ARC360 News – Friday 10 July 2026

Steer Automotive Group has announced a series of senior leadership changes as the business prepares for its next phase of growth, with founder Richard Steer transitioning to Executive Chairman and Jana Siber appointed as Chief Executive Officer.

AutoRaise has appointed Chris Ryder, Managing Director at Activate Collision Solutions, as its new Deputy Chair. Read more

Mobeus has announced a £16.3m majority investment in Revive!, the UK’s leading SMART auto repair network, to support the business’ next phase of growth. Read more

Brandon Accident Repair Centre has officially adopted RWC Training’s Train to Gain programme, to provide dedicated CPD & upskilling across each skill discipline. Read more

Stellantis has revealed its Stellantis Audatex Estimator of the Year – Northern Region Winners: in first place was Michael Kinnell of Fix Auto Edinburgh West; second went to Stephen Armour, Kerr & Smith Cumnock; and third Allan Herd of Fix Auto Glasgow North. Read more

The IMI has announced the finalists for the IMI Skills Competitions 2026 headline sponsored by Milwaukee Tool. Following rigorous National Qualifier events, 18 of the UK’s most talented automotive apprentices have earned their place in the finals, competing across three disciplines: Automotive Body Repair, Automotive Refinishing and Automotive Technology, sponsored by WD-40. Read more

Steer Automotive Group has been recognised in the UK’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026, placing 81st in this year’s rankings. Read more

MG accelerates into next era of intelligent mobility with advanced electrification and ADAS technologies

Building on more than a century of innovation, MG has unveiled its latest technology roadmap, outlining how the brand will continue to bring advanced electrification and intelligent driving technologies to a wider audience. Read more

BMW Group advances use of AI in crash simulations

Today, vehicle safety begins in the digital realm. The BMW Group and Mistral AI are advancing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in crash simulations. The aim is to analyse virtual crash tests faster, hone development work and enhance passive vehicle safety through targeted support. Read more

MG achieves record UK sales as electrified models surge

MG achieved its strongest June sales result ever, selling 10,395 cars, following record-breaking sales in April and May. This gives MG its highest year-to-date result for the first half of the year, rising to 8th place in the overall sales charts. Read more

Why Chinese vehicle growth demands a new aftermarket strategy

In April 2026, 12 Chinese brands appeared in the UK new car registration rankings, with a combined total of 24,669 units and a 16.5% market share for the month. Across the first four months of the year, Chinese automakers sold 80,960 vehicles in the UK. The combined registrations of BYD and Chery Group exceeded Volkswagen, currently the UK’s biggest single brand. Read more

Why electric cars cost more to insure – and what’s being done about it 

It’s hot and bright beneath the high intensity lights in a cavernous crash and safety testing laboratory, hidden away in a business park outside Newbury. A siren blares and a disembodied voice counts down: “Three, two, one.” A small white car trundles into view, rolls across the floor, and bumps into a barrier set against the wall. Read more

A new benchmark for vehicle safety: BMW and ZEEKR secure five stars under Euro NCAP’s new tests 

Euro NCAP has introduced its advanced 2026 vehicle safety assessment protocols, representing the most comprehensive overhaul of its testing and rating system in years. Read more

Gecko highlights BEV trends 

Gecko has published its latest Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Insights for July 2026, highlighting continued growth in the UK’s electric vehicle parc alongside the latest repair cost and labour data for battery electric vehicles. Read more

Waymo: not all miles are equal: why time and location matter when benchmarking autonomous safety 

Not all miles are created equal. Navigating a highway commute on a Tuesday morning is fundamentally different from driving through downtown nightlife at 2:00 AM on a weekend. Our latest research – consisting of two new studies peer-reviewed and accepted for publication in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention – aims to close this gap by diving into two critical factors often overlooked in crash risk analysis: time and location. Read more

Mobility conference expands programme

The programme for ILC’s Mobility in Insurance Conference 2026 continues to evolve, with a growing line-up of experts from across insurance, mobility, technology and legal services confirmed to explore the trends reshaping the future of motor claims. Read more

Navigating tomorrow’s threats – the evolution of vehicle security

In an era where automotive security is increasingly shaped by digital vulnerabilities rather than physical ones, the work of Thatcham Research’s vehicle security research team has never been more vital. Read more

AutoRaise launches second bursary cohort

AutoRaise is set to welcome a second group of apprentices into the automotive repair industry this September as it launches the next cohort of its employer bursary programme. Read more

Audatex UK Data Update 09 July 2026 

Solera Audatex has announced the release of its latest data update, D4.86, which will be available from 09 July 2026. This update includes enhancements to 67 model sheets and the addition of 27 new models to our industry-leading vehicle database. Read more

World Youth Skills Day: why is investing in apprentices an investment in the future? 

Every year on 15 July, World Youth Skills Day shines a spotlight on the importance of equipping young people with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace, and whilst yes, qualifications will certainly always play an important role, today’s employers are increasingly recognising that some of the most valuable skills simply can’t be learned in a classroom. Read more

John Lewis Money relaunches its car insurance offer with new broker model 

John Lewis Money has relaunched its car insurance offer. For the first time, it will act as a car insurance broker – comparing quotes from a selection of trusted providers, to find customers the most cost effective option from its panel. It is working with three insurers to provide cover – Ageas, Axa and Covea. Read more

Introducing Picnic 

1st Central Group is expanding its presence in the UK motor insurance market with the launch of a new car insurance brand, named Picnic. Read more 

Police seize £3.4m in stolen vehicles, parts in chop shop crackdown 

Police have recovered vehicles and car parts worth a combined £3.4 million during a major crackdown on organised vehicle crime and illegal chop shops. Read more