Daily Motor News – Monday 1 June 2026

ILC ARTICLE

1st June 2026

This week’s Daily Motor News highlights the growing influence of artificial intelligence, automation and data-driven decision-making across the insurance and automotive sectors.

Developments in autonomous vehicle technology continue to accelerate, with BYD announcing it will accept liability for at-fault accidents when its ‘God’s Eye’ driving system is active in China. Meanwhile, Wayve, Nissan and Uber have joined PAVE UK to support public understanding and the responsible deployment of self-driving technology, highlighting the increasing importance of trust alongside innovation.

Within claims and insurance, technology-led transformation remains a key theme. Admiral Group’s acquisition of Flock strengthens its position in the commercial fleet market, while research from Willis highlights how AI is reshaping risk management, underwriting and operational resilience.

Elsewhere, road safety remains firmly in focus. New RAC research suggests illegal mobile phone use behind the wheel is rising once again, while vehicle manufacturers continue to invest heavily in technology, including BMW’s collaboration with Mistral AI to enhance crash simulation and vehicle development processes.

Taken together, these developments demonstrate how rapidly evolving technology is transforming every aspect of the motor ecosystem, creating new opportunities while also introducing fresh considerations around safety, governance and consumer confidence.

BYD will pay for crashes on its FSD competitor, something Tesla never has

Electrek reports BYD says it will assume full financial liability for at-fault accidents that happen while its “God’s Eye” urban driving system is active in China – with no cap on the payout. Read more

Mobile menace: drivers’ illegal and dangerous use of handheld phones for anything other than voice calls hits eight-year high

More drivers admit to using a handheld mobile phone to browse the internet, text or share to social media than at any point since 2018, detailed new RAC research shows. The proportion of drivers who admit to these dangerous and illegal activities while behind the wheel has now increased every year since the Covid pandemic to reach 15%, having last been that high in 2018 (15%) and then falling to a low of 7% in 2021. Read more

Admiral Group completes acquisition of Flock

Admiral Group has today announced that, following regulatory approval, it has successfully completed the acquisition of Flock, a digital commercial fleet insurance provider with an innovative telemetry-based proposition. The transaction values the equity in Flock at £80m. Read more

Professional development is the answer to continued broker talent challenge

Aviva’s latest Broker Barometer survey finds that nearly three quarters (72%) of brokers are currently recruiting, down 2% from last year. This marginal decrease reveals a stabilising recruitment picture, but also signals a slowing of progress compared with the fall of 20% seen between 2024 and 2025. Read more

The surprising parking place that could cause an increase in your car insurance costs

A new study has found that drivers who keep their car in a garage overnight pay £24 more per year for their car insurance on average – despite it seeming to be a more secure parking location. The average annual premium is £647 for those who store their car in a garage, compared with £623 for those who usually park elsewhere overnight. Read more

Wayve, Nissan and Uber join forces with PAVE UK to support the responsible deployment of self-driving vehicles

Partners for Automated Vehicle Education United Kingdom (PAVE UK) has welcomed Wayve, Nissan and Uber, global leaders in self-driving vehicle technology and its deployment, as its first members to drive public trust and support the responsible deployment of self-driving vehicle technology. Read more

BMW Group and Mistral AI advance AI in crash simulation

The BMW Group and Mistral AI are partnering to advance the use of AI in crash simulation. The aim is to improve quality, accuracy and speed in complex engineering tasks. The collaboration marks a first step towards scaling domain-specific AI across further areas of vehicle development and the BMW Group value chain. Read more

Vertu technicians reveal drivers more frustrated by tech than engines

Infotainment systems generate more customer complaints than any other aspect of vehicle ownership, according to a survey of technicians and aftersales managers across the Vertu dealership network. Read more

Vehicle production steadies but sector faces rising trade protectionism

UK vehicle production fell -1.2% in April to 58,513 units, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Car output was broadly stable for a second consecutive month,¹ down just -0.7% to 56,135 units, while commercial vehicle (CV) output fell -10.9% to 2,378 units – its smallest decline for 13 months as the effect on numbers of the closure of one of the UK’s biggest van plants ceases. The overall performance still, however, reflects wider model changeovers and challenges in some key global markets. Read more

Carpenters Group Celebrates Success at the British LGBT Awards

Carpenters Group is proud to celebrate an unforgettable evening at the British LGBT Awards, where it was honoured to be recognised among organisations championing inclusion, diversity and equality across the UK. Read more

Willis: Leaders must move from caution to control as AI reshapes risk and resilience

AI is rapidly reshaping how risk is understood, priced and managed, but the rate of adoption is outpacing existing AI governance frameworks. New research from the latest Risk and Resilience review by Willis, a WTW business (NASDAQ: WTW) highlights how AI is being embedded across underwriting, claims, cyber defence, and operational decision-making. Read more

From insight to execution agentic AI for insurance

This Everest Group paper, supported by NTT DATA, highlights how the gap between insight and execution is becoming one of the defining challenges for the insurance industry. While most insurers have invested heavily in data, analytics and AI capabilities, many continue to face a fundamental challenge turning insight into consistent and scalable execution. Read more