Daily Motor News - Monday 23 December

Aviva and DLG agree terms 

Aviva has announced it will acquire Direct Line Group for approximately £3.7bn. This follows an initial approach earlier in the month, which had to formalised by Christmas Day. The new group will hold about a 14% share of the UK motor insurance market and a combined home insurance share of around nine per cent. Full story

Embracing the future: How ADAS technology is transforming workshops and driving the automotive industry forward 

The automotive industry is undergoing a rapid transformation, with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) leading the charge. Today, nearly all new vehicle launches and registrations feature ADAS as standard, underscoring its growing prominence. In light of this shift, Phil Peace, Repairify’s international managing director, highlights key trends that workshops of all sizes should embrace to remain competitive and future-ready. Full story

FOS complaints data highlights persistent claims issues 

New data reveals claims-related complaints remain the dominant issue for insurers, with car insurance leading the way. Recent analysis of Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) data by market intelligence firm Insurance DataLab reveals that claims handling continues to be the biggest cause of customer dissatisfaction across the insurance industry. Full story

22 million drivers issued ‘do not travel’ warning on six key routes in UK 

22 million drivers have been slapped with a “do not travel” warning amid the prospect of ‘Manic Monday’ on UK roads tomorrow. Motorists and road users have been handed a list of the “crunch points” it is worth avoiding ahead of Christmas. Hotspots to avoid include the M1 Junction 10 to 15a between Luton and Northampton and the M42 Junction 3a to Junction 8 along the M40 to M6 interchanges. Full story

Mandate review must bring new year hope 

As industry awaits the government’s consultation on the end of sale date for cars fuelled solely by petrol or diesel, as well as potential changes to the zero emission vehicle mandate, there is pause for thought and reflection on 2024 – a year in which the UK automotive sector, and the global industry, has faced strong headwinds as it seeks to decarbonise. Full story

E-scooter crackdown for city centre 

A crackdown on people riding privately owned e-scooters in Nottingham city centre will take place before Christmas. Nottinghamshire Police said neighbourhood teams would patrol the streets on Monday to stop riders and explain the use of e-scooters in public areas is illegal unless hired as part of a government-approved scheme. Full story

Mechanic gets prison after joyriding in customer’s vehicle 

A mechanic demonstrated “pure stupidity” when he took out a customer’s vehicle which had been left for repairs, Belfast Crown Court heard this month. He drove the Nissan from the garage to a local shopping centre, despite being banned from driving, and while there he shoplifted a set of jump leads. Full story

10 automotive technology innovations that were total failures 

Innovation has always driven the automotive industry, with manufacturers constantly pushing the boundaries of technology to enhance driving comfort, safety, and performance. Yet, not every idea is destined for success. Full story

CV output dips in November with strategy needed to secure long-term growth 

UK commercial vehicle (CV) output dipped for the second month in a row in November, down 4.1% with 12,749 units leaving factories, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Full story

Volkswagen announces future layoffs, production changes to cut costs 

Volkswagen has reached an agreement with its works council after marathon negotiations to protect its German workforce in the immediate future – but production changes in coming years will result in 35,000 jobs being lost by 2030. Reuters reports a 70-hour negotiation between Volkswagen and its works council concluded over the weekend, resulting in a joint agreement titled ‘Future Volkswagen’. Full story

Honda and Nissan announce plans to merge after the Japanese car giants struggle to match rivals in electric vehicles 

Japanese car giants, Honda and Nissan, have announced plans to merge. That would make them the third largest car maker by sales, behind Toyota Motor Corp and Volkswagen AG. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding, which would also include the smaller Nissan Alliance member, Mitsubishi Motors, in the talks on integration. Full story

Man jailed for £100,000 ‘crash for cash’ plot 

A man has been jailed and two men have been sentenced for an unsuccessful ‘crash for cash’ plot, which could have cost LV= General Insurance £102,827. Two of the men deliberately staged a collision between two cars, including an Aston Martin that they falsely stated was worth around £60,000, and went on to submit claims on insurance. Full story

Direct Line launches on Price Comparison websites 

Direct Line Group has announced it is launching three new Direct Line branded Motor insurance products on Compare the Market, a leading price comparison website. The Group plans to expand availability of these products across other price comparison sites through the course of 2025. Full story

CII: ‘Every insurance claimant should be treated as vulnerable’ 

The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) has published a summary of the findings from its recent ‘Road to Consumer Trust’ roundtable. According to the report, some firms still struggle with defining or identifying vulnerability. It suggests that ‘every insurance claimant should be treated as vulnerable by default as they are often in stressful situations and lack insurance expertise’. Full story

Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Automotive Industry to start in January 

On 27 November 2024, in a speech to the European Parliament, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced her decision to convene a Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Automotive Industry in Europe. The Dialogue will be officially launched already in January 2025, with a view to swiftly proposing and implementing measures the sector urgently needs. Full story

EU car and van makers urge action on CO2 rules before end of 2024 to avoid damage to competitiveness and jobs 

Europe’s car and van makers call on EU decision makers to create clarity for jobs and investments before the end of the year to support rather than hinder the green transition and avoid unnecessary damage to Europe’s competitiveness. Full story

NHTSA proposes national program for vehicles with automated driving systems 

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed a voluntary national framework for the evaluation and oversight of certain vehicles equipped with automated driving systems. The ADS-equipped Vehicle Safety, Transparency, and Evaluation Program, known as AV STEP, would establish a voluntary review and reporting framework for participating ADS-equipped vehicles. Full story

Briefs

L&I Eaton ARC has announced it will open a new site in Kirkby, Nottingham, next month.

Tony Young has announced he is leaving ITAS after 20 years with the company.

Saunders Cowie has started a new position as Head of Bodyshop at Group 1 Automotive.

Mark Newnes is stepping down from him post as Divisional Director at C&C Vehicle Services, which is now owned by Steer Group.