ABP Club Car Body Repair News - June 2020

Below is a news headline summary. The full bodyshop news stories appear on the ABP Club members' forum.

30/6/20 - 22:01		Solera - launch Qaptar, the first globally available AI-based solution that enables complete end-to-end automation of the claims workflow

30/6/20 - 17:44		Gethyn Davies - joins Victoria Turner at Hastings as Commercial Manager

30/6/20 - 14:12		Luke Hope, Apollo Motor Group Apprentice - link (below) to support fundraising campaign

30/6/20 - 14:01		Reminder - flexible furlough scheme starts tomorrow, 1 July

30/6/20 - 13:51		Government - �100 million for 29 road schemes and projects right across the country

30/6/20 - 12:52		HR Owen - provide copy of their 10-page "Covid 19 - Bodyshop Risk Assessment" for customers and others on their website

30/6/20 - 12:47		Sunday Times - some insurers accused of making cynical grab for furlough money from payouts for business interruption insurance

30/6/20 - 12:14		ABI - Craig Thornton of Lloyds Banking Group, appointed chair of the General Insurance Council to succeed Andy Watson, CEO of Ageas UK

30/6/20 - 12:07		Government - from 1 September, existing commercial properties can be converted into residential housing more easily

30/6/20 - 11:04		SsangYong Motors UK - promotes sales director, Kevin Griffin, to role of MD

30/6/20 - 11:00		RAC - 31% of all drivers plan to be on the roads next weekend - potentially making it the busiest weekend of the year so far

30/6/20 - 10:55		Deadline for Autocar Drivers of Change initiative extended to 24 September - to attract emerging talent in technology, digital and retail

30/6/20 - 10:51		The Taxi Insurer (Markerstudy Insurance Services) - welcomes customers back to its Hall Green office

30/6/20 - 10:25		Safe - new price-comparison site calculates UK motor insurers saved �1.289 BILLION during 10 weeks of lockdown as claims fell by 69.4%

30/6/20 - 09:53		Robert Half - over 70% of UK workers are re-assessing their career options post COVID-19; 28% are assessing their work-life balance

30/6/20 - 09:40		London Motor Show - returns to Battersea Evolution in July 2021; British Motor Show already scheduled for August 2021 in Farnborough

30/6/20 - 09:24		Geneva Motor Show - 2021 show cancelled; show's assets to be sold to venue with plans for show's return in 2022

29/6/20 - 22:30		McLaren Group (inc McLaren road cars and F1 team) - confirms �150m of further funding

29/6/20 - 16:57		BSi - launch new Kitemark certification for "Workplace Hygiene"; allows you to show that your business is back to business safely

29/6/20 - 16:38		MoT reintroduction - reaction and comments from RAC, SMMT, NFDA, IGA and IAAF

29/6/20 - 16:08		MoT - mandatory MOT testing cars, motorcycles and vans to be reintroduced from 1 August; testing capacity is now 70% of normal levels

29/6/20 - 13:37		Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act - largest change to the UK�s corporate insolvency regime in more than 20 years

29/6/20 - 11:29		Volvo - partnering with Waymo (self-driving tech firm from Google)

29/6/20 - 11:25		Nissan Motor GB - changes to its senior management team: Nicolas Verneuil (Sales Director) & Nicholas Thomas (Marketing Director)

29/6/20 - 11:05		Start Rescue - low cost breakdown brand awarded Which? Recommended Provider status

29/6/20 - 11:00		Motor insurance premiums drop by �50 in last quarter - av. premium �702 (lowest since 2016)

29/6/20 - 10:46		FSB - �23bn late payment crisis: majority of small firms hit by late payment as a result of COVID-19

29/6/20 - 10:36		Glass's - when compared to retail price inflation, how have new and used car prices changed since the start of the Millennium?

29/6/20 - 10:26		Robins & Day - signs all 62 of its dealerships up to What Car?�s New Car Buying platform

29/6/20 - 10:20		Thatcham Research - Automotive Academy reopens Mon 6 July for technicians needing IMI re-accreditation; apprentices to return in Sept

29/6/20 - 09:23		Anexo Group (inc DAMS) - 2019 results:

29/6/20 - 08:48		Car scrappage scheme - Government tells Auto Express: "We have no current plans to introduce a scrappage scheme"

29/6/20 - 08:41		Lookers - update on Grant Thornton investigation: �19m of non-cash adjustments necessary to correct overstatements in profitability

28/6/20 - 22:21		Road traffic - latest figures show that road traffic last weekend was 85% of normal and varied between 70% and 74% of normal on the weekdays

27/6/20 - 00:32		UN - new regulations on vehicle cybersecurity and software updates to pave the way for mass global roll out of ‎connected cars and trucks ‎

27/6/20 - 00:22		UN - new regulation on Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS) is global milestone for safe introduction of Level 3 vehicle automation

26/6/20 - 19:32		Mechanical garages - 50% are at half capacity; 44% of staff on furlough; 85% are carrying out vehicle sanitisation; 53% say no sales visits

26/6/20 - 19:13		Nissan Motor GB - appoint Nicolas Verneuil as Sales Director (replacing Andrew Sellars) and Nicholas Thomas as Marketing Director

26/6/20 - 17:47		MOT test - government consults on restarting MOT testing

26/6/20 - 14:11		Ford Motor Company - published its 21st annual Sustainability Report; intends to achieve carbon neutrality globally by 2050

26/6/20 - 14:02		Tremont Garage - Ford dealer in Llandrindod Wells, Powys, to close on 31 August

26/6/20 - 13:50		Mercedes-Benz Retail Group - shuts 3 dealers: Bromley, Caterham and Chelsea

