Daily Motor News – Monday 07 April 2025 

It’s been a busy weekend for the motor and claims sectors, with a string of updates shaping the road ahead. The UK government has relaxed EV sales targets, giving manufacturers more breathing room ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars. The shift is aimed at easing industry pressures while keeping the long-term transition on track. 

Meanwhile, the Financial Ombudsman Service is pushing forward with plans to resolve 270,000 cases in 2025/26, despite a surge in motor finance commission complaints, which now make up nearly half of its workload. 

On the road, March delivered record EV registrations, although marketshare targets were missed, and van sales continued to slide for the fourth month in a row. 

Across Europe, fleets are facing pressure too, with accident repair costs rising – especially for EVs – and new EU licence rules tightening oversight across borders. But amid the challenges, there’s progress too, with innovation driving forward new ways to recycle EV batteries. 

Rules on UK car firms relaxed ahead of 2030 petrol vehicles ban 

The government has announced a relaxation of electric vehicle (EV) sales targets to help the car industry in the face of recent tariffs from the US. 

A ban on producing new petrol and diesel cars will still come into effect in 2030, but manufacturers will now have more flexibility on annual targets as well lower fines. Read more

Financial Ombudsman Service sets ambitious targets for case resolution in 2025/26 

In 2025/26, we expect to resolve 270,000 cases – representing a 20% increase compared to the previous year.  

This commitment comes despite recent surges in complaints, most notably the influx of cases related to motor finance commission. These account for nearly half of our current stock of around 190,000 cases and cannot be resolved due to ongoing legal and regulatory action. Read more

Fleets face dramatically higher crash repair costs, especially for EVs 

France: An independent new study exposes the dramatic increase in crash repair costs and the higher cost of repairing electric vehicles. Both of these inflationary pressures will drive up fleet insurance premiums. 

Having studied 1.5 million repairs in 2024, the SRA (Sécurité et Réparation Automobiles), which provides technical and statistical studies for motor insurers in France, reported that average vehicle repair costs increased by 6.7% last year. Since 2020, repair costs have soared by 25.7%. Read more

Articles of Association approved at today’s IFB AGM 

The IFB is pleased to confirm that at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) earlier today, members voted to approve the new Articles of Association. Read more

Best month ever for new EV registrations but market share misses mandated target 

The new car market benefitted from a 12.4% boost in March as uptake rose to 357,103 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This growth, in the most important month of the year for the new car market, builds on the March 2024 performance, where uptake rose by 10.4%. As a result, this year’s ‘new plate’ month represents the best March performance since 2019. Read more

UK demand for new vans shrinks for fourth month running 

UK deliveries of new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) dipped by -3.2% in March with 51,221 vans, 4x4s and pick-ups joining UK roads, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The decline, while compared with a particularly strong March last year,¹ was the fourth consecutive monthly fall in new LCV market activity as weak business confidence continues to hold back investment in the very latest models. Read more

New barriers to innovation in the EU aftermarket intensify the need for an open data ecosystem 

The European automotive aftermarket is undergoing a swift transformation driven by sustainability initiatives and technological innovation, while adapting to evolving regulatory frameworks. Picking up the fast-moving developments of 2025 and the plans of the new EU administration, the 16th edition of the CLEPA Aftermarket Conference and annual check-up of the state of the European aftermarket ecosystem, highlighted the sector’s strong focus on data and software innovation.  Read more

Can improvements in vehicle electronics and electrical architecture hasten software-defined vehicle adoption? 

In this recorded webinar session, uncover the transformative potential of next-generation vehicle architecture and software-centric designs, emphasizing the critical role of vehicle electronics in accelerating the adoption of software-defined vehicles (SDVs).  Read more

Security Risks and Designs in the Connected Vehicle Ecosystem: In-Vehicle and Edge Platforms 

The automotive industry is currently undergoing a significant revolution, where software, electronics, and communication systems are becoming central to the concept of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). These new connectivity features are driving the development of intelligent and autonomous mobility solutions. However, they also introduce pressing challenges in the design of security mechanisms, which must ensure both the physical safety of assets and the cybersecurity of the entire connected vehicle (CV) ecosystem. Read more

Kawasaki’s wolf-inspired, four-legged robot lets riders traverse uneven terrain 

Powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, the CORLEO responds to the rider’s body movements and features integrated AI systems for enhanced balance and navigation. Read more

UK’s best auto apprentices selected for Squad UK for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 

The very best auto apprentices are setting out on ‘the road to Shanghai’, in an intrepid bid to do the UK proud on the international stage at the next WorldSkills Competition.  Known as the ‘skills olympics’, it will be held in Shanghai from 22-27 September 2026. Read more

New EU-wide driving licence rules impact fleets 

Fleet managers will have to pay closer attention to employee driving licences, following new EU-wide rules agreed by the European Parliament and European Council. 

The changes include a tightening of driving disqualifications, which means that a driver who loses their licence in one Member State will also be banned from driving in all other EU Member States. Read more

Chop shop gang targeted Porsches and BMWs 

Five men who ran chop shops where stolen Porsches, BMWs and Mercedes were dismantled have been jailed. 

The cars, which were worth £750,000, were taken apart at a farm near Dunsfold Aerodrome and at a location in Chertsey, both in Surrey. Read more

Where EV batteries go to die – and be reborn 

Batteries for electric vehicles are notoriously difficult to recycle, but growing demand for the rare metals they contain is leading to innovative new ways of retrieving them from used power cells. Read more

Silverlake Automotive Recycling has been awarded ‘Leading Hampshire Business’ status in the inaugural Hampshire Limited Report 2025, compiled by Grant Thornton UK Advisory & Tax LLP. 

Chris Wheelwright has started a new position as Client Director at Davies. 

Jamie Gibbs has been promoted to Head of Strategic Relationships at Solera Holdings. 

Gemini Accident Repair Centres Ltd has welcomed the 11^th cohort to its Multiskilled Apprenticeship Prorgramme. 

Mathew Mallett will leave his role as Executive Director, Digital and Information at the CII, in order to explore other opportunities.