Daily Motor News – Wednesday 30 April 2025 

BTCC Donington Park season opener round-up 

Wow. We are back! 2025 is well and truly go after a long pre-season full of preparation and anticipation. Read more

ACSO comments on Q1 2025 CRU Data 

Matthew Maxwell Scott, executive director of the Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO), “The first quarter of 2025 was the lowest ever for personal injury claims at 106,113 (125,923 in Q1 2024), a 16 per cent decrease year on year, and a near 50 per cent fall since 2019, pre-pandemic. It is also the lowest quarter for motor injury claims since records began, at 74,211.” Read more

SUVs 44% more likely to kill cyclists and pedestrians than conventional cars when involved in collisions 

Pedestrians and cyclists are far more likely to die if they’re hit by an SUV rather than a traditional hatchback or saloon car, a new study claims. Read more

Managing customer expectations and increasing transparency in claims

As Chief Claims Officer, Stephen Linklater is responsible for the claims process across all channels of Ageas UK.

Off the back of recent research referencing a ‘live for today’ mindset and changes in consumer behaviour, Stephen discusses customer expectations and transparency in claims. Read more

Kia launches UK PBV commercial vehicle strategy 

Kia UK has revealed its PBV commercial vehicle plans for the nation at the 2025 Commercial Vehicle (CV) Show, including a dedicated brand-new dealer network to supply sales, after sales and servicing for Kia’s PBV products. Read more

Waymo and Toyota Outline Strategic Partnership to Advance Autonomous Driving Deployment 

Toyota Motor Corporation (“Toyota”) and Waymo reached a preliminary agreement to explore a collaboration focused on accelerating the development and deployment of autonomous driving technologies.  Read more

New commercial vehicle registrations: vans -12.2%, trucks -16%, buses -1.8% in Q1 2025 

The first quarter of 2025 proved challenging for the EU’s commercial vehicle market, marked by significant declines in key markets. Sluggish economic growth, lower prior order intake, and the complex regulatory landscape contributed to the business uncertainty. Read more

Tesla won’t have to report as many Level 2 crashes after Trump’s rule change 

US: Last week, the US Department of Transportation announced a major change to the Biden-era rule that requires automakers and tech companies to report crashes that involve fully or partially autonomous vehicles.  Read more

ARC360 2025 agenda unveiled: shaping the future of vehicle repair 

ILC and ARC360 are excited to announce the release of the full agenda for the ARC360 Conference 2025, taking place on Thursday 22 May at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon. 

Centred around the theme ‘A new era – the changing dynamics of a sector’, the event brings together industry leaders, decision-makers, and innovators from across the motor claims and vehicle repair ecosystem to explore the issues shaping the industry today and tomorrow. Read more

Digital Driving Licence? 84% of Drivers Say Yes 

With the introduction of digital driving licences in the UK later this year, research conducted by TTC, the driver training and compliance expert, has found that 84%1 of UK drivers are happy to have digital versions.  Read more

The AA signs up to provide comprehensive Farizon SV aftersales support 

With order books open and first customers to be announced shortly, Jameel Motors, the UK distributor of the Farizon SV large van, has signed a partnership agreement with the AA, the UK’s leading motoring organisation, to provide blanket nationwide aftersales support. Read more

Apprenticeship Central and Solution Repair Group join forces to support independent repairers 

Apprenticeship Central and Solution Repair Group have announced a new partnership, reinforcing both organisations’ commitment to helping independent repairers build strong, sustainable futures. Read more

Fast food nation – the rise of the kids car seat dinner   

Nearly four million1 parents are now feeding their children breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the car reveals new research from Churchill motor insurance2. Kids that eat car seat dinners on average do so seven times a month. Read more

Silverlake powers up with Team BRIT to drive accessibility and sustainability in motorsport 

Hampshire based Silverlake Automotive Recycling, a leader in end-of-life vehicle parts reclamation and sustainable automotive solutions, has joined forces with Team BRIT, the world’s only competitive team of all-disabled racing drivers, in a powerful partnership that champions accessibility, community, and sustainability. Read more

PCC signs new agreement aims to cut speeding on our roads 

More action on speeding drivers will be taken thanks to a major new agreement signed by Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster and West Midlands Police with our region’s seven local authorities and West Midlands Combined Authority. Read more

ACEA recommendations on social leasing of electric vehicles 

Social leasing schemes can play a pivotal role in supporting the transition to zero-emissions by expanding access to electric vehicles. In a new paper, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) proposes seven recommendations for EU member states developing social leasing schemes. Read more

Insurers moving car repairs in-house, panel beating industry fears for customers’ right to choose 

New Zealand: Insurers’ moves to direct people to their own repairers is having a “devastating impact” on the wider panel beating industry, a representative says. IAG, whose brands include AMI, NZI and State, has grown its own vehicle repair service – known as Repairhub or MotorHub – in the country’s four biggest cities, after a successful trial in 2019. Read more

Phil Gatens has been appointed as Commercial Director at Axioma Europe. 

Luke Stafford has started a new role as Regional Business Manager – EMEA North at BASF Automotive Refinish Coatings. 

KC Autos Manchester and KC Autos Liverpool have both passed the BS10125:2022 audit this week.