26/6/20 - 11:25		PPG - celebrates one year of MOONWALK refinish paint mixing tech

26/6/20 - 11:09		Luke Hope, Apollo Motor Group Apprentice - link (below) to support fundraising campaign

26/6/20 - 11:00		SMMT - UK car production down -95% in May

26/6/20 - 10:54		DVSA - driving lessons, theory tests and driving tests to restart in England on Saturday 4 July

26/6/20 - 10:46		GlobalData - UK personal lines insurance to experience large declines in 2020 due to COVID-19

26/6/20 - 10:34		Aviva - number of unsafe vehicles on UK roads may surge as motorists forgo safety checks during lockdown and MOTs are extended

26/6/20 - 10:29		IMI - seeks applicants for Non-Executive Board Member role

26/6/20 - 10:22		Canada: Symach & CARSTAR Fredericton - how a Symach customer has kept the bodyshop running during COVID-19

26/6/20 - 08:49		EY - UK motor insurance market made a loss in 2019, will return to profit in 2020 (due to lockdown) and predicted to make a loss in 2021

26/6/20 - 08:38		Aston Martin - trading update: deliveries of new DBX SUV begin next month; dealer stock reducing; good progress on new strategy

25/6/20 - 11:11		Covid-19 puts brakes on car production lines, as the UK has the worst shutdown in all of Europe

25/6/20 - 11:02		Glass's - Coronavirus and Brexit: "perfect storm" of economic factors potentially impacting the UK car market

25/6/20 - 10:56		Ford and Vodafone - unlock potential of 5G to future-proof electric vehicle production

25/6/20 - 10:48		Oxbotica - autonomous vehicle software firm uses 'deepfake' technology to teach the cars of the future

25/6/20 - 10:41		London drivers have 4 accidents on av. over driving lifetimes � more than 2x more than Welsh drivers (1.5) and every other region

25/6/20 - 10:34		Coronavirus forcing young people off the road - 1 in 5 young drivers have stopped using their car as they can no longer afford to run it

25/6/20 - 10:31		IMI - provides technical expertise for innovative Student Solar Car Project with ambitious road trip planned for 2021

25/6/20 - 10:22		Eco Repair Systems - cost effective sanitisation system for bodyshops

25/6/20 - 10:13		LKQ - sees continuous recovery across business in Europe; the '1 LKQ Europe' integration strategy "continues to progress as planned"

25/6/20 - 10:13		SYNETIQ - multi-million-pound investment to expand Gloucester facility to create a flagship site

25/6/20 - 09:44		Claims volumes - ABP inundated with calls saying claims numbers are at around 60% - 65% of 'normal', much lower than 92% reported by CAPS

25/6/20 - 08:08		Auto Trader - results for y/e 31 March 2020: pre-tax profit of �251m on �369m turnover = 68% profit margin; 51m visits to website per month

25/6/20 - 07:48		NAHL - trading update; volumes fell by 75-90% at the beginning of lockdown; volumes currently 50% below pre-COVID levels

25/6/20 - 00:32		Volkswagen Group - reported to be in talks to buy back car rental group Europcar which they sold in 2006 to investment group Eurazeo

25/6/20 - 00:18		Bentley - had doubled its warehouse space in UK for parts, in case this year ends in a "no-trade-deal" Brexit

24/6/20 - 14:17		REMINDER - zero VAT-rating on PPE ends on 31 July

24/6/20 - 14:12		salvage - HBC Vehicle Services rebrands to IAA

24/6/20 - 14:01		Hyundai - aims to be one of the UK�s biggest providers of electric cars over the next few years with improved supply and availability

24/6/20 - 13:57		Ford - makes range of connected vehicle services using the FordPass app complimentary to European customers

24/6/20 - 13:50		Vauxhall - reveal all-new Mokka; pure-electric, petrol and diesel versions available from start; in retailers early 2021

24/6/20 - 13:22		Groupe PSA - extends its Distrigo multi-brand spare parts distribution service; Vauxhall brand is now fully supported

24/6/20 - 13:12		IGA (Independent Garage Association) - urge Government to end 6-month MOT extension as 1.6 million unroadworthy cars are now in on UK roads

24/6/20 - 11:23		CAPS - Kevern Thompson throws light on last week's sharp increase in unique claims, up from 69% of 'normal' to 92% of 'normal'

24/6/20 - 11:07		PPG - announces an exclusive global partnership with hailstorm automotive repair specialist, Car Solutions International

24/6/20 - 10:57		Lightfoot (in-car tech that cuts at fault accidents by up to 40%) - helps fleet boost fuel economy by 15%

24/6/20 - 10:52		RWC - broadens portfolio with new decal course for bodyshops

24/6/20 - 10:46		Ford - range of connected vehicle services complimentary to European customers inc remote vehicle health check

24/6/20 - 10:25		Thatcham Research - celebrating the bodyshop apprentices graduating in 2020

24/6/20 - 10:13		Jardine Motors Group - owners of Colchester Ferrari open dealership & service centre in Kent

24/6/20 - 08:00		Internet use - hits record high in lockdown with UK adults spending a quarter of their waking day online

24/6/20 - 07:36		Lookers - board shake-up; Phil White assumes role of Executive Chairman

24/6/20 - 01:12		Solera Audatex - uses AI to combine data and repair science to accelerate the adoption of automated estimating

24/6/20 - 00:42		IMI - data shows big shift in use of e-learning tools with 60% uplift in e-learning courses

23/6/20 - 14:57		Morelli - respond to questions about their new new 3-minute vehicle sanitisation system certified by the World Health Organisation

