Daily Motor News – Monday 10 February 2025

The news this weekend has been dominated by National Apprenticeship Week, with a number of organisations announcing new initiatives to support new talent entering the industry.

AutoRaise, the automotive industry charity, has announced a relaunch with a ‘Call to Action’ for bodyshops to address the skills gaps by tapping into the potential of young talent. It has also revealed that Simon Smith, Managing Director and Aviva Repair lead at Solus, will take over from Dave Sargeant, Managing Director of Gemini, as Chair.

Meanwhile, Fix Auto UK has announced a new partnership with Apprenticeship Central intended to showcase the many varied roles available in the sector, and Bosch Mobility Aftermarket has shared details of how it is investing in its own Automotive Apprenticeship programme.

In other news, an exclusive from Sky News has revealed that instances of ghost broking have risen by 30% in the last five years.

Another common motor fraud is clocking, which involves tampering with the mileage of used cars for sale. EMaC and cap hpi are now teaming up to compare data to tackle the issue.

It has also been reported by Pearson Ham Group that despite challenges, motor insurance premiums fell 2.4% in the first month of 2025, meaning prices have fallen 18.2% in 12 months.

EV transition drives apprentice recruitment as industry skills up for ‘growth decade’

Top employers in the UK automotive sector are investing in a major skills drive to grow apprenticeship numbers by almost a sixth in 2025, according to a new survey by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), as manufacturers embark on a ‘green growth decade’. More than 550 new apprentices already having joined the sector this academic year, with an additional 740 apprenticeships still available. Full story

Motor premiums fall but recent storms could disrupt home insurance prices

The latest General Insurance Price Index from Pearson Ham Group for January 2025 highlights a continued decline in motor insurance premiums, with prices falling by 2.4% in the first month of the year.

This marks the largest monthly decrease since May 2024 and brings the 12-month movement rate to 18.2%. Full story

Insurance DataLab partners with Flare to unlock deeper market insights

Marketing intelligence business Insurance DataLab is enhancing its data capabilities through a new partnership with AI specialist Flare, delivering deeper insights into underwriting performance, including life insurance and enhanced solvency data.

It says this new partnership will significantly enhance its data capabilities and expand the depth of its underwriting performance analysis. Full story

‘Ghost broking’: Reports of scammers selling fake car insurance rise by 30% over five years

Reports of “ghost broking”, scammers selling fake car insurance, have risen by 30% over the last five years, exclusive data obtained by Sky News reveals. Ghost brokers sell false policies to drivers, manipulate information given to genuine insurance companies, or take out insurance and cancel it straight away. This leaves people without valid car insurance, which is illegal. Full story

Tesla Cybertruck crash on Full Self-Driving v13 goes viral

A Tesla owner reported that he crashed his Cybertruck into a pole after hitting a curb while using Full Self-Driving, Tesla’s advanced driving assist system that Elon Musk claims will be unsupervised this year. The post is going viral. Full story

Motor finance compensation estimates balloon

Uncertainty around the likely impact on lenders of potential motor finance claims is growing, with Ayvens announcing it has set aside £77.4m for a potential redress scheme, and warning more may be needed, while research by US investment analysts suggests the total compensation bill for the industry could hit £28bn. Full story

Demand for used EVs rises to record levels as second-hand car market grows in 2024

The UK’s used car market grew by 5.5% to 7,643,180 transactions in 2024, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Marking eight quarters of continuous growth, the year saw 400,488 more vehicles change hands than in 2023, with growth in the new car market fuelling availability and wider choice within the used sector. Full story

Cash cow to money pit: Why GM decided to let Cruise go

General Motors had high hopes for its self-driving subsidiary, Cruise, with company leaders boasting that it would one day be a multibillion-dollar revenue stream. But it never made a penny. Experts identify a number of reasons why Cruise went from the promise of being a cash cow to its reality: a money pit. Full story

Stellantis and Mistral AI strengthen strategic partnership

Stellantis and Mistral AI are deepening their strategic collaboration to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) across multiple areas, from vehicle engineering to in-car experiences. This partnership leverages Mistral AI’s expertise in large language models (LLMs) and AI-driven automation to bring AI to many systems and applications across Stellantis enterprise, improving data analysis, streamlining development, and enhancing customer interaction. Full story

EMaC and cap hpi team up to help dealers identify mileage issues

EMaC mileage data points will be used to assist in the validation of vehicle mileages by comparing data held within the cap hpi database from various industry sources against the mileage presented by a consumer, dealer or other interested party. EMaC is supplier and administrator of service plans to over 500 dealers and 21 OEMs. Full story

AutoRaise relaunches with ‘Call to Action’ campaign to tackle industry skills crisis

AutoRaise is calling on UK bodyshops to take urgent action to secure the future of the automotive repair industry. The UK’s vehicle repair sector is facing a severe skills shortage, with over 5,000 vacancies currently unfilled and the gap widening each year. In response, AutoRaise is relaunching to inspire more bodyshops to take on apprentices and train the next generation of skilled technicians. Full story

Fix Auto UK announces Apprenticeship Central partnership

Fix Auto UK has given its full support to Apprenticeship Central, the unique recruitment organisation dedicated to serving the vehicle repair sector. The endorsement could not have been better timed as across the country businesses are celebrating the 18th annual National Apprentice Week (February 10-16). The national campaign echoes the wider need for employers to fill skills gaps to help grow their business. Full story

UK businesses unlock £106m in revenue by investing in management apprenticeships

UK companies that invest in management apprenticeships are reaping the rewards, with new research from Oxford Economics revealing that 12,100 apprentices added an extra £106.1m in revenue last year alone. Full story

Aviva appoints Craig Fazzini-Jones as Group Chief Operating Officer

Aviva has announced the appointment of Craig Fazzini-Jones as Group Chief Operating Officer, from 1 March. He will report to Aviva Group CEO, Amanda Blanc DBE, and will become a member of Aviva’s Group Executive Committee. Full story

Chris Payne has been appointed Head of DLG Auto Services at Direct Line Group.

Jordan Workman, an HR Business Partner at Aston Martin Lagonda, has become the inaugural winner of the Bunny Ennis Fund award – a new, annual training bursary to help advance the careers of talented and motivated individuals in the automotive industry.

AutoRaise has also announced that Simon Smith, Managing Director and Aviva Repair lead at Solus, will take over from Dave Sargeant, Managing Director of Gemini, as Chair.

Entries are now open for the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and the Personal Finance Society (PFS) Apprenticeship Awards. Applications are open to apprentices and employers across the UK until 31 May 2025.

The Financial Ombudsman Service has announced that Abby Thomas is stepping down as Chief Executive and Chief Ombudsman.