Category: Technology

Bodyshop Briefs

• South Street Motors ARC has passed it latest ITAS compliance audit for Suzuki and Mazda.
• D. Gawthrope ACR has passed its Toyota & Lexus audit with a 100% pass rate.
• ABL 1 Touch Group has achieved BS 10125 certification.
• HB Accident Repair Network, which has named Richard Manson as Branch Manager of the Year, has unveiled plans to open more sites in the north west.
• Page Automotive Group’s Operations Director Shane Lawrence will take part in the Great North Run to raise funds for DEBRA UK. Read more
• DCR Systems has delivered and installed two wheel refurbishment solutions for approved Kia, Mazda, and Toyota dealership Burrows Motor Company.

Repairify celebrates European Patent

The European Patent Office has granted Repairify a patent relating to a Remote Vehicle Programming System and Method. This latest award aligns with Repairify’s global patents which it holds in the US and Australia as well as other markets, strengthening its position in Europe. Full story

Eurorepar expands Stellantis parts range

Eurorepar has extended its range of bumpers and grilles to include 66 front wings for popular models across the Stellantis passenger car and commercial vehicle brands. The expansion brings the total number of Eurorepar Body Parts available to 220. Full story

Volumes down again in September – Trend Tracker

The latest Trend Tracker monthly report has revealed that repair volumes in September were six per cent down on the same month last year and 11% below 2019 levels. Although slightly up on August volumes, there were still more than 8,000 fewer repair jobs carried out in the month compared to 12 months ago. Full story

Solera extends partnership with F&P

Solera has extended its strategic partnership with F&P, the Danish trade association for insurance companies and pension funds, by integrating its Sustainable Estimatics tool into the Autotaks platform. Full story

Government announces taskforce to tackle spiralling insurance costs

The government has created a new taskforce to identify the reasons driving up high car insurance costs and ensure drivers are getting a fair deal. Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, and Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Tulip Siddiq, will bring together industry groups and consumer champions such as the Association of British Insurers, Citizens Advice, Which? and Compare the Market, as well as insurance regulators, to tackle spiralling costs of car insurance. Full story

Industry bodies question government taskforce

Industry bodies have questioned the government’s decision to include representatives of the insurance sector on a taskforce established to tackle soaring premiums. The government taskforce, established to identify the reason for rising insurance and deliver fairer outcomes for drivers, comprises insurers and the Association of British Insurers, with some suggesting this will sway any outcomes. Full story

ROUTING – the theme of BASF’s 2024-2025 Automotive Color Trends collection

Every year, designers from BASF’s Coatings division create a new collection of colours to inspire automotive designers around the globe. ROUTING, the title of the 2024-2025 Automotive Color Trends, features new reds with intense purple shades, signifying a shift from darker and blueish reds. Full story

Team UK honoured at Houses of Parliament

WorldSkills UK celebrated Team UK’s remarkable achievements at WorldSkills Lyon 2024 at the Houses of Parliament in London. During the ceremony, 12 Medallions of Excellence were awarded to the Team UK members. Full story

Is the 2035 ICE sale ban target still realistic?

The European Union’s plans to phase out the sale of internal-combustion cars and trucks are drawing renewed skepticism from some industry groups and automakers, just as other automakers are urging the bloc to keep the planned target date. Full story

Martec Training Poised to Demonstrate Revolutionary AR Tech at Open Event

Martec Training is revolutionising its motor vehicle courses through the integration of Assisted Reality (AR) headsets; significantly enhancing the learning experience for students with varying levels of Special Educational Needs (SEN). Full story

Charity football match raises £20,000 for Debra in memory of Bob Linwood

NWVA’s charity football match held in honour of Bob Linwood, who passed away on January 17, 2024, successfully raised £20,000 for the charity Debra, which supports individuals and families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). Full story

Tiny number of drivers paid compensation for pothole damage

New research from Halfords has suggested that fewer than one in five compensation claims for damage to vehicles caused by potholes are successful. It has now launched a completely free ‘Pothole Damage Check’ for all UK motorists to help drivers check if their vehicle has been damaged by one of the estimated 11m potholes currently plaguing UK roads. Full story

