ARC360 News – Friday 1 May 2026

Keiran Perks, Managing Director of Express Bodyworks Group has welcomed Express Bodyworks Manchester into the group. The business recently achieved its BS10125 Kitemark.

Nova Automotive Group has officially opened its brand new, state of the art Sevenoaks accident repair centre featuring a double commercial paint booth.

Volkswagen Group UK  has announced its Q1 2026 Balanced Scorecard Award winners. Gold winners were Hawco Group Paint & Body (Area 1); NSW Accident Repair Centre (Area 2); and Pentagon Paint & Body (Area 3).

Bill Tolmie has officially announced his appointment as CEO at Rhodes Accident Repair Group (PJ Rhodes Ltd).

Porters Bodyshop has officially achieved ARIES Environmental Accreditation the recognised environmental standard for the automotive repair sector. In partnership with R.Gee Services, the business successfully completed an independent third-party audit and verification of its carbon reduction management plan.

XL Motors is proud to announce that it is are now an Official OMODA & JAECOO Approved Bodyshop

Evolve Automotive Repair Group has taken over Forward Motors which is now operating as Evolve Worcester.

Fix Auto UK has further strengthened its position in Northern Ireland following a significant investment by Franchise Partner Maurice Connor and the relocation of his Fix Auto Saintfield repair centre.

Allianz has announced its Motor Contractor Network Award 2025 winners: Allianz Personal Sole Site of the Year 2025 is M & L Coachbuilders; Allianz Personal Group of the Year 2025 is Gemini Accident Repair Centres; Allianz Personal Repairer of the Year 2025 is Jenkins & Pain ARC; and Allianz Commercial Repairer of the Year 2025 is Halo ARC Ltd. Read more

Independent repairer Sandown Coachworks is preparing for its next phase of investment, expanding its Camberley workshop to install two new ramps and lifts, with the support of LKQ.

Stellantis: ‘Our priority is clear’

Antonio Filosa, CEO: “As we initiate quarterly reporting, the first three months of 2026 reflect the early results of our actions to return Stellantis to sustainable, profitable growth. The products we launched in 2025 have been well received and we’re confident that the 10 new vehicles planned for 2026 will build on this momentum. Our priority is clear: to put our customers back at the center of everything we do.” Read more

First Quarter: Volkswagen Group makes progress in a challenging environment

“The world is undergoing fundamental change – and we are aligning our strategy consistently. Wars, geopolitical tensions, trade barriers, stricter regulations, and intense competition are creating headwinds. In this challenging environment, we have managed to make tangible progress. In the Passenger Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles segment, operating profit is up by around 43 per cent compared to the previous year.” Oliver Blume, CEO Volkswagen Group. Read more

Volvo cars now with Google Gemini

Volvo Cars and Google today mark a historic step change in how drivers interact with their cars, as Google Gemini begins rolling out to Volvo cars. Moving beyond fixed voice commands, Gemini introduces an intuitive, intent-based experience where the car can understand natural conversation, context and the driver’s needs. Read more

Car production stabilises but outlook still challenging

UK vehicle production fell -8.2% in March, with 72,511 units rolling out of factories, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 69,755 cars (down -0.8%) and 2,756 commercial vehicles (down -68.3%) were produced following strong growth last year.¹ Car output was also affected by a part supply challenge temporarily pausing production at a large plant, weak exports to Asian and US markets, and model changeovers. CV volumes continued to reflect a major manufacturer restructuring in 2025. Read more

BYD selects bolttech as strategic partner for embedded insurance 

BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles, has appointed bolttech, the global insurtech, as their preferred strategic partner for embedded insurance in their primary European markets. The partnership has already launched in the United Kingdom, and will be made available in Italy, France, Germany and Spain this year. Read more

BMW selects UK car dealers to take part in brand’s ‘Classic Partner’ pilot scheme 

BMW has teamed up with its UK dealer network to provide a new pilot scheme aimed at making life easier for owners of its classic models. The German brand has hand-picked four UK sites to be part of the ‘BMW Classic Partner’ network, strengthening support for classic BMW ownership across the country. Read more

XPENG releases world model technical report

XPENG, a leading China-based high-tech company, recently officially released its X-World Technical Report, providing a comprehensive breakdown of the model’s construction and deployment across data, architecture, training, validation, and application. Read more

Carpenters Group named ILC motor headline partner 

Carpenters Group has been announced as Headline Partner for ILC’s Motor sector, marking a significant expansion of a relationship that has been in place since ILC was founded in 2010. The new agreement will see Carpenters Group continue as a leading ILC Corporate Partner, while also taking on Headline Sponsorship of two of the sector’s flagship events – the ILC Motor Claims Networking Lunch and the ILC Exclusive Motor Claims Conference (EMCC). Read more

Mazda renews ITAS partnership

International Technical Automotive Systems (ITAS) has confirmed the renewal of its contract with Mazda Motor Europe, extending its responsibility for the Mazda Body and Paint Programme and technical training through to 2029. Read more

Vehicle security law strengthened – collaboration next step

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 has received Royal Assent, introducing new offences targeting the possession, manufacture, import and sale of electronic devices used in vehicle theft. Thatcham Research has described the legislation as a significant step forward in tackling organised vehicle crime across the UK but has called for a broader, joined up approach to make event greater advances. Read more

Europcar evolves offering to the insurance market with ring-fenced GTA fleet 

In the next evolution of its commitment to the insurance industry, Europcar Mobility Group UK has established a dedicated, ring-fenced fleet of vehicles specifically for its insurance customers. Complementing the GTA aligned fleet, this new initiative directly addresses the previous lack of choice for replacement vehicle supply within the industry, and the pressure on insurers to provide like-for-like vehicles to customers. Read more

The Fairer Finance Trust in Insurance Index – Spring 2026 

Trust has risen slightly in car and travel insurance while remaining stable in pet and home insurance. Claim satisfaction has improved significantly across all four sectors. Read more

How to stay compliant with aftermarket light products: vulnerable road user signs, decorative lights, and warning beacons  

Many drivers fit aftermarket devices to their vehicles, often with the best intentions – particularly when it comes to protecting vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians. But your vehicle must be compliant, otherwise you could face enforcement action. Read more

LKQ Corporation Announces Results for First Quarter 2026

“We are operating in a challenging environment and are focused on improving our results. Our teams are taking deliberate actions to reduce costs, streamline operations while taking market share, and position ourselves for success going forward as the environment improves.” Justin Jude, President and Chief Executive Officer. Read more