Daily Motor News – Thursday January 29 2026 

The ABI has refreshed its governance structure to give greater decision-making to the lead committees for general insurance, long-term savings and health and protection. Now known as product boards, the groups will determine all policy matters in the markets they represent. Read more

SERMI: What body repairers need to know as UK rollout begins 

The National Body Repair Association (NBRA) is urging bodyshops across the UK to prepare for the arrival of SERMI – a newly approved certification scheme that will determine access to vital security-related repair information for modern vehicles. Read more

Meet the world of tomorrow 

Meet Tomorrow is created in collaboration with futurologist Tom Cheesewright and award-winning science fiction author and former astrophysicist Alastair Reynolds. The campaign sets out to create hope about the future at a time when only 17% of UK adults feel optimistic. Through this we explore the extraordinary innovations that could transform our lives by 2050. Read more

DAC Beachcroft: Motor and Casualty Claims Technical Update 

Welcome to our first Legal Technical Update of 2026. In addition to a wide range of news items, our case law section covers some 30 cases across 8 categories. Read more

The FCA, fair value and simpler rules 

In December, the FCA published its Policy Statement on Simplifying Insurance Rules, introducing greater flexibility around the timing of Fair Value Assessments (FVAs). The ABI is working with FCA and other trade associations including BIBA on how we can ensure that expectations for everyone involved in the distribution chain are as clear and simple as possible. If you’ve wondered ‘what does the regulator actually want?’, this blog aims to offer a clear, regulator led steer on how firms should approach fair value in practice. Read more

OEM-Led Insurance Ecosystems: Digital, Dealer-Enabled, Data-Driven Models (2026–2028) 

Will insurance and protection products become a seamless part of the digital vehicle-buying journey — or continue to sit adjacent to it? As vehicle manufacturers increase direct digital engagement, a central strategic question emerges: how to keep dealers meaningfully involved in ways that reinforce customer experience and long-term service value. Read more

Can smart car tech save lives? IAG tests driver assist systems in Australian-first study 

Australia: IAG, Australia’s largest general insurer, has launched a major field study to advance its landmark research into why Advanced DriverAssistance Systems (ADAS) vehicle safety technologies are falling short of their promise to reduce road accidents. Read more

Uber launches AV Labs to collect long-tail autonomous vehicle data 

Uber has launched AV Labs, a new team focused on accelerating the autonomy ecosystem by unlocking the hardest problem in the field today – a data flywheel that covers real-world, long-tail driving scenarios. Read more

Driverless taxis set to launch in UK as soon as September 

Waymo, the US driverless car firm, said it hopes to be operating a robotaxi service in London as soon as September this year. The UK government has said it plans to change regulations in the second half of 2026 to enable driverless taxis to operate in the city but has not given a specific date. Read more

Tesla cuts car models in shift to robots and AI 

Tesla says its annual revenue has fallen for the first time as the electric vehicle (EV) maker shifts its focus to artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. The company, which is run by multi-billionaire Elon Musk, reported a 3% decline in total revenues in 2025, while profits fell 61% in the last three months of the year. Read more

Tough year for Auto but new models and Industrial Strategy can deliver growth 

UK vehicle production fell -15.5% in 2025, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Factories turned out a total of 764,715 units – 717,371 cars and 47,344 commercial vehicles, with output falling by -8.0% and -62.3% respectively. Read more

New commercial vehicle registrations: vans -8.8%, trucks -6.2%, buses +7.5% in 2025 

The EU’s commercial vehicle market had a challenging year in 2025, with registrations falling across several major markets, a clear sign of the tough economic environment. The bus segment was the only exception. Read more

Ford’s 25% Parts Price Cut is a Win for Sustainability, Insurance, and Repair. 

Here’s some genuinely good news from the automotive world: Ford has just slashed prices on over 6,000 parts by 25% across 35 models built up until 2019. We’re talking about commonly damaged components like bumpers, doors, headlights, and panels, the exact parts that get dinged, scraped, and battered in everyday driving. And here’s why this matters far beyond just saving owners money. Read more

Europcar and vMobility launch vHire to reshape insurer-first mobility 

Europcar Mobility Group UK and vMobility have joined forces to launch vHire – a next-generation, insurer-first vehicle replacement solution designed to reduce claims costs, streamline mobility, and enhance the customer journey. Read more

Fix Auto UK strengthens London presence with Colindale appointment 

Fix Auto UK has expanded its footprint within the capital with the appointment of London-based A2Z Motors Ltd, now operating as Fix Auto Colindale. The signing marks the network’s first new appointment of 2026 and boosts its fully branded presence inside the M25 corridor to 12 sites. Read more

Waabi secures $1 Billion in new funding to lead Physical AI revolution 

Waabi, the leader in Physical AI, today announced it has closed its oversubscribed $750M USD Series C round co-led by Khosla Ventures and G2 Venture Partners, and secured an additional milestone-based future investment from Uber to support a new partnership to deploy robotaxis powered by the Waabi Driver exclusively on the Uber platform. Read more

New guide to help SMEs navigate insurance needs 

A new guide from the ABI aims to help the UK’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) better understand their insurance needs and address gaps in coverage. The guide breaks down the different insurance products and requirements for SMEs, which represent 99% of UK businesses. Read more

AX has formed a strategic partnership with ITAS, the global bodyshop management and training consultancy firm, to strengthen post-accident services for ITAS’s manufacturer partners. Read more

CLEPA has joined two new EU-funded projects, ‘PULSE’ and ‘Pre-LSDemo’, strengthening its engagement in Europe’s transition toward electrified, connected and automated mobility. Both initiatives address key technological and societal challenges, from seamless charging solutions to the large-scale deployment of Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM). Read more

As Water UK announce that the average annual water bill is set to rise 5.4% in England and Wales from April, new research has found that a third (33%) of Brits have taken out a loan in the last three years – with some revealing they are even using them to help cover rising living costs. Read more