Stellantis brings winning global portfolio to Paris Motor Show

Stellantis brands Citroën, Peugeot and Alfa Romeo presented new and upgraded electrified vehicles in their line-ups at the Paris Motor Show 2024. Meanwhile, the event also saw the debut of Leapmotor International, the Stellantis/Leapmotor joint venture focused on brining affordable, high-tech focused vehicles to global markets outside China. Full story

XPENG’s AI-defined mobility vision take centre stage

XPENG, a leading Chinese hi-tech car company, has unveiled XPENG P7+, the world’s first AI-defined vehicle, at the Paris Motor Show. The P7+ integrates advanced AI technology across the chassis, powertrain, driving system, smart cockpit, enabling the vehicle to learn from individual users’ behaviors and preferences. Full story

BMW to launch its first hydrogen-powered production model in 2028

After successfully testing the BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet worldwide, the BMW Group is now preparing for series production of vehicles with hydrogen drive systems in 2028. The series production models will be integrated into BMW’s existing portfolio. Full story

VW Emergency Assist video goes viral

A Volkswagen video showing how its Emergency Assist brings a vehicle to a stop after the driver is no longer responding has been viewed more than 50 million times on TikTok in less than a week. Full story

People

• The industry is mourning the sad loss of Andy Sargent, a Volkswagen Group UK Paint and Body Technical and Quality manager from 1986-2010, who passed away at the weekend.
• Winn Group has appointed Lorna Turner to its Business Development team.
• Direct Line Group has announced that Jane Poole has joined the Group as Chief Financial Officer
• David Vella has been appointed as GT Motive UK Managing Director.
• Thatcham Research has announced that Richard Billyeald, Chief Research & Operations Officer, has been appointed as the Chairman of the RCAR Steering Committee.
• Ian Mooney has started a new position as Commercial Network & Supply Chain Manager at sopp+sopp.
• Thatcham Research has partnered with Nurole, the leading board-level search specialist, to find an inaugural Independent Chair.
• Anthony Griffiths has been appointed Fleet Business Development Manager for CUPRA SEAT.
• JLR has announced new appointments to its Executive Leadership Team, with Steve Marsh appointed Executive Director, Vehicle Programmes, Swarna Ramanathan stepping up as Chief Strategy Officer, and John Beswick named Chief Transformation and Performance Officer.

Unprecedented EV discounting shores up September new car market

The UK new car market rose 1.0% in the key ‘74’ plate change month of September, to 275,239 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). In what is traditionally a bumper month for new car registrations, second only to March, the performance was the best since 2020, but still -19.8% off pre-Covid September 2019. Read more

Silverlake supports emergency services’ ‘Festival of Rescue’

Silverlake Automotive Recycling was a main supporter of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) when they hosted the UK’s biggest and most prestigious rescue competition on 27, 28 September. Expert teams of firefighters from 28 UK fire services and three international teams came to Portsmouth and Eastleigh to take part in the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) ‘Festival of Rescue’. Read more

Taking the partnership approach

Repairify Australia’s Global Director of Innovations Martin Brown has explained how partnering with Repairify gives collision repair workshops access to a comprehensive suite of OE tools, without the need for significant upfront investments. Read more

DCR Systems unveils PaintMatic

DCR Systems has introduced the PaintMatic, another cutting-edge machine crafted by its talented team in Portsmouth. It joins existing products H2O Blaster and DCR Pro. Read more

Nottingham College hosts ADAS course

Notttingham College recently hosted the IMI AOM230 accreditation course, designed for technicians working with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) at Emtec College. The event was supported by Gemini ARC. Read more

Wales to host WorldSkills UK National Finals 2025

Venues across South Wales will host the annual WorldSkills UK Competition Finals from the 25 – 28 November, 2025.  This marks the first time the event has been held in Wales. Read more

Leasys UK launches Accident Management and Fleet Safety services

Leasys UK has partnered with FMG to provide accident management and fleet safety services to its corporate customers. Available either as a combined service or separately, the new offerings will be available to corporate fleet customers with 25 vehicles or more, enhancing Leasys’ comprehensive fleet management solution. Read more

Leapmotor International opens orders in Europe

Designated Stellantis brand vehicle dealers throughout Europe are now playing a greater role in offering consumers clean, safe and affordable mobility by taking orders for Leapmotor fully electric vehicles, with deliveries set for later this year. The launch of dealer orders is a milestone for Leapmotor International, the 51:49 joint venture between Stellantis and Leapmotor. Read more

