Daily Motor News – Wednesday 18 March 2026 

Insurers and VMs rally for ARC360 2026 

ARC360 2026 is set to bring together the most influential voices in UK vehicle repair when it returns to the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, on Thursday 21 May. With around 30 insurer brands and more than 10 vehicle manufacturers already confirmed, along with many of the UK’s most ‘future ready’ repairers, ARC360 continues to cement its place as a vital forum for the claims and repair sector. Read more

AI editing tools are fueling a new era of insurance fraud, according to new research from Verisk 

From adjusting the lighting in a photo to repairing a blurry image, AIpowered image editing tools have become part of everyday life – and increasingly, part of the insurance claims process. New data from the Verisk State of Insurance Fraud study reveals that more than one third of consumers (36 percent) would consider digitally altering a claim image or document, even if it would break insurer rules. Read more

Costs judge slashes agency fees with 25% mark-up cap 

The senior costs judge today delivered a shock to medical agencies by introducing a cap to the cut they can take from their mark-up on experts’ fees. In JXX v Archibald Senior Costs Judge Rowley concluded that there was no requirement for medical reporting agencies to provide a breakdown equivalent to that produced by solicitors in their bill of costs. This was because MRO fees were to be treated as a disbursement rather than outsourced solicitors’ work. Read more

Broker Barometer 2026: Soft market gives brokers opportunity to tackle underinsurance 

Underinsurance isn’t a new challenge for the insurance industry, but our latest Broker Barometer research shows it’s now having a clear and growing impact at the point of claim. The latest findings show that the majority of brokers are seeing an industry-wide increase in claims being declined or settled for less due to underinsurance, as well as 67% of properties being undervalued. Read more

From transactions to trust: the role of communication in modern insurance 

Insurance leaders are navigating a period of accelerated change. New technologies, rising customer expectations, and increasing operational complexity are forcing insurers to rethink how they connect with policyholders across the entire customer journey. Read more

Warwick crowned UK’s most EV-friendly staycation in new Ageas study 

Warwick has been named the UK’s top staycation spot for electric vehicle (EV) drivers, according to a new study by car insurance provider Ageas. The research, which analysed 100 popular towns and villages across the UK, ranked each location based on their charging infrastructure, cost-efficiency, charger reliability, and the density of local points of interest. Read more

Hyundai Motor, Kia and NVIDIA Expand Strategic Partnership for Next-Generation Autonomous Driving Technology 

NVIDIA today announced an expanded collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation to advance next-generation autonomous driving technologies built on the NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion™ autonomous vehicle development platform. Read more

OPINION: How the software-defined vehicle is redefining development 

The automobile is undergoing one of the most profound transformations in its history. What was once a largely mechanical product is evolving into a software-centric system: the software-defined vehicle (SDV). In this new paradigm, it is no longer hardware alone that defines a vehicle’s capabilities, but software, says Laura Kalka, team lead marketing at b-plus, with functions, performance characteristics, and even user experience increasingly shaped by code. Read more

A solid-state EV battery that can achieve 800 miles of driving range — It’s becoming a reality 

Several major Chinese automakers have begun, or plan to begin, testing solid-state batteries in vehicles over the next few months. BYD and CATL, which accounted for over 55% of global EV battery sales last year, both plan to begin small-scale production in 2027. Meanwhile, the new battery tech is already making its way to the real world. Read more

More than 200 jobs at risk at carmaker Bentley 

Up to 275 jobs could be lost at luxury carmaker Bentley, the firm said. The news comes as the company announced its financial results for 2025 marking a seventh consecutive year of profitability. Read more

The next act for robotics: Human–machine collaboration 

Mikell Taylor, director of robotics strategy at General Motors, discusses next-generation robots and dispels some common myths. Read more

FCA confirms new incident and third party rules to bolster resilience 

The FCA has confirmed new rules to make existing incident and third party reporting clearer, more consistent, and easier for firms to follow. These new rules will help the FCA respond quickly to disruption such as a cyber attack or power outage, give firms greater certainty on what to report and when and strengthen firm resilience to better protect consumers and markets. Read more

New vehicle boosts Staffordshire Police’s fight against uninsured driving 

A new police vehicle is being supplied to Staffordshire Police this month by MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau), the organisation responsible for tackling uninsured driving across the UK. The dualbranded car will support the force’s ongoing work to remove uninsured and inadequately insured drivers from roads across Staffordshire. Read more

AI apprenticeship to close digital skills gap holding back millions of workers 

A new apprenticeship will help businesses and their workforce to reap maximum benefit from incredible new and emerging AI technology. Skills England worked with employers to design and develop the AI and automation practitioner apprenticeship. Read more

IMI welcomes latest youth employment drive 

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has welcomed the government’s announcement of a major employment drive aimed at unlocking 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for young people, particularly the £2,000 incentive for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) recruiting 16–24 year olds. Read more

In plain sight: Motoring expert urges drivers not to overlook five visible defects that could cost an MOT pass 

With an estimated 2.5 million MOTs set to take place across the UK in March – typically one of the busiest months of the year for the legally-required annual check, drivers are being urged by a motoring expert to not overlook five defects that are often simple to spot, and quick and cost effective to fix before their vehicle goes on the ramp for the mandatory test. Read more

TRL is pleased to announce the appointment of Kay Jarvis as its new Chief People Officer, further strengthening the organisation’s executive leadership team and reinforcing its commitment to putting people at the heart of its mission. Read more

Mark Kameen has reflected on the NVCRP journey as he prepares to step away from his role as Project Lead and move into a new position with the National Crime Agency (NCA). Read more