ARC360 News – Friday 16 January 2026

Insurers turn out in force for ARC360 2026

More than 50 individual representatives from over 20 insurance companies have already confirmed their attendance at ARC360 2026, highlighting the event’s growing importance as a collaborative platform for the motor claims and repair sector. Read more

Precision Repair Group (PRG), a new national collision repair group, has officially launched its vision to bring together leading independent repairers to create a strong customer, service and expert-led UK repair offering. Read more

Steer Automotive Group has announced the acquisition of Marshall Motor Group’s Paint & Body Centre Swavesey, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable growth across its national repair network. Read more

iRG Repair Group’s Newport branch has won an Enterprise Rent-A-Car customer service award after achieving a ‘world-class’ score. Read more

Midlands based Evolve ARC – with sites in Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester and Warwick -has become a member of the NBRA.

Projex-1 Accident Repair Centre has successfully passed its latest BS10125 RMI audit with zero non-conformities.

Nova Automotive is set to expand into Hertfordshire with its newest accident repair centre dues to open in March.

Following the recent acquisition of Turners Accident Repair Ltd by Precision Repair Group, Geoff Marriott is starting a new position as Group FD – Mainstream North Division at Precision Repair Group.

Phoenix Enhancements CV has achieved the VBRA Elite Van Structural Standard – the first VBRA Elite Standard to be awarded in 2026 for van structural repair. 

More than 1,000 repairers are now signed up to ARIES – the Automotive Repair Industry Environmental Standard.

Kyra Hazlehurst-Brooks has been appointed as Southeast Regional Development Manager for the NBRA. Read more 

US: Boyd Group Services Inc has closed the acquisition of Joe Hudson’s Collision Center. The transaction – considered at circa US$1.3bn – adds 258 locations across the US Southeast region, increasing Boyd’s North American location footprint by 25% to 1,301.

Only one in ten UK consumers would go electric for their next vehicle

The latest Global Automotive Consumer Study by Deloitte found that only one in ten (11%) UK consumers would choose to go fully electric with a battery electric vehicle (BEV), up from 8% in 2025. However, when looking at those planning to buy a new vehicle, this rises to 19%, compared to just 5% targeting the used market. Read more

Euro NCAP names Best-in-Class cars tested in 2025 

Euro NCAP has revealed its Best-in-Class cars of 2025 – the safest models its experts tested over the past year. In a year defined by a dramatic increase in the variety of new electric cars available to consumers and the fitment of sophisticated autonomous safety systems, the results show that carmakers are successfully navigating a changing automotive landscape while meeting the challenge of Euro NCAP’s robust testing protocols. Read more

EV growth continues amid shifting market forces 

The UK’s electric vehicle (EV) market experienced another year of growth in 2025, with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounting for a significant portion of total new registrations. According to the latest data insights from Gecko Risk, BEV uptake increased substantially, supported in part by ongoing manufacturer discounts under the UK’s Electric Car Grant (ECG) scheme. Read more

A new study has revealed electric car batteries last a lot longer than you think 

A massive new study has shown EV batteries don’t degrade as fast as many people fear. On average, cars lose two per cent of their capacity a year. That means that at 10 years old they’d still have 82 per cent of their capacity – in other words a 320-mile car would become a 262-mile car. The report also discovers ways a driver can make the deterioration even less than that. Read more

Chinese EV presence grows in UK market

New data from Gecko Risk reveals the continued growth of Chinese New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) on UK roads, with registrations reaching new highs in 2025. Read more

BHRA returns to ILC with renewed commitment

BHR Assist has rejoined the ILC community as a Motor Corporate Partner following a brief 12‑month hiatus, returning with a sharper focus, an expanded capability set and a renewed commitment to transforming the credit hire landscape. Read more

Charity football returns to London Stadium

NWVA will return to The London Stadium on Tuesday 31 March 2026 for its second annual charity football match in support of DEBRA UK. Following the success of last year’s inaugural stadium event, which raised £20,000, this year’s fixture sees NWVA Football Team take on Industry United FC, with kick-off scheduled for 11am. Read more

2009 to 2026: The S&G Story So Far 

Since our formation in 2009, S&G Response has grown from a small, ambitious team into one of the largest privately-owned third-party administrators in the UK motor market, and looking back over our 15 years of development, we’re so proud of the milestones we’ve achieved, as well as the culture, values and people that have shaped our business and continue to drive us forward. Read more

EV roadside repairs more achievable than petrol or diesel according to AA and Autotrader 

Autotrader, the UK’s largest automotive platform, together with the AA today report that new research, conducted in December 2025 of over 2,000 consumers, shows that 44% of consumers are concerned about the risk of breakdowns or roadside repairs when considering switching to an EV. Read more

epyx partners with The Green Parts Specialists for recycled parts

epyx has announced a partnership with The Green Parts Specialists, which will see it provide fleets with recycled vehicle parts. Fleets can chose from a catalogue of 350,000 recycled parts for delivery and can select a supply and fit option for engines and gearboxes. Read more

Uncovering the hidden cost of vehicle crime

In an eye-opening session at the Mobility in Insurance Conference, Paul Gerrish and Phil Pentelow of NWVA led a compelling discussion on the escalating impact of vehicle crime and the claims sector’s urgent need to adapt. Read more

Leasing continues upward trajectory despite squeezed margins

The UK’s vehicle leasing sector continues to deliver volume growth in the face of a flatlining national economy, with the BVRLA’s latest Leasing Outlook Report showing an 8% growth in leased vehicles year on year. As the lease fleet edges ever closer to the two-million vehicle mark (1.98m), the growth comes with a warning from the sector that volume growth is at the expense of margins, something expected to worsen in 2026. Read more

Seeing clearly – Bdeo puts visual intelligence in focus

Visual intelligence is transforming the speed, accuracy and efficiency of motor claims – but as AI-generated fraud grows more sophisticated, technology must do more than just automate. It must also protect. Read more

AkzoNobel extends McLaren partnership into endurance racing

AkzoNobel has extended its long-standing partnership with McLaren Racing, reaffirming its role as exclusive Official Partner for Coatings Solutions to the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and expanding the collaboration into endurance racing. Read more

Drivers hit financially harder than ever by vehicle repairs caused by pothole damage

Drivers across the UK are being hit harder than ever by the cost of pothole damage, as new analysis released on National Pothole Day (Thursday 15 January) reveals the total financial impact of potholes on vehicles rose to an estimated £589 million in 2025, up from £579 million in 2024 and £474 million in 2023. Read more

Fraudsters target used car buyers on Cazoo by hacking emails and offering fake discounts 

Fraudsters are targeting car buyers who are shopping on Cazoo by offering them discounts that real dealers never could. That is according to a new report on the BBC’s Morning Live programme, which has been looking into a recent rise a new type of scam. Read more

Anita Laszecka has started a new role as Complex Claims Manager at Cogent Hire.

Hannah Wilson has started a new position as Deputy Third Party Manager at Direct Commercial Ltd.

Steven Price has started a new role as Desktop Motor Engineer Manager at Acorn Group.

Barry Black hasjoined the Grove Group team as Technical Sales Manager.