First images of Renault 4 E-Tech 100% Electric revealed

Renault has unveiled details of the Renault 4 E-Tech 100% electric’s exterior, in the buildup to its reveal during the Paris Motor Show on 14 October. Read more

Hyundai Motor hits major milestone with 100 million vehicles produced globally

Hyundai Motor Company celebrated a significant milestone, marking 100 million units of global cumulative production. This achievement was accomplished in just 57 years since the company’s foundation. Read more

BMW M Mixed Reality: New features to enhance the digital driving experience

The BMW Group is expanding its revolutionary driving experience with BMW M Mixed Reality, which breaks down the boundaries between the physical and virtual worlds through state-of-the-art VR/MR technologies. The vehicle itself becomes the controller – a unique 3D interaction between driver, vehicle and environment. Read more

New Vehicle Risk Rating model launching to help insurers keep pace with new and emerging vehicle risks 

Thatcham Research, the insurer funded global leader in automotive risk intelligence, announces the launch of the new Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR) system to improve the accuracy of vehicle insurability assessments. Developed with the motor insurance industry, this new model introduces a more comprehensive and dynamic framework for evaluating vehicle risks, evolving the longstanding Group Rating system. Read more

Sharing vehicle data: let’s not reinvent the wheel 

There are over 20 existing EU regulations governing the sharing of data from connected vehicles. These rules already allow consumers full control over their data while providing a fair and balanced system for third-party access. Despite the current load of regulations, the EU is gearing up to introduce yet another one. Read more

Copart Recognised for Setting the Standard for Roadside Safety 

Copart has received the IVR Roadside Safety Award 2024 in recognition of our commitment and innovative approach to training, setting standards, and leading by example when it comes to roadside safety. Read more

BSI launches Flex 1886 v2.0 

BSI has introduced the second version of BSI Flex 1886 System aspects for remote operation of vehicles – Guide. This updated guide offers practical insights on developing and managing remote operation systems for automated vehicles on public roads and in public spaces. Read more

NWVA welcomes more charity sponsors

AirPro Diagnostics, Campana Gardens and RH Bodyworks are the latest sponsors of the Bob Linwood Memorial Trophy Football Match taking place at The London Stadium on Tuesday 15 October 2024. The latest names join sponsors including: Copart, Entegral, JR Revell, RH Prestige Cars, Expedient Security, Boniface Engineering, AUGGIE, Vision Vehicles and Orbital Repair Solutions. The event is raising funds for DEBRA. Read more

Prime Minister overhauls apprenticeships to support opportunity 

The government is boosting opportunities for young people through ambitious apprenticeship reforms in England. 

The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson have announced a new growth and skills levy which will replace the existing apprenticeship levy and include new foundation apprenticeships. Read more

316 stolen vehicles recovered in intensification week 

The first intensification week as part of national policing’s Operation Alliances to tackle serious organised vehicle crime has concluded with 316 stolen vehicles recovered with an estimated value of over £4m. 

The stolen vehicles included cars, motorcycles, lorries, scrap vehicles and various vehicle parts linked to thefts were also recovered. Read more

RAC and Continental Automotive launch exclusive telematics partnership for fleet and business vehicle operators 

The RAC’s dedicated telematics division, RAC Connected, is offering business vehicle operators a safer and more efficient method of fleet management through a new partnership with Continental Automotive. 

In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Continental Automotive customers can choose from the RAC’s suite of telematics products, all of which help fleet managers reduce vehicle running costs. Read more

New figures reveal that more than a fifth of MOTs were failed last year 

According to analysis of Government figures by motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, more than one in five vehicle MOT tests in Britain ended in failure last year. 

The data revealed that more than 9.9 million out of the 43.7 million MOT tests carried out by mechanics in 2023 were unsuccessful. Read more

Annual increases in quoted car insurance premiums slow to 9.8% 

Price rises for car insurance are continuing to slow, but motorists still face an annual rise of 9.8% in average quoted premiums, according to the latest Consumer Intelligence Car Insurance Price Index. 

