ARC360 News – Friday 30 January 2026

ARC360 2026: Insurance and repair leaders unite to drive progress

More than 70 senior insurance figures are set to join a cross-section of the vehicle repair ecosystem at ARC360 2026, taking place Thursday 21 May at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon. Read more

Fix Auto UK has expanded its footprint within the capital with the appointment of London-based A2Z Motors Ltd, now operating as Fix Auto Colindale. The signing marks the network’s first new appointment of 2026 and boosts its fully branded presence inside the M25 corridor to 12 sites. Read more

Brian Robson Coachworks (BRC), the award-winning vehicle repair group based in Hertfordshire, has fully transitioned its technical training and compliance strategy to RWC Training’s Train to Gain CPD programme. Read more

Fylde Coast Accident Repair Centre is now officially a Renault & Dacia Approved Body and Paint Centre.

R&R Autos Bodyshop has passed our latest unannounced BSI Kitemark BS10125 audit with 100% compliance.

Spray Shack Ltd in Northallerton has taken delivery of two new Kia vans to keep customers mobile whilst their vehicle is in for repair.

David Eko-Acquah has started a new role as Mobile Bodyshop Hubs Manager at Halo ARC Ltd.

Fleet Assist recorded a record year in 2025 with a growth in its SMR network, signing up a record number of customers and expanding its team and Huntingdon HQ. Read more

InReview 2025: Euro NCAP celebrates landmark year with record-setting safety performance

Euro NCAP introduces InReview 2025, an insightful report that looks back at what proved to be the safety organisation’s most active year since its inception in 1997. Despite a challenging economic landscape for the European automotive industry, 2025 saw Euro NCAP deliver a record 108 assessments of new cars from more than 50 global brands. Of these, a remarkable 98 per cent of all models tested achieved four stars or more. Read more

Ford’s 25% parts price cut is a win for sustainability, insurance, and repair

Here’s some genuinely good news from the automotive world: Ford has just slashed prices on over 6,000 parts by 25% across 35 models built up until 2019. We’re talking about commonly damaged components like bumpers, doors, headlights, and panels, the exact parts that get dinged, scraped, and battered in everyday driving. And here’s why this matters far beyond just saving owners money. Read more

Volkswagen: the UK’s number-one manufacturer in true fleet channels last year

Volkswagen finished last year as the UK’s number-one manufacturer in true fleet. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show the brand achieved 64,127 true fleet sales in 2025 – a market share of 11.2 per cent. Read more

BMW Group and Encory launch innovative direct recycling of battery raw materials

What’s an efficient way of keeping battery raw materials in the material cycle? Mechanical recycling that avoids energy-intensive treatment. The BMW Group shows how it’s done – at its newly commissioned Cell Recycling Competence Centre (CRCC) in Salching. The innovative direct recycling technique was developed and implemented with strong regional partners and creates real added value for sustainable electromobility. Read more

Scaling software-defined vehicles: From build to organisational readiness  

As vehicles become increasingly defined by software rather than hardware, organisational readiness to scale automotive software has become a critical competitive differentiator. Nowhere is this competitive advantage more visible than in mainland China, where automakers are advancing software-defined vehicle (SDV) platforms at unprecedented speed. Read more

Global partnership can drive UK Auto growth 

2025 was a tough year for UK vehicle manufacturing with a combination of plant restructuring, trade uncertainties, economic weakness in key markets and, of course, a major cyber incident at a key manufacturer all limiting output. Against that backdrop, the industry’s resilience should not be underestimated and December’s growth in car production augurs well for 2026. Read more

Driving on Sunshine: Nissan Celebrates Clean Energy Day With A Solar‑Powered Ariya Concept

Nissan has unveiled a solar‑powered Ariya concept – an exploration of how future electric vehicles could harness the world’s most abundant renewable energy source: the sun. Read more

Time to get even more from the MG4 EV

An exciting new future for the ground-breaking MG4 EV starts today. The all-new MG4 EV Urban makes its UK debut and the original, critically-acclaimed MG4 EV returns with even stronger technology, enhanced cabin quality, driving engagement and range. Read more

