Daily Motor News – Monday 09 February 2026 

As National Apprenticeship Week begins, this week’s news highlights the motor sector’s continued investment in people, progress and technology. 

AutoRaise has launched the AutoYouth Alliance, a new national initiative giving young people a voice in shaping the future of automotive repair. It coincides with the Government’s pledge to unlock apprenticeship opportunities and the announcement of a new clearing system to match applicants with placements. 

Elsewhere, the UK’s EV charging infrastructure receives a boost with a £12m scheme to install 10,000 charge points across Kent. Meanwhile, Go.Compare has launched a Renewal app to simplify insurance admin. 

In tech, Waymo has introduced the Waymo World Model for hyper-realistic autonomous driving simulation, while OpenAI has greenlit insurance quote functionality within ChatGPT. 

On the ground, the AA has urged caution as flood risks rise, and new data confirms the Toyota C-HR as 2025’s most stolen vehicle. The UK’s used car market has seen a strong start to 2026, and apprenticeship numbers in the auto sector continue to rise. 

From future skills to future tech, the road ahead in 2026 is already taking shape. 

The Waymo World Model: A New Frontier For Autonomous Driving Simulation 

The Waymo Driver has traveled nearly 200 million fully autonomous miles, becoming a vital part of the urban fabric in major U.S. cities and improving road safety. What riders and local communities don’t see is our Driver navigating billions of miles in virtual worlds, mastering complex scenarios long before it encounters them on public roads. Today, we are excited to introduce the Waymo World Model, a frontier generative model that sets a new bar for large-scale, hyper-realistic autonomous driving simulation. Read more

Insight, strategy, and connection at the heart of ARC360 2026 

ARC360 2026 will return on Thursday 21 May at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, with more than 70 senior insurance leaders already confirmed to attend – alongside key voices from across the vehicle repair and motor claims landscape. Read more

UK weather: More than 100 flood warnings issued as further rain forecast 

More than 100 flood warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency as more heavy rain is forecast for Monday. The agency has issued 114 flood warnings across England, up from 89, while a further six are in place in Scotland, according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Read more

OpenAI greenlights insurance quotes within ChatGPT 

OpenAI has approved the first artificial intelligence application from an insurance provider on ChatGPT, enabling users to receive personalised home insurance quotes within the conversational interface. Read more

Carpenters Group CEO Donna Richards: A Positive Start to the Year Ahead 

Colleagues from every corner of Carpenters Group came together for a company-wide briefing led by our CEO, Donna Richards, alongside Chief Technology Officer, Karen Campbell. It was an energising session that celebrated how far we’ve come and set the tone for the year ahead. Read more

AA calls for drivers to take extra care on wet roads as flooding risk remains high 

The AA is urging drivers to take extra care on the roads as persistent downpours, combined with already saturated ground and surface water, increase the risk of localised flooding. UK-wide, January 2026 was around 17% wetter than average, and after weeks of rain the ground in many parts of the country is no longer able to absorb additional water. This means even short bursts of rainfall can quickly lead to adverse driving conditions. Read more

Cox Automotive Insight Quarterly: Q4 2025 

“From the growing influence of fleet led demand and tactical volume strategies in the new car market, to the long-term supply constraints still working their way through the used parc, the themes are consistent, complexity is increasing and traditional playbooks are becoming less reliable.” Philip Nothard, Insight Director at Cox Automotive Europe. Read more

Most stolen cars in the UK 

As reported in Cambridgeshire Live, the most stolen vehicle in 2025 was the Toyota C-HR Dynamic HEV CVT with 437 reported losses. This figure, based on data obtained by Tempcover via a Freedom of Information request to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) [1] , relates to the top 20 stolen vehicle reports made by police forces to the DVLA. It also indicates a shift towards criminals targeting hybrid vehicles more as we move towards a more EV-led industry. Read more

Used car market enters into 2026 with surge in buyer engagement, but supply headwinds loom 

According to the latest data from Autotrader, the UK’s used car market has started 2026 on a strong footing, driven by a combination of very strong consumer engagement, rising retail prices, and robust transaction volumes. However, while these fundamentals reflect solid underlying market health, the industry faces a significant structural shift in supply in 2026 that will require retailers to adapt their forecourt strategies in the months ahead. Read more

UK auto apprenticeships surge as sector builds next-gen workforce 

Britain’s automotive industry is in the midst of a major skills drive with the number of apprentices in the sector rising by 33% and new starters up 28% in 2025, according to a new survey of major employers by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). There were 1,699 apprenticeship starts in the last academic year, while a further 1,824 apprenticeship courses were provided to upskill existing workers in their current role. Read more

World’s first mass-produced pure electronic braking system to be launched in China 

Chinese carmaker Chery Automobile revealed that it is preparing to put pure electronic mechanical braking (EMB) into mass production for the first time anywhere in the automotive industry. The technology will make its commercial debut in the Exeed EX7, which is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of this year. Read more

TechCrunch Mobility: Is $16B enough to build a profitable robotaxi business? 

Waymo’s acceleration over the past 18 months is undeniable. The Alphabet-owned self-driving company now operates commercial robotaxi services in six markets, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, and Miami. It has plans to grow its fleet of driverless taxicabs this year to more than a dozen new cities internationally, including London and Tokyo. Read more

National Apprenticeship Week 2026 

National Apprenticeship Week 2026 takes place this week: 9 – 15 February 2026. The week-long celebration brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. Read more

AutoRaise launches youth alliance to amplify young voices 

AutoRaise has launched a new national initiative to ensure the voice of young people is heard in shaping the future of automotive repair careers. The AutoYouth Alliance (AYA), unveiled during National Apprenticeship Week, brings together apprentices, recently qualified technicians and emerging talent from across the UK. It aims to give young professionals a platform to share experiences, challenge outdated perceptions of apprenticeships, and contribute to wider discussions around skills, training and inclusion within the sector. Read more

Government vows to “unlock opportunities for young people across the country” ahead of National Apprenticeship Week 

Young people across the country are to benefit from a clearer path into apprenticeships, as the Prime Minister vows to “unlock opportunities for young people across the country” ahead of National Apprenticeship Week. Read more

Most smart motorways not value for money, say reports 

Many smart motorways are currently failing to offer the value for money expected when they were originally planned, according to newly released reports from National Highways. Two of the schemes, involving sections of the M25 and the M6, were found to be offering “very poor” value. Read more

Apprenticeship clearing system to be introduced 

A new clearing-style system will be introduced to match young people who miss out on an apprenticeship with alternative placements, the government has said. Similar to university and college clearing – a process which matches students with institutions that have unfilled places – the online platform will provide information about available roles in their chosen area of interest. Read more

Scheme to install 10,000 car chargers unveiled 

A new £12m government-funded initiative to install 10,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging points in Kent was unveiled this week. Kent County Council (KCC) awarded a 20-year contract to charge point operator Urban Fox to install sockets across the county. Read more

Go.Compare launches Renewal app to end insurance admin woes 

The money saving experts at Go.Compare have announced the launch of a new app designed to help consumers organise all their insurance policies, as well as other key dates such as road tax and MOT, allowing them to stay on top of their renewals and save money along the way. Read more

Most UK CEOs have had to adapt their strategic investment plans over the last 12 months in response to geopolitical and trade policy developments, according to the latest EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey.  Read more

WeRide, a global leader in autonomous driving technology, and Uber Technologies Inc have announced a major expansion of their strategic partnership to deploy at least 1,200 Robotaxis across the Middle East. The deployment, which will span Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh, is expected to be completed as soon as 2027. Read more

Sarah Brown has joined AXA Commercial as its new customer Business Resilience Director.