Daily Motor News – Tuesday 20 January 2026 

Agility in action: why operational excellence demands flexibility 

Operational excellence used to mean efficiency and consistency. In today’s automotive landscape, it means agility. The rapid pace of change, from electrification and new vehicle technologies to evolving customer expectations and sustainability pressures, has redefined what good looks like operationally. For service providers like Autoglass, operational excellence is no longer about following a fixed formula; it’s about being ready to adapt that formula at speed. Read more

Wrisk welcomes Allianz Holdings plc as a strategic investor as part of its Series B funding round 

Wrisk Limited, the digital insurance platform specialising in embedded insurance for the automotive sector, today announced that Allianz Holdings plc has invested in the company as part of its recently announced Series B funding round, which was led by Alma Mundi Ventures and Opera Tech Ventures. Read more

Zurich makes £7.7bn play for Beazley after FTSE 100 firm rejected first offer 

Zurich Insurance Group has launched its second public pursuit of Lloyd’s of London prominent underwriter Beazley with a revised proposal at 1.280 pence per share, valuing the firm at just under £8bn. Read more

Be careful how you talk about price 

Price has always been powerful in insurance. What has changed is how closely regulators are now listening to the language used to describe it. Over the past year, the Advertising Standards Authority has materially tightened its stance on pricing claims. Recent rulings make it clear that how firms talk about price is no longer a marketing detail. It is a governance issue. Read more

Vanishing act: vital road markings are rapidly disappearing from Britain’s roads 

A fifth of drivers (21%) claim most road markings in their local areas have faded away, while a further seven-in-10 (71%) state some have, new RAC research has found. Read more

EU cannot afford to pause zero-emission heavy-duty charging deployment 

IRU, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) and Transport & Environment (T&E) urge the European Commission to ensure continuity of EU funding for heavy-duty vehicle charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, warning that a break in support in 2026–2027 would risk slowing the deployment of zero-emission vehicles. Read more

Scania cleans up as its new utility truck sweeps to five stars 

Refuse trucks provide an essential public service, but the nature of their role means they present potential hazards to both operators and other road users. Operating conditions that include frequent stops and starts, passing traffic, and people working near the vehicle pose substantial challenges for vehicle manufacturers in designing and delivering safe vehicles. Read more

Local Content Requirements for heavy-duty vehicles: ACEA’s guiding principles and policy recommendations 

The introduction of Local Content Requirements (LCRs) raises important considerations for European vehicle manufacturers. As heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) have distinct characteristics, ACEA has developed specific guiding principles and policy recommendations for the HDV sector. Read more

Repairify and Opus IVS combine diagnostics operations 

Repairify and Opus IVS have announced plans to bring together their diagnostics businesses, uniting key brands – asTech, BlueDriver and Opus IVS – to accelerate innovation and strengthen support for modern vehicle repair. Read more

Diagnostic investment vital for garage growth 

Independent garages must match the diagnostic capabilities of main dealers if they are to grow and compete effectively in 2026, according to Eurorepar Car Service (ERCS). Read more

Cary group expands further into the Bus & Coach vertical through acquisition of Glazing Services! 

Cary Group has entered into an agreement to acquire 70% of Glazing Bus & Trucks, the leading specialist provider of bus and coach glass repair and replacement in France and Belgium. The acquisition represents a further step in Cary Group’s strategy to build a European platform for heavy-vehicle glass services. Read more

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has announced the appointment of Vincent St Claire as the chair of its Vehicle Fleet Management (VFM) committee. Read more