SERMI: What body repairers need to know as UK rollout begins

The National Body Repair Association (NBRA) is urging bodyshops across the UK to prepare for the arrival of SERMI – a newly approved certification scheme that will determine access to vital security-related repair information for modern vehicles. Read more

e2e: The path to sanity lies in collaboration 

2026 is shaping up to be an intriguing year in the claims space – the kind that keeps everyone on their toes, but in a good way! Take electric vehicles (EVs) as an example. Their rapid uptake is already shaking up the market, and, if you’re in claims, you’ve probably felt the tremors. Read more

Motor claims sector raises over £85,000 for Rainbow Trust at ILC Networking Lunch

The 2026 ILC Motor Claims Networking Lunch saw the motor claims community come together in record numbers to raise over £85,000 for Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity – more than doubling the total raised at last year’s event and edging ILC’s community fundraising efforts ever closer to the £1.5m milestone. Read more

Apprenticeship reforms: what employers need to know

UK apprenticeship frameworks are undergoing significant reform – and many employers are unclear about how to respond. To help businesses navigate the changes, Eleanor Baker Barnes, Commercial Director at Apprenticeship Central, has developed a YouTube channel providing a host of insights and information. A recent video provides a detailed video guide outlining how apprenticeships currently work, how funding is structured, and what the upcoming 2026 reforms mean in practical terms. Read more

S&G launches new website

S&G is pleased to announce the launch of its new website. S&G Response’s work is built around reliability, professionalism, and delivering trusted services when they matter most. Its new website reflects that commitment, making it easier to understand who we are, what we do, and how we support our clients. Read more

Europcar and vMobility launch vHire to reshape insurer-first mobility

Europcar Mobility Group UK and vMobility have joined forces to launch vHire – a next-generation, insurer-first vehicle replacement solution designed to reduce claims costs, streamline mobility, and enhance the customer journey. Read more

The road ahead: electrification, supply strain and claims impact

An insightful panel session at ILC’s Mobility in Insurance Conference 2025 explored the critical junction at which the repair, insurance and mobility sectors now sit. Bringing together leading voices from across the supply chain, the session delved into the growing pressures placed on traditional repair models, the surge in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, and the ripple effect on courtesy vehicle provision, customer experience, and insurer strategies. Read more

AX announces strategic partnership with ITAS to enhance post-accident customer experience for manufacturer partners

AX has formed a strategic partnership with ITAS, the global bodyshop management and training consultancy firm, to strengthen post-accident services for ITAS’s manufacturer partners. Read more

IMI: Reflections on our First Regional Member Event

IMI’s first-ever IMI Regional Event as part of the new Member Network was more than just a milestone; it was a powerful reminder of the strength, passion and depth of experience within our membership community. Read more

NI to become first in the UK to introduce graduated driving licences 

Northern Ireland will become the first part of the UK to introduce new rules for new drivers in a bid to reduce fatal road crashes involving young people. The graduated driver licensing reforms, described as the most significant changes in 70 years, will see Northern Ireland adopt a version of laws in place in countries including Australia, the US and the Republic of Ireland. Read more

Insurance claims sector rallies for ILC Day 2026 in support of Rainbow Trust

Excitement is building as the insurance claims industry gears up for ILC Day 2026 – the annual celebration of collaboration, community and charity in support of Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity. Taking place on Friday 13 February 2026, ILC Day invites organisations across the sector to wear red, fundraise creatively, and raise vital funds to support families with seriously ill children. With an ambitious target to fund 500 hours of Rainbow Trust’s one-to-one family support services, the campaign is already enjoying a groundswell of support from across the industry. Read more

Chris DiGiuseppe has started a new role as Director of Business Development at Convr.

James Armstrong has been appointed as UK Motor Claims Director at Admiral Group plc.

Jenny Scott has started a new role as Claims Sustainability Lead at Aviva.

Conor Lawson has started a new position as Fleet and Specialist Product Claims Handler at Acorn Group.

Samantha Jane Nicol has stepped into a new role as Founder & Director of Women of Automotive.