Daily Motor News – Thursday 09 April 2026 

At last year’s ARC360 Conference, Paul Sell, Director at Trend Tracker, examined the ongoing decline in repair volumes despite increased vehicle usage. Drawing on long-term data, he highlighted how road safety measures, ADAS technology, economic pressures and changing consumer behaviour are reducing claims frequency. The session also pointed to a shifting market, with growing divergence between retail, fleet and insurance repair routes, reinforcing the need for greater collaboration across the sector. Read more

“Protection gap” emerges as drivers cut back on motor insurance 

Millions of UK motorists are opting out of full insurance to manage rising costs, leading to a growing “protection gap”, according to a vehicle finance provider. Close Brothers Motor Finance said that while 77% of drivers opt for fully comprehensive policies, many are “under-insured by omission” and are “treating their policies like building blocks” by retaining the base layer but stripping away extras. Read more

Motonovo owner to pull out of UK in protest at FCA’s ‘deeply flawed’ redress scheme 

Motonovo owner FirstRand Bank is to pull out of the UK in response to the FCA’s ‘disproportionate and unfair’ motor finance redress scheme. The South African banking group has hit out at the scheme, announced by the UK’s financial watchdog last week, labelling the model ‘problematic’. Read more

The UK’s safest cities and towns for road-users 

The UK offers a stunning, diverse range of urban and rural landscapes to enjoy from behind your handlebars. But some regions might feel safer to travel through than others by a country mile. So, we surveyed over 1,000 motorists (500+ being two-wheeler riders) and found that, while three-quarters (79%) feel safe on the roads, some factors jeopardise this – from road rage to night driving. Read more

To EV or not to EV…is this industry’s ‘Hamlet’ moment 

Stephen Morley, President of the Confederation of British Metalforming, addresses the white elephant in the ‘electrification’ room and explains why changing the direction of transition is imperative for protecting the UK’s automotive industry. “To be, or not to be, that is the question”. In Shakespeare’s classic, Hamlet contemplates existence, suffering and consequence. Read more

Vella Group Expands South-West Presence with Acquisition of UK Carbody in Bristol 

The Vella Group is pleased to announce the acquisition of UK Carbody in Bristol, to expand its footprint into the South-West of England.  UK Carbody is a highly regarded, award winning repairer with a strong reputation for quality, sustainability and customer service. Read more

Euro NCAP welcomes the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU) as an affiliate member 

The Swiss Council for Accident Prevention conducts research and offers guidance aimed at reducing the number of serious accidents in Switzerland. For nearly 90 years, the BFU has worked to make Swiss citizens safer both on the roads and in their everyday lives. Joining the safety programme will further reinforce Euro NCAP’s network of collaboration and advance progress in vehicle safety and accident prevention. Read more

Reborn Renaults achieve five-star environmental rating 

The original Renault 4 and Renault 5 delivered charm, practicality and affordability. As a result, both models proved popular with drivers throughout the oil crises of the 1970s. Now the reborn Renault 4 E-Tech and Renault 5 E-Tech, reinvented for the electrified age, look set to repeat that success after achieving a five-star Green NCAP sustainability rating. Read more

Mantis to push camera tech and claims control at RTX Northern Ireland 

Mantis will use RTX Northern Ireland to make the case for connected camera systems as a way for fleets to get tighter control over incidents, insurance exposure and driver safety. The business says rising claims costs and stricter insurance conditions are increasing pressure on operators to better understand and manage risk across their fleets. Read more

CollisionRight and asTech® Announce Partnership for Scanning and ADAS Calibration 

CollisionRight LLC, a leading regional multi-shop collision repair operator, and asTech®, driven by Repairify, a global leader in remote diagnostics, calibrations, and programming solutions, today announced a partnership to deploy asTech’s scanning and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) calibration technology throughout the growing CollisionRight network. Read more

£4.6bn opportunity puts UK auto in shop window for investors 

The UK automotive industry could unlock a £4.6 billion boost to domestic manufacturing by the end of the decade, as car makers ramp up requirements for British-built components amid the transition to electric vehicles, according to new analysis published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It shows demand for UK sourced automotive parts rising by 80% to 2030, creating one of the biggest opportunities in a generation for investors to back and benefit from the domestic automotive supply chain. Read more

Independent Validation Confirms Scientific Rigor of Greater Than’s AI Model for Crash Risk Prediction 

Greater Than, a global provider of risk intelligence into road safety and climate impact, has completed an independent third-party validation of its artificial intelligence (AI) technology by AI expert, Anders Arpteg. The validation reinforces Greater Than’s commitment to transparency while confirming the scientific methodology behind its unique pattern-based model. Read more

Insurance giant AXA UK & Ireland has hired Caroline Riddy as general counsel, replacing Emily Coupland who left back in December. Read more