23/6/20 - 14:48		Solus - open their 18th site in Bolton with 25,000 sqft and 42 staff; first of 3 new sites planned for 2020 including W Yorks and E Midlands

23/6/20 - 14:34		Ford - calls for clear and consistent long-term, government-partnered strategy to achieve zero emissions vehicle sales target date in the UK

23/6/20 - 14:29		Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) - beware of scam emails regarding fake coronavirus business grants

23/6/20 - 14:17		PSA Groupe - Vauxhall van factory at Luton adds third shift due to European demand; 200 employees redeploying from Ellesmere Port to help

23/6/20 - 14:06		BMW - to be the first carmaker to enable its customers to use their iPhone as a fully digital car key for most cars made after 1 July 2020

23/6/20 - 13:48		Lockdown - a list of what can re-open from Sat 4 July (includes workplace canteens) and what can't re-open (includes conference centres)

23/6/20 - 13:17		Government - Prime Minister announces easing of lockdown restrictions; 2m rule becomes 1m+; details for businesses to be published later

23/6/20 - 12:10		Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furloughing) - government updates guidance on flexible furlough

23/6/20 - 12:02		CAPS - sharp increase in claim numbers last week; back to 92% of 'normal level' (eg February level) from 69% the previous week

23/6/20 - 11:46		Groupe PSA UK - appoints David March (ex Robins & Day) as Network Development Director

23/6/20 - 11:45		Government announces Advanced Propulsion Centre funding - �73.5 million to boost green economic recovery in automotive sector

23/6/20 - 11:41		The Floow - selected as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service�s (CCS); delivering driver behaviour insights to fleets

23/6/20 - 11:34		Goldman & Fine Group - specialist bodyshop staffing solutions; including ATA certified technicians and VDAs

23/6/20 - 10:35		Axalta - new refinish training facility in the Netherlands

23/6/20 - 10:24		L & I Eaton ARC - Apprentice Painter at L & I Eaton ARC Edinburgh, Rhona Marr-Wheatley, wins Edinburgh College Engineering Student award

23/6/20 - 09:13		ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers� Association) - radically revises forecast for 2020 European car sales to 9.6m, a record drop of 25%

23/6/20 - 07:31		SMMT - calls for restart support as Covid crisis threatens one in six automotive jobs

22/6/20 - 20:41		McLaren Group - takes legal action to secure "urgent" refinancing due to an "impending liquidity shortfall"; funds needed by 17 July

22/6/20 - 16:32		Northgate Garage - Fiat dealership in Canterbury, closed after 50 years in business and put into administration

22/6/20 - 14:30		HBC - salvage company rebrands as IAA; introduces technology transformation with wide range of new products

22/6/20 - 13:51		Morelli - offer 3-minute vehicle sanitisation system, developed by Aeret UK and SATA UK and certified by the World Health Organisation

22/6/20 - 13:42		Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)- Nikhil Rathi (currently CEO of the London Stock Exchange) announced as new permanent Chief Executive

22/6/20 - 13:26		Comparethemarket - motorists are nervous about the return of rusty drivers from lockdown as car usage begins to soar towards normal levels

22/6/20 - 13:22		Vauxhall - 2 dealers have closed (Perrys in Leyland and Donnelly in Omagh); Arnold Clark proposing to close their Vauxhall site in Greenock

22/6/20 - 13:06		Volkswagen -wants to use an open-source approach to refine elements of their software-based car operating system says Reuters

22/6/20 - 12:59		Motorpoint - over a third of people are planning to stop car sharing permanently in the wake of COVID-19

22/6/20 - 12:52		Cycling - over 1.3m new bikes bought in UK during lockdown

22/6/20 - 12:28		Co-op Insurance - motor claims have surged by a third in the last few weeks, following relaxation of lockdown rules

22/6/20 - 10:57		Solera Audatex - adds Tesla data within Audavin+ in the latest vehicle data release; boosting coverage of AudaVIN+ to 86% of the UK car parc

22/6/20 - 10:52		IMPROVE from Peritus (part of the ABP Club Training Hub) - live webinar on Tues 23rd June at 10.05am on "NO new normal"

22/6/20 - 10:41		Luke Hope, Apollo Motor Group Apprentice - Luke's dad thanks industry who are helping his son search for urgently needed stem cell donor

22/6/20 - 10:19		PPG Refinish - newly redesigned refinish website with info, tools, Technical Data Sheets and COLORMOBILE

22/6/20 - 10:08		BLM Law - personal injury discount rate in Northern Ireland to move closer to English or Scottish models

22/6/20 - 09:54		Alton Cars - reopen reception areas to the public

22/6/20 - 09:49		Unic International - UK-based spraygun cleaner manufacturer switches production to build hand sanitiser tower

22/6/20 - 09:30		London - from today congestion charge has increased to �15 day (was �11.50) and applies 7-days a week 7am - 10pm (was Mon - Fri 7am - 6pm)

22/6/20 - 09:13		Aston Martin - appoint Kenneth Gregor (ex-CFO of JLR) as Chief Financial Officer

22/6/20 - 09:09		Saga - trading update: "insurance business has been resilient; continues to make progress"; 79% customer retention; Bennetts sale on track

21/6/20 - 02:05		BMW - to cut 6,000 jobs in Germany

20/6/20 - 01:37		LexisNexis Risk Solutions - launch Vehicle Build, a new solution to better evaluate specific Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)

20/6/20 - 01:31		Aldi and Morrisons - extend their immediate payment terms for their smaller suppliers (under �1m turnover) until September

20/6/20 - 01:09		BMW and Mercedes - put temporary hold on collaboration to develop Level 4 automated driving (announced in Feb 2019); may be resumed later

