Daily Motor News – Friday 7 March 2025

Vulnerable customers encouraged to open up to firms to get the right support

Just 4 in 10 vulnerable customers say they have disclosed their needs to their financial services provider, new research commissioned by the FCA shows.

However, those that do open up tend to have better experiences. Three quarters of vulnerable customers who told their firm about their circumstances (74%) said that staff asked the right questions to understand their situation, 6 in 10 (57%) said their firm ‘cared’, and 58% said their firm took action to provide support they needed. Full story

Research reveals women worry MORE about car accidents than men

New research from Go.Compare Car insurance has revealed motorists’ biggest worries for 2025, and although men and women agree that fuel costs are at the top of the list, there are some differences between the genders in terms of car-related concerns.

The price comparison site surveyed over 1,500 UK drivers and found that 41% of people are worried about rising fuel costs, while over a third are concerned about the cost of insurance (37%) and potholes (35%). Full story

IFED puts more fraudsters before the courts

IFED (Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department) is continuing to put insurance fraudsters before the courts. This week, the defendants in two cases have pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them.
Touqir Nasir, 30, of Runley Road, Luton, pleaded guilty to ten counts of fraud by false representation and breaching the Financial Services and Markets Act.

In the second case, Jack Higgins, 38, of Brook Street, Bradford, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation. He made a fraudulent claim worth £59,987 against his car insurance policy, after he pretended that he crashed a hire car whilst on holiday. Full story

Covéa Insurance achieves prestigious companywide ICS Accreditation ServiceMark at Distinction Level

Covéa Insurance is proud to announce it has achieved companywide accreditation from the Institute of Customer Service (ICS), with a ServiceMark at Distinction level.

Covéa Insurance is the only insurer currently to hold this level of accreditation for its entire business operation, highlighting its exceptional commitment to upholding customer service standards across the organisation. Full story

Fastnet Underwriting Goes Heavy on the ‘Metal’ for More Accurate Motor Insurance Quotes with LexisNexis Vehicle Insights

Fastnet Underwriting, a brand-new insurance MGA in the Republic of Ireland is living up to its promise to use advanced technologies and processes to deliver fair and competitive motor insurance premiums to brokers. In a new contract with LexisNexis Risk Solutions, the data, analytics and technology provider, Fastnet Underwriting is now tapping into LexisNexis Vehicle Insights a suite of vehicle centric data solutions for more insight on the ‘metal’ at the point of quote. In addition, LexisNexis Risk Solutions will be supporting Fastnet motor insurance rating decisions as the appointed distributor of Thatcham Vehicle Risk Data (VRD). Full story

Zurich publishes Annual Report 2024

Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) today published its Annual Report 2024. The report includes: The Group overview, outlining Zurich’s strategy, featuring stories that showcase how it progressed on its journey towards innovation, customer-centricity, and simplification in the year 2024; The governance chapter, including the Group’s corporate governance report and the remuneration report; The sustainability report, including non-financial information; The risk review and the financial review, which have already been published alongside the Group’s full-year 2024 results on February 20, 2025. Full story

Top European safety groups warn against lowering standards with U.S. vehicle imports

Ten prominent European organisations in vehicle safety, consumer protection, and road safety have raised significant concerns about potential risks to vehicle safety standards in Europe. The warning, published in today’s Financial Times, comes as the EU and US negotiate future trade relations, prioritising a deal on the car sector. Full story

Global youth survey by Economist Impact, sponsored by Nissan, reveals electric vehicles are preferred mobility option

Nissan commissioned Economist Impact on a survey that targets the future mobility choices of young urban dwellers. The findings, based on responses from 3,750 participants across 15 global cities, reveal younger generations’ preference for electric vehicles, reinforcing Nissan’s ongoing efforts in electrification and commitment to sustainable solutions to meet evolving needs. Full story

In a class of its own – here is the all-new, fully electric Volvo ES90

Volvo has unveiled its first fully electric model that’s not an SUV. Priced at £69,000, the ES90 hatchback has a range well in excess of 400 miles. The Swedish brand is positioning the 5m-long ES90 as its technological flagship, thanks to a series of advanced features and mighty computing power that will allow it to be extensively updated and refreshed over the air with new, additional features during its lifetime. Full story

Alphabet CFO offers bullish view of Waymo as the future of transportation

Anat Ashkenazi, CFO of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, is investing big in AI infrastructure, but supporting other bets, like autonomous vehicle development, is also on her agenda.

In a fireside chat during the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference on Tuesday, Ashkenazi discussed Waymo, an Alphabet company that develops self-driving technology and ride-hailing services. Waymo is run by co-CEOs Tekedra Mawakana and Dmitri Dolgov. Full story

The Future of Technology: Trends In Automotive

The automotive industry is undergoing significant transformation driven by advancements in technology and changing consumer expectations. Rob Fisher, senior director of product management at Imagination and responsible for building partnerships within the automotive sector, discusses them in this webinar. Read the recap below for the key takeaways. Full story

Accelerating Women in Insurance

International Women’s Day, celebrated on 8 March, is a global day dedicated to honouring the achievements of women and advocating for gender equality.

This year’s theme, “Accelerate Action,” calls for decisive steps to advance gender equality and empower women worldwide.

The UK insurance industry has covered a lot of ground on the road to gender equality, but we’re not at the finish line yet. There are still obstacles to navigate to reach our destination of true equality. Full story

Women in automotive spotlight: Can you identify any challenges you’ve overcome as a woman in this industry?

The women in our industry face challenges unique to them, but their ability to turn obstacles into opportunities is nothing short of inspiring.

At the NBRA, we’re proud to showcase women who have not only built successful careers but have become leaders and mentors, helping shape the future of automotive repair. Full story

Marshall Motor Group to close six locations, jobs at risk

Marshall Motor Group is to scale back its partnership with Stellantis, leading to the closure of four dealerships: Peugeot showrooms in Canterbury, Ashford, and Peterborough, as well as its Vauxhall dealership in Peterborough. The announcement follows news that Marshall Motor Group will also close its Volkswagen dealerships in Horsham and Aylesbury by the end of March. Full story

IAAF wins ‘Industry Partner of the Year’ at CAT Awards 2025

The IAAF has been named ‘Industry Partner of the Year’ at the CAT Awards 2025, securing the prestigious accolade for the second year running. IAAF’s win, determined by a public vote, highlights the federation’s continued dedication to championing the independent automotive aftermarket, with strong competition also shortlisted for the award. Full story

Webinar: Using vehicle data to solve crimes

US: Learn how the world’s largest vehicle history database can be a game-changer for law enforcement.

Every vehicle has a story to tell, and with 75% of crimes involving a vehicle, access to comprehensive vehicle history data is crucial. Discover how vehicle data can transform crime investigations by leveraging the world’s largest vehicle history database, featuring over 36 billion vehicle history records. Learn how to leverage this information to solve crimes more efficiently. Full story