Daily Motor News – Monday 16 December

Ageas reaches agreement with UK over 50s specialist Saga 

Ageas has successfully concluded the exclusive negotiations with Saga plc, the UK specialist provider of products and services for individuals aged over 50. The agreement includes the establishment of a 20-year partnership between Ageas UK and Saga Services Limited (SSL) for distributing personal lines motor and home insurance products to Saga’s customers in the UK. The partnership is targeted to ‘go live’ in the fourth quarter of 2025. Full story

Getaway gridlock: RAC predicts record 29 million festive trips before the 25^th 

An estimated 29.3m Christmas getaway journeys will be made by drivers to see friends and family in the run-up to the 25th – the highest number since 2013 – with nearly half of these (14.3 million) crammed into this coming weekend, according to new data from the RAC and INRIX. Full story

UK motor insurers to report profitable 2024, but enter the red again in 2025

The UK motor insurance market is expected to return to profitability in 2024, following two years of losses, according to EY’s latest UK Motor Insurance Results. A Net Combined Ratio (NCR) of 93% is forecast for 2024, following 2023’s loss-making NCR of 112.7% – the worst year on record for motor insurers. Full story

Minister announces commencement of the Injuries Resolution Board’s mediation service for motor liability personal injury claims 

Used market displaying unseasonal strength in December, finds Cap HPI 

Analysis from Cap HPI shows the used car market is performing strongly with average car values at three years and 60,000 miles declining only 1.1% month to date. Data experts predict the month will end with a fall of approximately 1.5% against an average decline of 1.3%. Full story

Announcement of new Ogden Discount Rate brings certainty…for now 

The Ogden Discount Rate is just one of many factors affecting the price of motor insurance. The reduced claim costs as result of new rate will mitigate some of the other cost drivers. Any reduced inflationary pressures on premiums will come as welcome relief to consumers following an average increase in motor insurance premiums of approximately 40% over the past two years. Full story

Trump team wants to scrap car-crash reporting rule that Tesla opposes 

Donald Trump’s transition team recommends repealing requirement that companies report automated vehicle crash data, but Elon Musk’s Tesla opposes the requirement, arguing it has unfairly targeted his company. Full story

BriefCASE: NHTSA ups the ante on ADAS tech evaluation 

The primary mission of the various New Car Assessment Programs (NCAPs) around the world is to enhance vehicle safety and inform consumers about how well cars perform in safety tests. Although a five-star rating isn’t mandatory for selling a car, falling short of this can put manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage. As a result, NCAP significantly influences car makers and the adoption of advanced safety technologies. Full story

The winner of the robotaxi race will come down to a few players. Here’s why. 

General Motors’ white flag in the robotaxi race on Tuesday just made the autonomous ride-sharing competition much smaller in the US, showing how challenging it can be for companies, even with the capital, to compete if they haven’t already made significant headway in autonomy. Full story

Unlock large-scale autonomous driving simulations on AWS with IPG 

Autonomous vehicle and advanced driver assistance systems are transforming the automotive industry to deliver safer, more efficient, and more convenient vehicles. Developing these features requires millions of miles of rigorous testing to make sure that vehicles correctly perceive their environment, make appropriate decisions, and perform reliably under varying road conditions. Full story

43% of drivers ignore dashboard warning signs 

New research from breakdown provider Green Flag reveals 43% of UK drivers ignore critical dashboard warning signs, with 15% ignoring illuminated warning lights in their car for more than a week. Neglecting vehicle alerts can put the driver and other road users at risk and can lead to costly repairs. Nearly 18% have broken down after ignoring warning lights, 10% have had an accident, and 11% caused damage to their vehicle. Full story

New survey highlights emotional toll of auto total loss claims on policyholders 

A new survey of US policyholders who have had a car declared a total loss found that how carriers communicate with policyholders significantly impacts their emotional state and overall satisfaction with their insurance carrier. It found 49% felt frustrated when they learned their vehicle was totalled and 55% felt they could have been better informed of their claim’s progress. Full story

LKQ Europe highlights the value of EV repair 

With 34 million BEVs expected on European roads by 2030, LKQ Europe is well on the way to electrification. Senior Innovation Manager Christoph Schon discusses why accessible and affordable repair and maintenance is essential for EVs to thrive at scale. Full story

EV repair in the bodyshop 

In 2024, Hertz decided to sell off many of its electric vehicles (EVs). One of the main reasons cited was that people kept crashing them. They also expressed concerns about the lack of collision shops willing to repair EVs and the lengthy period the vehicles would be out of service. But what was a problem for Hertz represents a significant opportunity for bodyshops. Full story