19/6/20 - 14:47		Ireland - former CFO of RSA Ireland Insurance fined �70,000 and banned for 8 years for actions that "put policyholders at risk"

19/6/20 - 14:29		Coronavirus - UK's alert level is reduced from level 4 to level 3 which allows a "gradual relaxation of restrictions"

19/6/20 - 14:26		Dealer closures - Pentagon closes Alfa Romeo/Jeep dealer in Doncaster; JCT600 closes VW dealers in Rotherham and Newark

19/6/20 - 14:11		Road fuel - sales fell by 48% in April and May (petrol down 56%; diesel down 44%); Government fuel tax receipts fell by �2.4 billion

19/6/20 - 13:46		ONS - 30% of workforce was on furlough in May; only 42% of businesses with furloughed staff made up their salaries to 100% in May

19/6/20 - 13:25		IMI - motor retail shows tentative signs of recovery; 88% of automotive businesses are now trading

19/6/20 - 12:03		Hyundai Motor Europe - Michael Cole appointed President & CEO

19/6/20 - 12:01		FLA - "FCA, Treasury and the Bank of England must ensure their approach to forbearance and support for lenders are developed together"

19/6/20 - 11:33		USA: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) - self-driving vehicles could struggle to eliminate most crashes

19/6/20 - 11:28		RSA - what to look out for, the evolution of fraud during COVID-19

19/6/20 - 11:23		Car Dealers - can re-open in Wales on 22 June and in Scotland on 29 June (they re-opened in England on 1 Jun & in Northern Ireland on 8 Jun)

19/6/20 - 10:46		RAC - UK summer �staycations� favoured by drivers as further easing of lockdown restrictions mooted

19/6/20 - 10:42		Thatcham Research - Academy and facilities team are busy making Academy safe for colleagues and delegates to return

19/6/20 - 10:01		PSA Group and FCA Group (Fiat Chrysler Jeep) - EU regulators launch 4-month in-depth investigation into planned $50 billion merger

18/6/20 - 19:23		USA: Hertz Global Holdings - now in talks for a bankruptcy loan to enable reorganisation of business, reports Wall Street Journal

18/6/20 - 14:08		Road traffic - continues to grow; latest official government figures show on Monday (15 June) it was back to 74% of normal

18/6/20 - 14:01		McKinsey - how consumers� behavior in car buying and mobility is changing amid COVID-19

18/6/20 - 13:55		Ben - Men�s Health Week - link below to share with your team via email, WhatsApp or SMS

18/6/20 - 13:44		Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) - businesses risk penalty if they forget to reinstate VAT direct debit

18/6/20 - 13:43		DVLA - launches online service to change address on vehicle log book (V5C); new log-book arrives in 5 days rather than 6 weeks

18/6/20 - 13:35		SEAT - launch three new electric scooters

18/6/20 - 13:26		Crossland Solicitors - third of employers are fraudulently abusing the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

18/6/20 - 12:04		Solera Audatex and Service Certainty - announce integration of imageproof pro into AudaTarget

18/6/20 - 11:13		Auto Trader - dealers can now deliver direct to car buyers� homes via Auto Trader Vehicle Moves

18/6/20 - 11:06		Quarter of parents voluntarily reducing hours and salary to better balance demands of work and childcare

18/6/20 - 10:44		The IMI - urges motorists to get �locked down cars� checked by a professional

17/6/20 - 14:21		Motor Check - Sany Car system: 100% effective in sanitising car interior for 93p per vehicle; plug-in and leave for around 30 mins

17/6/20 - 13:38		Inflation rate - CPI fell to 0.5% for the 12 months to May 2020, lowest inflation rate since May 2016; RPI down sharply to 1.0%

17/6/20 - 13:31		London - from Mon 22 June congestion charge increases to �15 day (was �11.50) and applies 7-days a week 7am - 10pm (was Mon - Fri 7am - 6pm)

17/6/20 - 13:23		Autoglass - opens new centre in Reading and returns to full service across UK

17/6/20 - 13:19		NFDA - European car sales show slight improvement in May

17/6/20 - 13:11		Euro NCAP - improves tertiary safety by introducing a mobile app for first responders in Europe

17/6/20 - 13:08		Thatcham Research - Euro NCAP�s �Euro Rescue' app to save vital seconds in the post-accident �Golden Hour�

17/6/20 - 13:08		BGL Group - announce that Mark Bailie (ex RBS digital banking and NHS Test & Trace) will succeed Matthew Donaldson as CEO from 1 Sept

17/6/20 - 13:03		Audatex - Toyota GB to cover Bodyshop Image Capture costs for all Toyota / Lexus vehicles from 1 Oct until 31 Dec

17/6/20 - 12:51		MotorCheck - Sany Car portable device that uses ozone gas to sanitise vehicles in minutes for 93p per vehicle

17/6/20 - 12:45		Euro Car Parts - rebrands as 'LKQ Euro Car Parts'

17/6/20 - 11:15		What Car? - new cars are 5.4% less efficient than official figures suggest

17/6/20 - 09:59		CAPS - latest data shows motor claim numbers 4% during w/e Fri 12 June from 65% of normal (previous week) to 69% normal last week

17/6/20 - 09:35		Gas Vehicle Network (GVN) - renewable gas in transport could deliver more than 4.5 billion fuel cost saving per year

17/6/20 - 09:33		Colad - introduces two new rapid, multi-purpose cleaners for all interior vehicle surfaces

17/6/20 - 00:12		Cars & Christmas show - new event from organisers of British Motor Show to take place in Farborough on 28 & 29 Nov 2020

16/6/20 - 23:06		Concours of Elegance - to go ahead in the Hampton Court Palace gardens from 4 - 6 September

16/6/20 - 21:48		Goodwood - Festival of Speed event (9-12 July 2020) and Revival event (11-13 Sept 2020) have been cancelled and will be held in 2021

16/6/20 - 15:52		Government - green flash on number plates for electric vehicles to be introduced across the UK from autumn

16/6/20 - 14:15		Axalta - trading update: total net sale globally fell by 48% in April and May; expect "sequential improvement" in June

16/6/20 - 12:41		WorldSkills UK needs body repair apprentice champion to take part in a 'Teach Tom' tutorial video!

