Daily Motor News – Wednesday 5 March 2025

ILC ARTICLE

5th March 2025

ACSO Executive Director, Matthew Maxwell Scott: “The OIC has certainly overseen a dramatic fall in claims, by around 50% since 2018, despite increasing vehicle numbers and consistent annual mileage. People are still getting injured, but for a variety of reasons are choosing not to claim. We need to know why, especially as the cost of motor insurance soared to record high levels in 2024.

“The portal was designed to be consumer friendly, so why do only about one in 10 claimants use it unaided? Does the complexity of the portal journey put people off starting a claim in the first place?” Full story

Motor insurance premiums continue to slow and home insurance premiums fall for third consecutive month

The latest General Insurance Price Index from Pearson Ham Group for February 2025 shows that motor insurance premiums continued to decline, but at a slower pace. Prices fell by 0.9%, marking the smallest monthly decrease in the past 12 months and bringing the annual movement rate to -19.3%. Full story

ACSO calls for root and branch review of OIC Claims Portal

The Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO), which represents consumers in the civil justice system, has called for a government review to determine the success or failure of a raft of recent personal injury legal reforms.

The call comes as the Official Injury Claim portal (OIC), which processes minor injury claims worth less than £5,000, approaches its fourth birthday, with more than one million claims submitted and around 300,000 processed. Full story

Specialist Risk Group announces the acquisition of specialist schemes broker, Brentacre Insurance

Specialist Risk Group (SRG) is delighted to announce the acquisition of Brentacre Insurance, a highly respected specialist broker with deep expertise in providing insurance for modified and performance vehicles, subject to regulatory approval. Full story

Ageas named largest insurer in UK to achieve distinction in customer service

Ageas UK has been awarded ServiceMark with Distinction by the Institute of Customer Service, making it the biggest personal lines insurer in the UK to achieve this level.By achieving the criteria required for a distinction, it recognises Ageas’s outstanding and ongoing commitment to excellence in customer service. Full story

Preparing for regulatory changes at Lex Autolease Conference

The BVRLA’s Legal and Membership Director Shashi Maharaj recently represented the BVRLA at the Lex Autolease Conference, where the association engaged directly with brokers on key compliance and regulatory challenges. Shashi’s update provided an overview of upcoming regulatory changes, compliance expectations, and the challenges brokers must prepare for in 2025. Full story

Wayve brings AI for automated driving to Germany

Wayve, a pioneer in Embodied AI for automotive, is extending its global footprint in mainland Europe with the launch of an on-road testing and development hub in Germany and the deployment of a new fleet of Wayve test vehicles. This strategic expansion strengthens Wayve’s presence in one of the world’s leading automotive hubs and reinforces its commitment to advancing AI-driven products for assisted and automated driving. Full story

The future of in-car technology: Overview of the top 5 innovations

The automotive industry is once again in the midst of a transformative change driven not only by technical innovations but also by the desires of end consumers. Connectivity, safety, and comfort, in particular, top the wish list. Full story

Preventing distracted driving

How can OEMs deliver crucial data and information to drivers without impacting attention and safety?

Driving distractions are a growing concern in modern transportation. In the UK alone, distracted driving caused 458 fatalities in 2022 – a 51% increase compared to deaths caused by speeding. Meanwhile, in the US distracted driving accounts for over 3,000 deaths annually. Full story

UC Irvine study shines headlights on consumer driverless vehicle safety deficiencies

For the first time, researchers at the University of California, Irvine have demonstrated that multicolored stickers applied to stop or speed limit signs on the roadside can confuse self-driving vehicles, causing unpredictable and possibly hazardous operations. Full story

Ride into the future with Waymo on Uber in Austin

US: Starting today, Austin riders can be matched with a Waymo autonomous vehicle (AV) on the Uber app, making your next trip even more special. With Waymo’s technology and Uber’s proven platform, we’re excited to introduce our customers to a future of transportation that is increasingly electric and autonomous. Full story

EVs account for one in four new car registrations in flat February market

The UK new car market fell slightly in February, down -1.0% to 84,054 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Electrified vehicle uptake continued to grow, with plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) rising 19.3% and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) up 7.9%. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations were up by 41.7% to 21,244 units, securing a 25.3% market share compared with 17.7% a year ago. Full story

MINI Cooper Electric and Audi A6 e‑tron gain five-star ratings

The latest results from Euro NCAP’s new car safety tests show that when it comes to choosing a safe car, size isn’t everything. The latest Mini Cooper E and Audi A6 e-tron were awarded a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating, illustrating how size and cost is no barrier when it comes to choosing a safe car. Full story

FOS data shows record number of motor finance complaints

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has today published its latest quarterly complaints data, revealing some interesting trends in the financial services sector. Most notably, there has been a surge in complaints related to car finance, which have reached a record high. The data (which covers the final quarter of 2024) revealed that the FOS received 18,658 new complaints concerning car loans – a 33% increase from the previous quarter and three times the number from the same period in 2023. Full story

EV battery services centre to open in Rugby

Cox Automotive and DHL Supply Chain have teamed up to deliver a large scale battery management and maintenance operation in the UK, with the opening of a dedicated space for battery services within DHL’s 146,000-square-foot EV Centre of Excellence in Rugby, UK. Full story

Northgate agrees rescue partner contract with Green Flag

Northgate has signed up Green Flag, part of Direct Line Group, as its rescue partner for both commercial vehicles and personal hire cars across the UK. Full story

February fuel rise sends pump prices to six-month high

The average price of a litre of petrol has hit its highest level since last September, with drivers having now endured five consecutive months of price rises, according to new data from RAC Fuel Watch.

The cost of a litre of unleaded rose by 0.65p in February to reach 139.65p. Average diesel prices also went up last month by 0.73p to 146.48p, a price last seen in late August (29 August 2024 – 146.55p). Full story

WorldSkills UK National Competitions 2025 open for entry

Apprentices and learners are invited to showcase and celebrate their talents at the WorldSkills UK national competitions which are now open for entry. For the first time, WorldSkills UK will be live streaming during the week of the finals, which take place in venues across South Wales. Full story