However, most of the increase occurred between August last year and December, with average quoted premiums remaining unchanged over the past three months. Read more

Insurance industry detects £1bn worth of fraudulent claims 

Cracking down on insurance fraud remains a top priority for the industry according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) as its latest figures reveal £1.1bn worth of fraudulent claims were detected last year, up four per cent on 2022. Read more

Hyundai Motor, Kia and Samsung Electronics Join Forces to Advance SDV User Experience 

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation announced a strategic technology partnership with Samsung Electronics to enhance the integration between software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and smartphones, aiming to secure a leading position in the mobility service ecosystem. Read more

High Mobility integrates Volkswagen Group vehicle data 

High Mobility is an authorised data marketplace partner for Volkswagen Group Info Services. This partnership provides access to a wide range of live vehicle data, including mileage, consumption, geolocation, and vehicle maintenance information, supporting various use cases. With all major European brands available, the High Mobility platform is the ideal access point for next-generation fleet operations and advanced fleet management solutions. Read more

Canoo launches commercial operations and activation centre in UK 

Canoo Inc, a high-tech advanced mobility company, has announced the company’s official launch into the United Kingdom market by establishing Canoo Technologies UK Limited, a new legal entity in the UK, marking a significant milestone in the company’s global expansion strategy. Canoo has selected Bicester Motion, an iconic automotive campus, as a key location that reflects the company’s spirit of innovation and commitment to sustainability. Read more

Hyundai Motor Company and Škoda Group to Collaborate on Hydrogen Advancement and Energy Efficient Solutions for Mobility 

Hyundai Motor Company and Škoda Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to commence collaboration on establishing a hydrogen mobility ecosystem. 

Ken Ramírez, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Commercial Vehicle and Hydrogen Business at Hyundai Motor Company, and Petr Novotný, CEO of Škoda Group, signed the MOU during the Korea-Czech Republic Business Summit in Prague. Read more

New study highlights green benefits of repair and reuse strategy

A study commissioned by VRA Certification in collaboration with certified recycler SYNETIQ, an IAA company, has confirmed the significant environmental advantages of repairing damaged vehicles using green parts sourced in the UK. The study, titled ‘Repair, Reuse, Replace’ was also in association with Allianz SE, Oakdene Hollins, and Metsims Environmental Consulting. Read more

IMI warns of dangerous shortage in ADAS-qualified techs

New analysis from The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has revealed that just two per cent of UK technicians are qualified to repair and maintain vehicles featuring Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

ADAS-equipped vehicles now account for 13% of the UK car parc, but there are just 4,425 individuals that are IMI TechSafe registered to work on them. Read more

European auto industry calls for urgent action as demand for EVs declines

A continuous trend of shrinking market share for battery electric cars in the EU sends an extremely worrying signal to industry and policymakers. European auto manufacturers, united in ACEA, therefore call on the EU institutions to come forward with urgent relief measures before new CO2 targets for cars and vans come into effect in 2025. Read more

NWVA welcomes more charity sponsors

Nationwide Vehicle Assistance (NWVA) has welcomed a host of new sponsors for its charity football game, the Bob Linwood Memorial Trophy Football Match. Entegral and Orbital Repair Solutions have joined the list of sponsors including Copart, JR Revell, RH Prestige Cars, Expedient Security, Boniface Engineering, AUGGIE and Vision Vehicles. Read more

IMI seeks industry input in NOS reviews

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is inviting industry input in a series of National Occupational Standards (NOS) reviews. The IMI announced in the summer that it is reviewing the following standards: Maintenance and Repair – Light Vehicle; Mechanical Electrical and Trim (MET); and Core Automotive – Health & safety. Read more

Cap hpi data finds EVs written off at half the rate of ICE models

Analysis from cap hpi has found that electric vehicles are written off at less than half the rate of petrol and diesel models. The study, which looked at data from 2015 to August 2024, revealed that just 0.9% of EVs under five years old have been written off. This compares to 1.89% of petrol and diesel vehicles. Read more

Mirka’s new €25m investment, first of its kind in the world

Mirka is continuing its journey as a market shaper and leading the whole abrasives industry by building an innovative circular grain manufacturing plant in Jeppo, Finland. The investment will reduce Mirka’s CO₂ footprint by approximately 5,000 tons and the first circular abrasive products will be launched during 2026. Read more