16/6/20 - 12:21		AGL - increased customer satisfaction during lockdown; brilliant NPS scores for Activate Accident Repair (bodyshop division)

16/6/20 - 12:00		Total Composite Solutions (TCS) - complete vehicle sanitisation with Ramsol (video)

16/6/20 - 10:51		Luke Hope, Apollo Motor Group Apprentice - Luke's colleagues and Steve Plunkett back campaign for bone marrow donors & funders

16/6/20 - 10:22		Fix Auto Ireland - J Donohoe Motors bodyshop in Enniscorthy now Fix Auto Wexford North

16/6/20 - 10:13		AX article - What is vehicle cloning, and how can you protect your fleet against it?

16/6/20 - 08:31		USA: Symach and DCR Systems - how the Symach-equipped bodyshop is dealing with COVID-19

15/6/20 - 14:53		Jaguar Land Rover - results for y/e 31 Mch 2020: pre-tax loss of �422m; sales down 12% to 508,000 cars; 1,100 contract-agency jobs to go

15/6/20 - 14:12		Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furloughing) - detailed rules published for the scheme after 1 July; part-time furloughing permitted

15/6/20 - 14:05		Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furloughing) - full official details of extension from 1 July were published on Friday 12 June

15/6/20 - 13:17		Auto Logistic Solutions (ALS) - opinion: "why the UK�s proposed scrappage scheme should be �fuel agnostic�"

15/6/20 - 13:17		LKQ - trading update: "Covid-19 effect through May 2020 has not been as significant as expected"; Q2 global revenue to date down 25%

15/6/20 - 13:13		BP - because of Covid-19, oil will be cheaper until 2050

15/6/20 - 13:06		InAutomotive - advice to hold a successful video interview with job candidates

15/6/20 - 11:01		RoSPA - started taking bookings for its in-vehicle fleet driver training courses, which will begin again later this month

15/6/20 - 10:34		Over 10 million UK drivers could see premiums increase post-lockdown as majority change their commute to drive to work

15/6/20 - 10:18		Thatcham Research - final webinar for Digital Members Month: Thurs 18 June at 11am on 'The Automated Driving Journey'

15/6/20 - 08:35		UVeye - interesting blog: "risk free" and "contact-free examinations of vehicles" for drivers reluctant to visit bodyshops

15/6/20 - 08:19		S&B Automotive Academy - running short courses from July

15/6/20 - 00:54		Admiral - considering $500 million sale of Penguin Portals, its price comparison business which includes Confused.com, reports Bloomberg

12/6/20 - 14:14		Nissan - cut 250 jobs at Sunderland due to falling demand for new cars following the coronavirus crisis

12/6/20 - 13:53		Europcar - new Bureau Veritas partnership to consolidate hygiene and sanitary measures for stations & vehicle fleets in 14 countries

12/6/20 - 13:45		Lockdown speeding - transport safety experts, TRL, remind public more frequent low-level speeding also has a significant impact

12/6/20 - 13:42		Tracker - �120k Range Rover stolen in just 80 seconds from a car park in Walthamstow, London - recovered with Tracker tech

12/6/20 - 13:38		Mercedes, BMW and Audi drivers most likely to have had their car MOTed during lockdown exemption

12/6/20 - 13:32		HSE - warning issued over KN95 facemasks

12/6/20 - 12:43		ABP Club Recommended Business Service Provider: ECA Business Energy - save up to 38% on your bodyshop energy costs

12/6/20 - 12:03		Please help Luke Hope, Apollo Motor Group Apprentice & 2019 Special Recognition Award winner at the ABP Club Knight of Knights

12/6/20 - 11:44		Auto Trader - half of car buyers comfortable visiting a dealership, but a third remain cautious

12/6/20 - 10:46		UK sees biggest fall in GDP figures since records began - down 20.4% in April due to lockdown

12/6/20 - 10:30		comparethemarket.com - premiums increase by �36 in May (after dropping to lowest level in 4 years in April)

12/6/20 - 10:10		CBI - prioritise jobs and training for the young to drive UK-wide recovery

11/6/20 - 14:14		London to Brighton Veteran Car Run - plans for 2020 event, due to take place on 1 November, to be revealed in July

11/6/20 - 14:07		Motofix Group - wins Citro�n Estimator of The Year 2020

11/6/20 - 12:35		Rolf Group - of Russia's largest car dealers a potential buyer for Lookers Group (reports: Auto Express & Car Dealer)

11/6/20 - 12:06		ABP Club Recommended Business Service Provider: ECA Business Energy - save up to 38% on your bodyshop energy costs

11/6/20 - 09:53		RAC - half of drivers still plan on getting their car serviced as normal, despite COVID-19

11/6/20 - 09:48		12% workers expect to be made redundant and 14% believe they will have to take a pay cut or reduced hours

11/6/20 - 09:24		Question on the Forum re Solvent Recycling

11/6/20 - 09:22		The ARC Group - four bodyshops sites (Chippenham, Bristol, Bristol Central & Weston) now open

