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Catch up on this week’s webinARC showreel – the fascinating story of how the pandemic impacted the industry and how discussions evolved during the past year.
To accompany the release of the showreel and to continue to bring you the latest insights, we have also introduced our new bi-weekly format Market Intelligence document.
As restrictions continue to ease and the UK returns to some form of normality, ARC360 will continue to bring you the latest insights and updates from the sector with its new format of digital communications.
Claims volumes seeing positive uptick
Unique claims exchanges have exceeded November 2020’s exchange peak and are now at 66% of pre-pandemic levels according to the CAPS Claims Analysis Report for week ending 01/05/21.
Unique claims stood at 101% – up nine per cent – and supply chain transmissions 107% – up five per cent – compared to the exchanged peak measurement of 07/11/20.
Admiral’s Extra Mile raises over £5,000
Admiral’s Extra Mile challenge has helped raise over £5,000 for skills crisis charity – AutoRaise.
The Extra Mile challenge saw participants either walk or run 20, 35 or 60 plus miles throughout January and February 2021. Collectively, participants covered 10,262 miles, the distance from the UK to Australia.
30% of drivers concerned with accidents
A Co-op Insurance report – Covid and the car: After 12 months in the slow lane, how is the UK getting back in the driving seat? – suggests that 30% of UK drivers are concerned about the risk of accidents as roads get busier. Thirty per cent are also concerned at being ‘rusty and out of practice’.
Almost four out of ten (39%) said that the prospect of aggressive drivers on the road makes them feel anxious, with 36% of people confessing to feeling scared or nervous about the prospect of a return to pre-pandemic levels of traffic.
Trend Tracker sees ‘steady recovery’ emerge
Trend Tracker has revealed a ‘steady recovery’ is underway for the sector as Audatex data shows a return to 73% of April 2019 volumes.
The latest market insight, courtesy of Trend Tracker, highlights how April 2021 volumes proved to be slightly lower than previously predicted with future forecasts for May, June and July adjusted as a result.
Car registrations below average but LCVs boom
April saw an artificial 30-fold increase of new car registrations compared to the same month last year, but volumes remained -12.9% lower than the 10-year average at just 141,583 new units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
This year’s monthly total dwarfed that recorded in April 2020, when the first national lockdown effectively shut the country, and just 4,321 cars were registered.
Meanwhile, the light commercial vehicle market recorded its busiest ever April as 30,440 new vans were registered.
EMACS supports Mental Health Awareness Week
ARC360 Corporate Partner, EMACS is running a photography competition for both staff and customers as part of its support for Mental Health Awareness Week (10-16 May).
To enter, all you are required to do is take a photo of what you feel encapsulates the topic of ‘nature’ and upload it to social media tagging in EMACS Bodyshop Management Systems.
The winner, decided by a panel of judges, will receive one year’s National Trust Membership.
Employers declare no plans for full time return
Almost all of 50 of the UK’s biggest employers questioned by the BBC have said they do not plan to bring staff back to the office full-time.
Some 43 of the firms said they would embrace a mix of home and office working, with staff encouraged to work from home two to three days a week.
Four firms said they were keeping the idea of hybrid working, working from home some of the time, under review.
Currently, people who can work from home are still advised to do so.
Tesco Bank completes acquisition of Tesco Underwriting
Tesco Bank has completed the transaction to acquire the Ageas UK Ltd stake in Tesco Underwriting.
The decision to acquire Tesco Underwriting, originally announced on 14 October 2020, enables Tesco Bank to create an end-to-end insurance business that it claims is uniquely positioned to help Tesco shoppers protect their cars and homes.
Tesco Bank has acquired Ageas’s 50.1% stake in Tesco Underwriting for a total consideration of £123m, which includes reimbursement of a £21m internal loan.
Ben launches active challenge – Move4Ben
Automotive charity, Ben has launched an exciting new active challenge – Move4Ben – starting on 1 June to raise vital funds and inspire people to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
Move4Ben will challenge participants to exercise in any way they choose throughout the month of June and, at the same time, raise funds for Ben so that no-one in the automotive industry has to face life’s toughest challenges alone.