Roadside assistance and vehicle recovery operators can now apply for permission to use red flashing lamps

RAC has welcomed news that road assistance and recovery operators can now apply for permission to use red flashing lamps on their vehicles. RAC chief operating officer Dom Shorrocks said: “This is a landmark day for the roadside assistance industry as being able to use red flashing lamps will unequivocally improve the visibility of roadside workers and help save lives.” Read more

Campaign launched to reclaim ‘drive safely’ to save under 25s from life-changing crashes

As a new wave of young drivers take to the road this school year, new claims data on serious injuries from Admiral Car Insurance reveals crashes involving young drivers are ‘still too high’. Admiral’s own data shows drivers under the age of 25 are nearly twice as likely to make a claim for a crash involving a serious injury than a driver over 25. Read more

US: CLEPA joins call for independent operators’ ‘Right to Repair’

CLEPA, along with other sector associations, have co-signed a statement calling for independent operators’ ‘Right to Repair’ at their meeting during Automechanika 2024. The call centres on an urgent need for a fair level-playing field and robust legislative backing to address the rising competitive advantage by OEMs controlling the data generated by vehicles. Read more

How batteries will drive the zero-emission truck trans

Road freight vehiclesaccount for a significant share of global CO₂ emissions. Hence, minimizing their carbon footprint is a vital step toward achieving global climate targets. Over the past decade, governments, fleet operators, and truck OEMs have realized this need for action and have gone to significant lengths to make this positive change happen. Read more

Powerfleet Announces Strategic Acquisition of Fleet Complete

Powerfleet, a leading provider of AIoT SaaS solutions for the mobile asset industry, has announced it has entered into a definitive agreement providing for the strategic acquisition of Fleet Complete, a prominent player in connected vehicle technology and fleet management. Read more

UK recalls 10 times higher than in 1994

The rate of vehicle recalls has surged tenfold in the last 30 years, according to data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) analysed by The Car Expert.

It found that nearly 1.2 million vehicles from 41 different manufactures have been recalled to date this year. Read more

Euro NCAP begins Truck Safe testing

Euro NCAP has begun testing as part of its new Truck Safe programme. The programme has been introduced to tackle the disproportionate number of truck fatalities across Europe, where trucks represent only three per cent of all vehicles but are involved in almost 15% of road fatalities. Read more

Lucid Motors showcases latest innovations

Lucid Motors hosted its Technology and Manufacturing Day, showcasing its latest models and innovative technology, including what it describes as the most advanced electric vehicle plant in the world. Read more

XPENG to unveil the future of AI mobility in Europe at Paris Motor Show 2024

XPENG Motors will present a range of new technologies and solutions at the Paris Motor Show 2024, highlighting its commitment to intelligent, sustainable mobility solutions tailored for the European market.

Brian Gu, Vice Chairman and President at XPENG, said: “The European automotive market is undergoing a transformation from electrification to smartification.” Read more

How to use Hyundai’s Smart Sense safety tech in the all-new INSTER

Imagine driving with an extra set of eyes, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. That’s exactly what Hyundai’s Smart Sense does. This advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) doesn’t just enhance safety; it gives you greater peace of mind, so you can focus on enjoying the journey. Read more

Stellantis Pro One Inaugurates Global Commercial Vehicles Hub at Mirafiori Automotive Park 2030 in Turin, Italy

Stellantis Pro One celebrated a major milestone today, inaugurating its new global commercial vehicles hub at the Mirafiori Automotive Park 2030 in Turin, Italy. The hub brings together all functions that align the strategy and guidelines of the business unit to increase efficiency and speed in decision-making. Read more

Stellantis deploys AI-enabled innovations to boost manufacturing efficiency, sustainability and improve workplace

Stellantis manufacturing leaders embrace the challenge to discover and implement production processes that leverage workers’ talents, ensure product quality, improve efficiencies and produce vehicles and components efficiently with minimal environmental impact. Read more

BMW Group Design team implements new organisational structure

The BMW Group is completely reorganising its design division under the leadership of Adrian van Hooydonk. A new cross-brand design team will be launched on 1 October 2024 to meet changing demands for future-oriented vehicle design. Read more