11/6/20 - 08:55		Venson - 2 in 3 consumers would consider riding an e-scooter to work but 89% say Government�s proposed rider rules are unsafe

11/6/20 - 08:45		SYNETIQ - invests in new 11-acre Glasgow site

11/6/20 - 01:04		Vauxhall - production at Ellesmere Port (Home of the Astra) will not restart until September; some staff needed in Luton to build more vans

11/6/20 - 00:48		Big Motoring World - to open �14m used car preparation 'factory' with 10 paint booths and 72 ramps for new Carzam online sales business

10/6/20 - 14:09		Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) - woman sentenced for grossly exaggerated injury claim

10/6/20 - 14:01		WorldSkills UK - new digital resources launched to boost young people�s skill set and mindset

10/6/20 - 13:58		Ford and Volkswagen - sign agreement to jointly develop commercial vehicles, electric vehicles and autonomous driving

10/6/20 - 13:50		Audatex - free live 30-minute webinar at 10.30am TOMORROW (Thursday 11 June) - on how to get the best out of AudaProfile

10/6/20 - 13:39		Post mag British Insurance Awards - finalists announced inc Audatex, CAPS, Kindertons and Tractable with Ageas; ceremony is Tues 6 October

10/6/20 - 13:37		Post mag British Insurance Awards - finalists announced inc Audatex, CAPS, Kindertons and Tractable with Ageas; ceremony is Tues 8 October

10/6/20 - 13:13		ABP Club Recommended Business Service Provider, InAutomotive - employer branding can secure more job applications

10/6/20 - 12:59		What Car? - third of new car buyers delaying purchase in the hope of scrappage scheme-like incentives

10/6/20 - 12:31		MoneySuperMarket - Cardiff is the "bicycle theft capital" of England and Wales

10/6/20 - 12:26		EDT Automotive - bounces back with free installation offer

10/6/20 - 12:03		IFED - 66 year old woman sentenced for exaggerating her injuries following a car crash and making a false insurance claim worth �12,500

10/6/20 - 11:57		Brian Robson Coachworks - branded hand sanitisers for bodyshop customers

10/6/20 - 11:44		NBRA - "backtrack" on schools reopening disappointing for bodyshops "desperately short of work"

10/6/20 - 10:56		Copart (remained operational throughout lockdown) - shares best practice as other businesses start to reopen

10/6/20 - 09:39		AA - new Accident Management service [Accident Assist] goes live using ICE Claims from ICE InsureTech, part of the Acturis Group

09/6/20 - 13:28		ABP Club Recommended Business Service Provider, InAutomotive - "why work:life balance has to play a part in your job advert"

09/6/20 - 13:09		Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) - appoint new head of department, DCI Edelle Michaels

09/6/20 - 13:05		Fix Auto UK - surpasses �2 million in Government aid for bodyshop franchisees

09/6/20 - 12:42		Sopp+Sopp - sign three-year accident management deal with Wickes

09/6/20 - 12:36		Absolute Alignment - back to pre-lockdown level of sales

09/6/20 - 12:08		London Concours show - given formal approval to take place on 19 & 20 Aug; UK�s first major automotive event to take place since February

09/6/20 - 11:58		Insurance Times Claims Excellence Awards - finalists announced; they include National-ARG; ceremony is 1 October

09/6/20 - 11:32		Amaric Associates, UK importer of Colad � new Vehicle Interior Hygiene Kit

09/6/20 - 11:25		World Rally Championship (WRC) - COVID-19 forces cancellation of Wales Rally GB, due to have taken place from 29 Oct to 1 Nov

09/6/20 - 11:24		As we return to work, what will be the new normal?

09/6/20 - 11:17		Post mag Claims Awards - finalists announced; they include Nationwide with RSA, Audatex, CAPS, Tractable with Ageas; ceremony is 1 October

09/6/20 - 11:12		Vehicle production resumes at Nissan's Sunderland pant - 95% of dealer network now re-opened

09/6/20 - 10:36		Depollution Podcast from Salvage Wire - ABP Club's Chairman, David Cresswell appears on today's Podcast (link below)

08/6/20 - 13:30		SsangYong Motors - some dealers (although closed in May) took 50% of normal order take in a market that was down by 88%

08/6/20 - 13:27		Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) - consumer car finance market fell 94% April (vs April 2019)

08/6/20 - 13:11		RAC reacts to reports the UK Government is considering a scrappage scheme to encourage the take-up of ultra-low emission vehicles

08/6/20 - 12:50		Financial Ombudsman Service - motor insurance (9,690 complaints) tops most complained about insurance product this year (but down 15% y-o-y)

08/6/20 - 12:32		Electric vehicles - Prime Minister considering scrappage scheme to give petrol and diesel drivers up to �6,000 towards new electric car

08/6/20 - 12:24		SEMA Show- registration now open for 2020 show taking place from Tues 3 - Fri 6 November in Las Vegas

08/6/20 - 12:09		McLaren F1 and Sparco - video interview with Carlos Sainz and and his father

08/6/20 - 12:04		Jaguar Land Rover - takes unsecured 3-year loan of �560m from Chinese banks to secure cashflow as they are ineligible for UK state support

08/6/20 - 11:59		PPG - initiates a significant and broad global restructuring; targeting $170 million in annual savings

08/6/20 - 11:47		Amazon - 'No-Rush Delivery' offers �1 reward to help Amazon prioritise deliveries to customers with "urgent" needs

08/6/20 - 11:13		Cenex-LCV (Low Carbon Vehicle) event - postponed from 9 & 10 Sept to 18 & 19 Nov at Milbrook

