Next webinARC…
ARC360’s bi-weekly live webinARC’s will be back on Wednesday 21 April 1.30 – 2.15pm where we’ll be delving into the insights from the latest Trend Tracker, in partnership with ARC360 and NBRA, market survey.
Registration for the event will go live next week.
In the meantime, catch up on all the highlights from the recent ARC360 digital event week – The Future in Focus.
Still time to share insight
There is still time to participate in the Trend Tracker, in partnership with ARC360 and NBRA, latest survey: UK Body Repair Market – Emerging from COVID-19 lockdown, Spring of 2021.
The survey will form the basis of an industry report on the motor insurance market offering the very latest position as lockdown restrictions ease and the sector begins to look forward.
Aurelius acquires AutoRestore Ltd
Aurelius Equity Opportunities SE & Co KGaA has acquired AutoRestore Ltd – previously trading as Autoglass BodyRepair – from Belron International Ltd.
AutoRestore, a leading provider of mobile accident repair services, will complement Aurelius portfolio companies Rivus Fleet Solutions and Pullman Fleet Services which have offerings for commercial fleets focussing on light commercial vehicles and heavy goods vehicles, respectively.
Headquartered in Rushden, Northamptonshire, AutoRestore traded as Autoglass BodyRepair under Belron. Established as a division of Belron in 2010, AutoRestore currently operates a fleet of over 130 mobile repair vans, providing over 30,000 repairs a year to B2B customers, including insurance and fleet management companies, as well as growing its B2C offering.
SMMT reports market ‘growth’
The UK new car market recorded its first ‘growth’ since August 2020, with 29,280 more units registered during March compared to the same month last year, according to figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
At the same time 56,122 new vans were registered in March, up 85.5% albeit compared to first month of 2020 Covid outbreak, a 20-year low for the market.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “The past year has been the toughest in modern history and the automotive sector has, like many others, been hit hard. However, with showrooms opening in less than a week, there is optimism that consumer confidence – and hence the market – will return.”
Mark Bull joins M&M Group executive team
Staffordshire-based M&M Group, also trading as Fix Auto Stoke and Fix Auto North Staffordshire, has appointed Mark Bull as Commercial Director.
Mark has worked within the automotive sector for over 40 years, his most recent roles have been Market and Research Analyst of Trend Tracker, concurrently with being the Managing Director of Auto Body Projects Limited.
Mark will join the executive board and will work alongside M&M’s business development and operations team as the company bolsters its commercial opportunities.
Trend Tracker highlights key indicators
Trend Tracker is pointing to ‘encouraging signs’ for the sector with a host of data showing positive trends. It comes following its predicted repair volumes for March were less than four per cent out on Audatex ‘actual’ data.
Trend Tracker points to repair volumes being higher than March 2020 but still circa 30% down on 2019 (Audatex). This is further verified when considering CAPs data (‘CAPS data displays claims volume exchanged and may differ from data that shows new claim volumes’) which is trending up, yet is 33% below January 2020 baseline.
AGM Services commits to carbon neutrality
AGM Services has committed to become carbon neutral in the Summer of 2021 and aims to be the first company in the spraybooth service sector to achieve the accolade.
AGM has partnered with energy and carbon specialists – ECA Business Energy and will be working towards the PAS2060 standard for carbon neutrality.
