Daily Motor News – Monday 30 September

Global motor insurance premiums hit $922.5bn in 2023

Global motor insurance premiums reached approximately US$922.5 billion in 2023, according to a newly published ranking by Insuramore. Nearly half of the top 200 insurance groups saw significant growth, with 96 achieving annual increases of over 10% in gross direct premiums written (GDPW). Only 20 companies experienced a decline. Full story

Stolen cars worth £500k found in containers

Stolen cars worth an estimated £500,000 have been found loaded into two containers ready to be shipped abroad. Police and other forces found eight stolen cars in containers at Tilbury Port, in Essex. Det Insp Brian Palombella said car thefts have become the focus of serious organised crime groups. Full story

Vehicle crime in Thames Valley down by more than 13%

New figures which show vehicle crime has fallen by more than 13 per cent across the Thames Valley in the last year have been welcomed by the region’s police and crime commissioner.The stats show a significant drop in thefts of vehicles, thefts from vehicles, and vehicle interference. Full story

European Autos Challenged By EVs, China, Weak Sales, Profit Warnings

Trying to predict the European car market’s future used to be simple. But investors in Europe’s automakers now face a clutch of scary imponderables as the industry finds itself in the middle of an existential technology crisis caused not only by the advent of new technology – electric vehicles – but by government edicts that all Europeans must be forced to buy them if they want a new sedan or SUV. Full story

Uber terms mean couple can’t sue after ‘life-changing’ crash

A US couple who were left with life-changing injuries after their Uber crashed have been told they cannot sue the company because of the terms they accepted when using the app.State judges ruled they had clicked a ‘confirm’ button on the app on more than one occasion when asked if they agreed with Uber’s terms of use. Full story

UK government confirms it has no plans for pay-per-mile road pricing

Despite rumours and fervent campaigning from some quarters, the UK government has denied that it has any plans to introduce pay-per-mile road pricing this autumn. In an official statement, a government spokesperson said: “We have no plans to introduce road pricing. We are committed to supporting our automotive sector as we transition to electric vehicles in order to meet our legally binding climate targets.” Full story

Copart opens St Helens Operation Centre

Global leader in online vehicle remarketing and recycling Copart UK has opened a new Operation Centre in St Helens, Merseyside. St Helens is the fourth new Copart Operation Centre to open its doors in recent months, joining Corby, East Kilbride, and Gloucester. Full story

Ford updates BlueCruise

Ford has launched the latest version of Ford BlueCruise software – BlueCruise 1.4. Enhancements include automatically adjusting speed around curves, greater in-lane stability unlocked by an all-new motion controller, and longer hands-free engagement than prior versions when in diverse driving conditions due to inclement weather like rain or direct sun. Full story

Learning from Data: Volkswagen Group increases traffic safety for all

The Volkswagen Group aims to further increase traffic safety for all road users. The Group brands plan to use sensor and image data from customer vehicles in road traffic to continuously optimise driver assistance systems and automated driving functions. Full story

The Impact of Self-Driving Cars on Autonomous Vehicle Insurance

The self-driving car market is expected to grow rapidly to about $300bn by 2030, according to a report by Morningstar. ‘Insuring Autonomys: Analysing the implications of Self-Driving Cars for the Auto Insurance Industry’ suggests that personal motor insurance could almost become obsolete by 2044, with automation reaching a level where liability shifts from driver to manufacturer. Full story