08/6/20 - 11:12		insure the box - update on how the insurer's engineers currently fit black boxes safely

08/6/20 - 10:43		Porsche - ends factory involvement in the US sports car series that its currently 2nd in the championship in

08/6/20 - 10:35		CAPS - latest data shows motor claim numbers surge 14% during w/e Fri 5 June from 51% of normal (previous week) to 65% normal last week

08/6/20 - 10:12		Service Certainty - confirms CAPS Integration; 1,200 CAPS bodyshops and 65 work providers can now use repair damage image service

08/6/20 - 08:32		Lookers - 2019 results will miss 30 June deadline (anticipate by end Aug), shares to be suspended on 1 July; Deloittes resign as auditors

05/6/20 - 14:22		Axiom - how they are dealing with COVID-19 helped by their Symach equipment

05/6/20 - 14:06		Jaguar Land Rover - Castle Bromwich factory (home of Jaguar XE, XF and F-Type) to remain closed until at least 10 August

05/6/20 - 13:11		AW Repair Group - safe recalibration of ADAS the "hot topic" of this week's Thatcham Research webinar

05/6/20 - 12:19		Insure The Box - telematics insurer warns drivers of dangers with common medication

05/6/20 - 12:13		Allianz Insurance & Keoghs - 12 months for claimant in false �4,000 PI in private prosecution; "first of many"

05/6/20 - 12:12		Reflex Vehicle Hire - new online booking system for flexible vehicle hire inc. sales section with ex-hire vehicles for Trade

05/6/20 - 12:08		epyx - Fleet servicing and maintenance back at 60% of pre-coronavirus level

05/6/20 - 12:01		VRA, BVRLA, FLA and NAMA - industry bodies combine to provide unified safety guidance on COVID-19 and remarketing

05/6/20 - 11:56		Tracker - cutting the risk of unaccompanied test drives

05/6/20 - 11:43		Used car prices record 1.9% growth year-on-year

05/6/20 - 11:38		RAC - steady increase in traffic levels since initial lifting of lockdown restrictions in England on 13 May

05/6/20 - 10:16		USA: Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) - later model small cars have higher death rates, despite safety tech

05/6/20 - 00:59		Thatcham Research -calls for car manufacturers to fit a warning light if an ADAS system is compromised by situations like misalignment

05/6/20 - 00:32		Autovista Group (Glass's) - latest forecast for new car sales in 2020 estimates a 30.4% fall on last year to 1.61 million registrations

04/6/20 - 23:57		Bentley Motors - to cut up to 1,000 jobs, nearly 1 in 4 of its workforce of 4,200

04/6/20 - 19:13		Copart - announces the retirement of Nigel Paget, its CEO for Europe and the Middle East

04/6/20 - 13:59		York College - new state-of-the-art workshop facility to extend specialist motor vehicle and engineering campus will be ready in September

04/6/20 - 13:52		Auto Windscreens - all UK sites now fully open;

04/6/20 - 13:51		Makerstudy Group - 478 (out of 3,000) to lose their jobs, including 40 in claims; deal to by co-op Insurance has still not gone through

04/6/20 - 13:43		UK Carline - "we're open for business!"

04/6/20 - 13:30		DVLA - drivers granted 7 month photocard licence extension

04/6/20 - 13:29		GEM - appoints Neil Worth as its new chief executive

04/6/20 - 13:27		SMMT - van registrations down -74.1% in May

04/6/20 - 12:01		GEM - welcomes new report on the value of roads policing

04/6/20 - 11:46		NFDA - on latest SMMT data (new car sales down 89% in May)

04/6/20 - 10:47		RAC - fuel price rises on the horizon after further falls in May

04/6/20 - 10:07		Harris & Co - accountants explain the flexible furlough (from 1 July) Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)

04/6/20 - 09:37		Euro Car Parts - new product bundle to help repairers access essential cleaning equipment and PPE

04/6/20 - 09:26		SMMT - new car sales down 89% in May to just 20,247; lowest May sales since 1952; diesel down to 17% market share

04/6/20 - 09:03		Aston Martin - "strategic plan requires a fundamental reset" including 500 job cuts to "right-size the organisational structure"

04/6/20 - 08:56		Lookers - trading update: a further 12 sites to close; 1,500 redundancies; 55% of staff furloughed; fraud investigation report due end June

03/6/20 - 13:38		Audatex UK Webinar Registration: Thurs 11 June - 'AudaProfile: Product Overview'

03/6/20 - 13:33		CV Library - automotive job vacancies rise "staggering" 176.8% month-on-month

03/6/20 - 13:31		insurethebox - reveals 17-year-old men speed 130% more than women of the same age

03/6/20 - 13:29		HELLA - offers its knowledge on Park Distance Control

03/6/20 - 13:18		Venson - helps fleet managers by highlighting the difference between �value for money� and �low cost�

03/6/20 - 13:13		Apprenticeships - government confirms that colleges and training providers can begin face-to-face contact with apprentices from 15 June

03/6/20 - 11:56		S�nr and Post magazine - Lemonade tops Insurtech 100 index

03/6/20 - 11:39		Thatcham Research webinar: Thurs 4 June @ 11am - �Security: the transition from analogue to digital�.

