Daily Motor News-Tuesday 15th October

ERS to expand Swansea counter fraud team 

Specialist motor insurer ERS has unveiled plans to bolster its counter fraud operations in Swansea by investing in both personnel and advanced technology. The move is aimed at addressing the evolving landscape of fraudulent claims and has two primary goals: enhancing fraud detection to help reduce insurance premiums for customers and generating new career opportunities in the region. Full story

Repairify celebrates European Patent 

The European Patent Office has granted Repairify a patent relating to a Remote Vehicle Programming System and Method. This latest award aligns with Repairify’s global patents which it holds in the US and Australia as well as other markets, strengthening its position in Europe. Full story

The Contentious Nature of Total Loss in Motor Claims 

The focus of handling total loss claims in motor insurance has historically been on settling these claims at the lowest possible cost. As motor insurers grapple with finding the right balance between costs and customer satisfaction, it has become increasingly clear that customer-centric solutions are the future of total loss claims. Full story

Stellar growth at Steer Automotive Group 

The Steer Automotive Group has undergone phenomenal growth in the UK. Sam Street met up with Chief Executive Richard Steer in Frankfurt to discover how. Richard Steer started out in the collision repair game just before COVID and lockdowns hit by acquiring four collision repair shops in July 2018. The group now stands at nearly 200 shops and represents 11% of the UK collision repair market. Full story

Thatcham Research celebrates Billyeald appointment 

Thatcham Research has announced that Richard Billyeald, Chief Research & Operations Officer, has been appointed as the Chairman of the RCAR Steering Committee by his fellow members. Full story

Eurorepar expands Stellantis parts range  

Eurorepar has extended its range of bumpers and grilles to include 66 front wings for popular models across the Stellantis passenger car and commercial vehicle brands. The expansion brings the total of number of Eurorepar Body Parts available to 220. Full story

S&G Response emphasises wide network coverage 

S&G Response has highlighted how it is helping customers improve efficiency with a network of more than 360 approved repairers, as well as a 65-strong commercial vehicle network to handle commercial vehicles. Full story

Bob Linwood Memorial Trophy ko tonight 

NWVA’s Bob Linwood Memorial Trophy match takes place at the London Stadium tonight, raising funds for the DEBRA charity. NWVA plans to host the match annually, supporting a different charity every year. Full story

Police give tips to keyless car owners after thefts 

Police have offered crime prevention advice to keyless vehicle owners after detectives investigating a series of thefts of high-powered cars made arrests. Cambridgeshire Police said, in a statement, that keyless cars had been stolen in areas of Cambridgeshire and Skegness, Lincolnshire, earlier this year. They said arrests had been made in Peterborough this week. Full story

Robertsons on the run for Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity 

Robertsons colleagues Ben Robertson, Patrick McCarthy, and Steve Cross ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon to raise funds for the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity. Anyone wishing to donate to the worthy cause can still do so. Full story

DLG appoints new CFO 

Direct Line Group has announced that Jane Poole has joined the Group as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). She has been appointed to the Board and will also sit on the Investment Committee, bringing with her extensive financial leadership and insurance expertise to the team. Full story

What are the best and worst motorways and A roads in the UK? 

Independent watchdog Transport Focus has revealed what the drivers in the UK say are the best and worst motorways and A roads. Transport Focus’s annual Strategic Roads User Survey asked 9,000 road users about their last journey on a motorway or major ‘A’ road managed by National Highways. Full story

Fact check: Is Europe’s car industry in crisis?  

Elected officials in Europe are raising the alarm over a slowdown in the production of cars and electric vehicles, blaming overburdening regulation and stiff competition from global rivals such as China. The automotive sector is one of the staples of Europe’s industry, accounting for 7% of EU GDP. Full story

Unum’s Mark Till joins ABI Board  

Mark Till, Chief Executive Officer of Unum UK, the specialist employee benefits provider, has joined the ABI Board with immediate effect. In addition to joining the Board, Mark will also take on the position of Chair of the ABI’s Health and Protection Committee, which forms an integral part of the trade association’s health and protection policy development processes. Full story

Supreme Court: Questions on compulsory motor insurance answered in favour of RSA 

The Supreme Court has answered questions of law concerning the compulsory motor insurance requirement in favour of RSA Insurance Ireland DAC. Delivering judgment for the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Brian Murray pointed out that difficulties in implementing Directive 2009/103/EC have arisen as the State has purportedly discharged those obligations using statutory provisions that did not have EU law in view when enacted. Full story

Self-driving tech companies take a hard look at their own blind spots 

With no hard-and-fast rules, several companies are seeking independent safety audits on the road toward driverless deployments. Full story

Low-cost hybrid tech gives Renault breathing space in tough EV transition 

Renault CEO Luca de Meo’s bet on a low-cost gearbox technology is allowing the French carmaker to gain ground in Europe’s fast-growing hybrid car market, giving it some breathing space as rivals get squeezed by the electric mobility challenge. In the first eight months of the year, sales of Renault hybrid models including the Clio and Captur were up 55% from the previous year. Full story

Stellantis CEO says carmaker is on pace to fix sales problems  

Stellantis is fixing its slowing U.S. sales at the right pace after fumbling a marketing plan earlier this year, CEO Carlos Tavares told reporters. He told reporters at the Paris Motor Show that he is responsible for the bad things that have happened at the company, but also for the good. Full story

Driven Brands collision leadership says company honing in on OEM certifications 

US-based Driven Brands Collision COO Damien Reyna has said his company and its sites are increasing the number of vehicle manufacturer certifications they have. He said the primary driver for the ramp-up is to ensure repairers have the knowledge and skills to properly repair today’s advanced vehicles. Full story