Daily Motor News – Tuesday 03 March 2026 

Marcel Wendt, Founder and CTO of Digidentity, added, ‘The launch of SERMI in the UK marks a pivotal shift toward a more secure and transparent automotive landscape. As the UK Trust Centre, Digidentity is proud to provide the rigorous verification infrastructure that makes this possible. Our role is to ensure that every ‘digital passport’ issued is backed by the highest standards of identity and business validation.” Read more

Thatcham Research launches EV Blueprint to tackle unnecessary write-offs 

Thatcham Research has unveiled a comprehensive new Electric Vehicle (EV) Blueprint aimed at addressing the growing challenge of unnecessary EV write-offs driven by insurability and repair costs. The framework sets out eight practical requirements designed to ensure battery electric vehicles can be safely assessed, efficiently repaired and economically maintained throughout their lifecycle. The initiative comes as concerns grow that even minor battery damage can result in total loss decisions, particularly as vehicles depreciate. Read more

Worst regions for car collisions revealed 

A recent study has uncovered the areas of the UK that see the most car accidents, with one in five of all collisions taking place in London. This suggests the capital could be the most dangerous place to drive in the UK.  Read more

Zurich and Beazley reach agreement on £8.1bn transaction 

An agreement has now been reached for global insurer Zurich to acquire London-headquartered specialist insurer Beazley in an £8.1 billion (USD 10.8bn) all-cash transaction, bringing together “two highly complementary businesses to establish a global leader in Specialty insurance.” Read more

Government launches new Motor Insurance Transparency Code to enhance consumer understanding and trust 

Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Robert Troy TD, has today published the Motor Insurance Transparency Code, a priority action under the Action Plan for Insurance Reform 2025–2029. Developed by a working group comprising of insurers and intermediaries, with the support of the Department of Finance and the Central Bank of Ireland, the Code will enhance trust, clarity, transparency, and understanding in how motor insurance premiums are presented to consumers. Read more

CEO insights – why reliability matters more than ever 

In today’s insurance landscape, sustainability is often spoken about through the lens of ESG. But for those of us operating within the insurance and legal services supply chain, there’s another form of sustainability that matters just as much: the ability to endure. Read more

New car registrations: up 7.4% in February 2026; Battery Electric Vehicles up 14.4% 

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today released its official 261 new vehicle registration statistics for February. New car registrations for February were up 7.4% (15,033) compared to February 2025 (13,994). Registrations year to date are up 4.3% (49,557) on the same period last year (47,493). Read more

BYD reveals the ‘world’s longest-range EV’ that can drive 1,036 km on a single charge 

BYD is launching fully electric vehicles with over 1,000 km (620 miles) CLTC range. After previewing the new Denza Z9 GT, BYD claimed it is “the world’s longest pure electric driving range vehicle.” Read more

Map-powered automated driving is winning the industry over 

There are many ways you can build an automated vehicle. You must devise a way for the car to “see” the world, choosing from a host of sensors: stereo cameras, LiDAR, GPS/GNSS, radar, sonar and speed for example. Then you must blend these together with software, so the vehicle can understand its environment. Read more

SERMI Launches with Rigorous, Credible Security Standards 

With SERMI set to go live in the UK on 1st April, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) and Digidentity are highlighting the rigorous security framework that underpins the scheme. Read more

AutoRaise launches Careers Resource Centre to inspire next generation 

AutoRaise has launched a new online Careers Resource Centre, designed to help young people, schools and employers better understand and access careers in automotive repair. The launch coincides with National Careers Week and forms part of the charity’s wider commitment to strengthening the future workforce of the vehicle repair industry. Read more

New owners for FixMyCar after management buyout 

Online car repair platform, FixMyCar, has completed a management buyout from its parent company, Niterra. Started 14 years ago, the business, which operates as WhoCanFixMyCar.com, was acquired by Niterra (formerly NGK Spark Plug) in May 2023. Read more

What the latest uk vacancy headlines mean for automotive 

Recent headlines about a sharp fall in UK job vacancies have reinforced the idea that the labour market is entering a more cautious phase. National data shows vacancies at their lowest level since 2021, with employers becoming more selective and competition for roles increasing. But when we compare those wider trends with the latest IMI Vacancy Tracker for January 2026, a more nuanced picture begins to emerge, particularly for automotive. Read more

Enter WorldSkills UK National Competitions 2026 

Apprentices and learners across the UK are being called to step into the spotlight as entries officially open for the prestigious WorldSkills UK National Competitions. Read more

Oil and gas prices rise on new Iran threat to Gulf shipping 

Oil and gas prices continued to rise on Tuesday after an Iranian official said his country would “set fire to anyone who tries to pass through” the Strait of Hormuz as the conflict between his country and the US and Israel continued. Read more

Amazon says drone strikes damaged 3 facilities in UAE and Bahrain 

Amazon Web Services said late Monday two of its data centres in the United Arab Emirates and a facility in Bahrain were damaged by drone strikes, taking the facilities offline. Read more

Jennifer Richardson has started a new role as Claims Department Team Leader at Vizion Network. 

Bryan McLauchlan has taken on a new role as Operations Director for the North West at Precision Repair Group. 

Eraaz Ali has started a new role as Talent Acquisition & Performance Lead at Flock. 

Mark Kellett has started a new role as Commercial Claims Manager at Carpenters Group. 

Chloe Hayles has started a new role as Corporate Broking Director at Aon. 

TyreSafe has announced a new partnership with Time Attack in a strategic move to better engage motorsport enthusiasts and owners of performance and modified cars on the importance of running legal, safe and well-maintained tyres. Read more