03/6/20 - 11:29		Nissan - tells BBC UK Sunderland factory still under threat from no-deal Brexit

03/6/20 - 11:19		FCA - guidance for insurers to "consider the impact of coronavirus (Covid-19) on the value of their products"

03/6/20 - 10:54		McLaren Group - drafts in restructuring experts amid escalating row with bondholders reports Sky News

03/6/20 - 10:29		IMI - Steve Nash on #SkillsWorldLIVE podcast on Tues eve: requesting pause on "Apprenticeship Levy Clawback" due to the Coronavirus crisis

03/6/20 - 10:10		Admiral - saw 39% increase in accidental damage claims from motorists in England in two weeks after lockdown eased

03/6/20 - 10:04		JMK Solicitors - named Northern Ireland's number one personal injury law firm for 6th consecutive year

03/6/20 - 09:52		Groupe PSA, with its Brands of Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citro�n and DS Automobiles, supports the fight against COVID-19 by donating 50k face masks

03/6/20 - 09:23		Vertu - results for y/e Feb 2020: �7m pre-tax profit on �3,064m turnover; aftersales is only 8.4% of turnover yet 43% of profit

03/6/20 - 00:14		epyx (market leader in fleet vehicle management technology) - "who should pay for vehicle sanitisation?"

02/6/20 - 20:00		BMW - new 4-series coupe unveiled (G22); aluminium bonnet, front side panels and doors; pyrotechnic bonnet; controversial large grille

02/6/20 - 14:03		Volkswagen and Ford - anticipate signing final agreements in the areas of electrification and commercial vehicles in the near future

02/6/20 - 14:01		Ford - "What Volkswagen�s investment in Argo AI means for Ford�s self-driving vehicle business"

02/6/20 - 13:59		Volkswagen and Ford - complete their investment in autonomous tech startup company Argo AI; first commercial rollout scheduled for 2021

02/6/20 - 13:32		F1 - confirms first 8 European races of revised 2020 calendar; Silverstone has two races, Aug 2 and 9, but no spectators will be allowed

02/6/20 - 13:03		National Accident Repair Group (NARG) - forms a 400-location partnership with Prasco for the supply of parts

02/6/20 - 12:44		Ofsted - to review students� and apprentices� online further education experience

02/6/20 - 12:36		Ford - offers air filter that could help hay fever and allergy sufferers � and even reduce the transmission of viruses

02/6/20 - 12:31		CMA: Universal Components UK & 3G Truck & Trailer Parts - CV and trailer parts merger "raises competition concerns"

02/6/20 - 12:00		Transport Focus - 'Travel during Covid-19' tracking research (29 May 2020): 6/10 "more likely to drive in the future"

02/6/20 - 11:45		GT Motive - extends COVID-19 support package for UK Bodyshops until end of June

02/6/20 - 11:32		Motorpoint - delivers 1,000th car to customer's door since lockdown

02/6/20 - 10:51		Hyundai - contact-free sales and aftersales

02/6/20 - 10:39		RAC on 'Lockdown speeders' - drivers exploit coronavirus restrictions to speed excessively, inc "shocking" 81mph over speed limit on M62

02/6/20 - 10:36		Audatex Webinar - "Bodyshop Image Capture: Making best use of your FREE access": Tues 9 June at 10:30am

02/6/20 - 09:35		Allianz - nominated for 'Diversity Initiative of the Year' at 2020 Women in Finance Summit & Awards Series

01/6/20 - 14:08		Zurich - update on UK business interruption from one of 16 insurers involved in FCA test case July

01/6/20 - 13:58		NFDA - car dealers ready to safely welcome customers back

01/6/20 - 13:54		Lightfoot - launches FNOL (First Notice of Loss) service for fleet managers

01/6/20 - 13:50		JTAPE Face Shields - receive CE marking

01/6/20 - 13:12		IFED - man offers discount to NHS workers on fake car insurance

01/6/20 - 13:09		West Way - Jon Roberts appointed as managing director of West Way, Nissan�s dealer group

01/6/20 - 13:00		Fix Auto UK & Phil Ewbank (Fix Auto Rochdale) - produce promotional material to raise awareness of social distancing in the workplace

01/6/20 - 12:51		Bodyshops beware - millions of sub-standard masks and thousands of fake hand sanitisers seized at Heathrow

01/6/20 - 12:46		KVF Consultants - Workplace Health & Safety e-Learning

01/6/20 - 12:41		Motorline Lexus Cardiff - wins prestigious Lexus customer experience recognition

01/6/20 - 12:29		JCT600 Ferrari - new JCT600 Service Centres open in Newcastle and Kent

01/6/20 - 12:08		Copart - gets stamp of quality with ISO 9001 accreditation

01/6/20 - 10:43		CAPS - latest data shows motor claim numbers steady during w/e Fri 29 May from 52% of normal (previous week) to 51% of normal

01/6/20 - 10:07		The Bodycentre in Norwich - fantastic video from Sam Elwin to show what the bodyshop has done to reopen safety for staff & customers

01/6/20 - 09:39		Nationwide - reduce year end by one day, from 30 June to 29 June; accounts for period ending 29 June 2019 filing deadline now 1 Sept 2020

01/6/20 - 08:55		Marshall Motor Holdings - trading update: all 117 car showrooms re-opened today under revised, COVID-19 secure, operating procedures

01/6/20 - 08:39		FCA business interruption test case - Hiscox and RSA issue their responses

01/6/20 - 08:33		FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) - update on test case to seek court guidance on the validity of business interruption claims

01/6/20 - 01:29		Pendragon - Mail on Sunday reveals their new CEO, Bill Berman, has a drastic blueprint for company's survival

01/6/20 - 01:15		Tesla - Elon Musk qualified for �600m bonus (in shares) last week as first part of what could become a �45 BILLION bonus

01/6/20 - 00:58		Lookers - Sunday Times and Telegraph both have articles; findings of internal fraud investigation and 2019 results both expected this week