Turning research into repair intelligence 

For many years, Thatcham Research has been recognised as one of the automotive industry’s leading sources of technical knowledge, research and vehicle intelligence. 

Speaking on the Showcase Stage at ILC’s repair sector event – ARC360 2026, Sean Richardson, Content & Research Marketing Lead at Thatcham Research, introduced delegates to AIQ, a new platform designed to bring much of that information together and make it more accessible to both insurers and repairers. 

The session provided an overview of the platform, its purpose and the type of information it contains, while also highlighting some of the challenges currently facing the repair sector as vehicle technology continues to evolve. 

Opening the presentation, Sean reflected on Thatcham Research’s role within the industry. 

Founded by the insurance sector in December 1969, the organisation has spent more than five decades researching vehicle safety, security and repairability, while working closely with manufacturers, insurers and repairers to better understand emerging technologies and their impact on the market. 

“We do a lot of research into a multitude of different technologies – electrification, automation and connected vehicles – as well as doing loads of things that benefit the repair sector around accidents, damageability and repairability,” he explained. 

Sharing 

According to Sean, one of the challenges has been finding an effective way to share that growing body of knowledge with the wider industry. “We’ve been doing lots of highly valuable research over the years but we’ve never really had a repository, a place to put those things,” he said. 

That challenge led to the creation of AIQ. 

Launched initially for the insurance market in 2024 before being opened to repairers through a soft launch in late 2025, the platform has been designed as a central source of intelligence, research and technical information. 

Sean described it as a way of communicating Thatcham Research’s research directly to the industry while also creating opportunities to better understand the challenges repairers are facing on a day-to-day basis. 

“We’re really interested to know any pain points you might have,” he told delegates. “Any repair difficulty you’re having and how AIQ can hopefully be of benefit.” 

Information 

Much of the presentation focused on the type of information available through the platform. 

One area is vehicle-specific research, where Thatcham Research assesses individual models and examines factors such as repairability, damageability, parts availability and repair costs. 

Sean explained that these reports are designed to provide a practical understanding of how vehicles perform from an insurance and repair perspective. 

“We break down the car piece by piece,” he said, highlighting how Thatcham Research’s engineers evaluate both the positives and challenges associated with new vehicle introductions. 

The growing influence of electrification was another recurring theme throughout the session. 

Sean highlighted several areas of research focused on electric vehicles, including battery safety, repairability and the wider challenges associated with managing EV repairs. 

One example is Thatcham Research’s work around high-voltage battery drain risk during repair. 

“HV batteries are a big thing in the repair market at the minute,” Sean explained. “How can you manage it safely, more importantly than anything, going into your bodyshops?” 

He noted that many repairers continue to encounter unfamiliar technologies as EV volumes increase, creating a growing need for reliable technical information and guidance. 

EV Blueprint 

Another significant area of focus is Thatcham Research’s EV Blueprint. Sean explained that one of the key objectives is helping the industry repair more electric vehicles rather than unnecessarily replacing batteries or writing vehicles off. 

“A big message we’re pointing out is the importance of repairing the EV over replacing the battery,” he said. 

He highlighted concerns around the growing number of batteries entering salvage channels and the need to develop better repair pathways and greater confidence in battery assessment. 

“We want to work with repairers and the insurance market to mitigate that as best we can,” he added. 

Megacasting 

The platform also contains research into emerging vehicle technologies and construction methods. 

Sean referenced Thatcham Research’s work on megacasting, a manufacturing process that has become increasingly associated with electric vehicles and was pioneered by Tesla. 

Using large single-piece aluminium castings in place of multiple smaller components can deliver manufacturing efficiencies, but it also raises important questions around damageability and repairability. 

“We looked at: is this a good idea or not?” Sean said. “How easy is it to repair and replace a massive piece of aluminium rather than multiple pieces?” 

Alongside research reports, AIQ includes access to industry events, technical updates, vehicle assessments, podcasts and wider market intelligence. 

The platform also provides updates on Thatcham’s engagement with government and regulators. 

Sean referenced the organisation’s involvement in discussions surrounding the Automated Vehicles Act, reflecting the growing importance of ensuring future vehicle technologies can be introduced safely and effectively. 

Knowledge sharing 

While the session focused on a technology platform, the broader message was about knowledge sharing. 

As vehicle technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, repairers are being asked to work with new materials, new systems and new repair processes. At the same time, insurers are seeking better information to support repairability, claims management and customer outcomes. 

Sean’s presentation highlighted the role research can play in helping bridge those challenges. 

By bringing together technical insight, vehicle intelligence and practical guidance in a single location, AIQ has been designed to help insurers and repairers make more informed decisions. And for Thatcham Research, AIQ represents an effort to make decades of technical expertise more accessible to the people who need it most. 

Supported by Corporate Partners Allscreens, BASF, e2e, Exclusive Repair Network, iBodyshop, Mirka, NWVA, Prasco UK, Repairify, S&G, Sherwin-Williams, Solera Audatex and Spire Drive, alongside sponsors Partly, Silverlake Automotive Recycling and Thatcham Research; as well as  Industry Body Partners AutoRaise, MIB, NBRA and Trend Tracker; and Vehicle Manufacturer Partner Stellantis, ARC360 2026 attracted close to 400 key persons of influence from across the UK vehicle repair and motor claims sector.