Daily Motor News – Wednesday 2 October

Saga in talks with Belgium’s Ageas about insurance arm deal

Saga, the London-listed financial services and travel provider for over-50s consumers, is in exclusive negotiations with Ageas, the Belgian insurer which tried to buy Direct Line Group earlier this year, about a long-term partnership arrangement for its insurance division. Saga has confirmed that negotiations are underway. Full story

National Windscreens joins ILC Motor Corporate Partners

National Windscreens, one of the UK’s fastest growing vehicle glass repair and replacement specialists, has become an ILC Motor Corporate Partner. The company operates the UK’s largest fitting centre network with over 100 fitting centres and over 600 mobile technicians throughout the UK. It also provides coverage throughout Europe through membership of the Automotive Glass Europe (AGE) network. Full story

BYD SEAL U scores top marks: 5 Green Stars in Green NCAP test

Green NCAP has tested the BYD SEAL U DM-i (PHEV), marking the third vehicle from the Chinese automaker to undergo the organization’s rigorous assessments. Overall, the BYD SEAL U achieved an Average Score of 93% and earned a prestigious 5 Green Stars from Green NCAP, reaffirming its commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency. Full story

Driving for Better Business launches monthly Fleet Focus guides

Driving for Better Business, the National Highways business engagement programme, is launching a fresh new range of free monthly resources for fleet managers to share with their drivers. The series starts with Vehicle Roadworthiness, to help managers, supervisors and everyone else involved to understand their responsibilities. Full story

S&G Response secures Gold standard

S&G Response has announced that following a recent audit it has been re-accredited with Investors In People Gold standard. Recognition confirms that the company’s values and culture are well established across the business, with wellbeing and culture a core priority. Full story

Solus unveils new Sheffield site

Solus has unveiled a new repair site in Sheffield. Solus Sheffield is a fully-equipped 22,448 sqft repair centre that enhances the company’s ability to meet customer demand in the area. The company has also welcomed a new team to the site. Full story

Options available to tackle rising cost of insurance premiums

The rising cost of vehicle insurance is proving a real issue for fleets, as the knock-on effects of the move to electric, increasing amounts of advanced technologies and soaring parts prices begin to bite. In 2023, consumer insurance costs rose 25%, says professional services firm EY, and will rise a further 10% this year. Fleets are typically facing similar increases. Full story

Motorists to see little benefit as insurance levy gets dropped

A surprise budget announcement was the removal of the levy on all motor insurance policies that covered the insolvency of rogue insurers. The Motor Insurers Insolvency Compensation Fund levy, which added 1pc to all renewals, was instigated in 2018 following the collapse of Setanta insurance – an “imported” motor insurance provider, registered in Malta, but with claims outstanding in Ireland. Full story

Met officers break up keyless car theft gang

A proactive investigation launched by officers in North London uncovered a sophisticated organised crime network using a keyless theft device disguised as a ‘Gameboy’. Cars were stolen using the device that allowed them to quickly open the targeted vehicles and start them. The thefts could take seconds and looked no different from a person opening the car with a key. Full story

Urgent action needed to address growing tyre safety ‘crisis’

TyreSafe has labelled a rise in the number of tyre-related KSIs as “deeply troubling” – and says it underscores the urgent need for stronger action to address tyre safety. DfT figures show there were 190 tyre-related KSIs in 2023 – up 29% from 2022 (147). Full story

Reducing risks on the road

As an insurer, we understand that improving road safety goes hand-in-hand with reducing incidents, and therefore lowering claim frequencies and potential losses. We’re also passionate about exploring new technology and its potential to help enhance customer service. This case study explores how we’ve helped our fleet customers to become more resilient. We share how the team identify risks and prevent claims. Full story

NIO Inc provides September and Third Quarter 2024 delivery update

NIO Inc, a pioneer and a leading company in the global smart electric vehicle market, has announced its September and third quarter 2024 delivery results. It delivered 21,181 vehicles in September, representing an increase of 35.4% year-over-year. The company also delivered 61,855 vehicles in the third quarter of 2024, a new quarterly record. Full story

No more Grey Fleet grey areas

Training and compliance expert, TTC Group, says businesses must urgently review their grey fleets as new research reveals just 33% monitor the status of their employees’ drivers’ licences. Nearly a third (29%) of all road fatalities happen in driving-for-work collisions, and the training expert fears that by failing to carry out even the most basic driver validation checks, companies are placing their drivers, other road users and their business reputation in serious danger. Full story

AkzoNobel launches new Automotive Training Centre in Belgium

AkzoNobel has invested in a new Automotive Training Centre (ATC) in Belgium to further upskill existing painters, bodyshop managers and OEM engineers on a new generation of coatings and technologies. Full Story

Paint by Numbers

Paint shops generate around 65% of a plant’s overall CO₂. One could say that the road to achieving Stellantis’ ambition to become carbon net zero by 2038 runs through its paint shops.  Stellantis paint shops have already achieved a 27% decrease in energy consumption vs 2021. By the end of 2025, they are targeting a 50% reduction, with an average of only 321 kWh/vehicle. Full story