new ADAS course

Thatcham Research has launched a new ADAS Aware e-learning course to address the existing skills gap around the technology.

SYNETIQ launches carbon calculation project

IAA company SYNETIQ is developing its sustainability strategy by calculating the carbon footprint of its auction vehicles.

Eyebox open day and networking lunch

Eyebox has welcomed suppliers, staff, customers, and guests to the official open day of its Training and Conference Centre.

Avant announces FSQS certification

Avant has successfully renewed our FSQS (Financial Services Qualification System) certification!

Silverlake celebrates sustainability double

Silverlake Automotive Recycling [Silverlake] has been recognised for its commitment to sustainability and the environment with two awards in a week.

Tesla Model Y named Car of the Year

AutoTrader has announced that the Tesla Model Y has been voted overall New Car of the Year by owners.

Plunkys All Stars breaks £20k barrier

The Plunky’s All Stars charity football match has now raised more than £20,000 for Norfolk and Waveney MIND, East Anglian Air Ambulance and the Fire Fighters Charity.

Meanwhile, auction prizes on the day include a Manchester United v Benfica, 1968 European Cup Final match programme, two corporate hospitality tickets for a Liverpool home champions league game next season, and an England cricket hat signed by six former captains.

European Commission to impose EV tariffs on China

An investigation by the European Commission has concluded that electric vehicle manufacturers in China are benefitting unfairly from subsidisation.

JLR and Chery announce EV collaboration

Building on their 12-year relationship and well-established joint venture, JLR and Chery have signed a Letter of Intent to strengthen CJLR’s product offer for the next era of electrification in China. 

Mercedes-Benz introduces ACL to 15 European models

Mercedes-Benz is now introducing the intelligent further development for partially automated driving in Europe: The Automatic Lane Change function is now available in the Driving Assistance Plus Package for 33 European countries.

ARC360 conference set to sell out

ARC360’s Future Vehicle Technology themed conference, set to deliver the highest calibre of attendees, contributors and debate in the UK body repair industry event calendar, is set to sell out. 

Taking place on Thursday 27 June 2024 at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, the event will provide shared insights, interactive exhibits and networking opportunity for the UK’s key persons of influence from across the UK vehicle incident repair and insurance claims sector. 

BASF at the Battery Show Europe

BASF will be showcasing its innovative power solutions at The Battery Show Europe 2024 in Stuttgart, Germany, taking place between June 18-20.

Gemini names Mac Tools as training partner

Gemini Accident Repair Centres has announced that Mac Tools is a new official tooling partner for its award-winning apprenticeship programme.

Toyota GB ‘real voices’ underpin IMI campaign

Toyota GB colleagues are sharing their career stories in the second phase of the IMI digital campaign, ‘There’s More to Motor,’ which aims to attract new people to the industry by promoting the opportunities within automotive.

Thatcham Research welcomes Labour’s ‘Plan for Drivers’

Jonathan Hewett, Chief Executive of Thatcham Research, said: “Labour’s ‘Plan for Drivers’ aims to address issues faced by UK motorists such as rising insurance costs, potholes, and Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure. Thatcham Research supports these goals, including Labour’s focus on reducing the cost of car insurance.”

Moped garages visited in drive to tackle ‘crash for cash’ fraud

Five moped garages have been visited by the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) and the City of London Corporation’s Trading Standards officers as part of the unit’s ongoing work to tackle moped-enabled ‘crash for cash’ fraud.

RWC Training opens doors to students

North Hertfordshire College students from the motor vehicle department benefitted from a tour and practical experience day at the RWC Training facility in Milton Keynes.

Inter-Est announces ERIC partnership

ERIC or Enhanced Remote Image Capture is Inter-Est UK’s new partner product for Inter-cept and Insight.

The AA joins Red Bull Soapbox Race

The AA is supporting the Red Bull Soapbox Race to promote its accident assist products.

NBRA/VBRA completes DEBRA UK charity challenge

Members from the NBRA/VBRA have completed a 53-mile walk and one-mile swim to raise nearly £10,000 for the DEBRA UK charity, which supports those living with epidermolysis bullosa.

Stellantis unveils multiple software-driven products

Stellantis is enhancing the mobility experience of consumer and commercial owners of vehicles from its 14 brands with a steady stream of new connected features.  

JLR invests £1m to support police tackling vehicle thefts

JLR is investing more than £1m in support of proactive policing to tackle the organised crime groups targeting vehicles in the UK. It will support several police forces with additional, dedicated resources to respond to vehicle thefts in hotspots across the country, as well as a new national policing unit to gather intelligence.

Polestar enhances side-on collision safety features

Polestar 5 has tested a new far-side airbag to prevent injuries caused by head impacts between drivers and passengers following a side-on collision.

XPENG G6 tops range and charging tests

XPENG Motor’s G6 model topped EV range and charging charts at the recent EI Prix NAF Summer Test when it travelled 330 miles on a single charge, while its battery went from 10% to 80% power in just 20 minutes.

BMW unveils in-vehicle 5G solution

BMW has integrated Transatel’s Ubigi personal eSIM solution across its model portfolio, delivering additional infotainment features and unlimited WiFi connectivity using Ubigi’s 5G UK data plan.

Rivian releases new Autonomy Platform

Rivian has unveiled the second generation of its flagship vehicles, the R1S SUV and R1T pickup, both of which include the new Rivian Autonomy Platform. Powered by 11 cameras, five radars, and AI prediction technology, the system is 10 times more powerful than its predecessor.