ARC360 News – Friday 5 December 2025

AutoRaise, the charity dedicated to addressing the skills gap in the vehicle repair sector, has joined ILC as an Industry Body Partner to help promote the industry’s future talent needs. Read more

The National Body Repair Association (NBRA) has issued an urgent response to the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, warning that the combined impact of rising Employer National Insurance contributions and National Minimum Wage hikes creates a financial emergency for the UK accident repair sector. Read more

Fix Auto Rochester has become the first bodyshop in the UK to adopt RWC Training’s new ‘Train to Gain’ Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme. Read more

Vizion, VizionDrive and the NBRA have come together to support DEBRA, helping children living with Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare and incredibly painful skin condition. Until 1 January 2026, repairers can lease the hugely popular Ford Puma Gen E for £199 per month, and for every vehicle leased, £10 will be donated for each month of the lease directly to DEBRA. Read more

On behalf of Renault Group and Alpine, ITAS – International Technical Automotive Systems is looking to enhance the network of Approved Body Repairers and is inviting applications for several open positions throughout the UK. Read more

DLG Auto Services Warwick has closed its doors for the final time.

CRS Chesterfield and CRS Dinnington have successfully fulfilled all criteria for the 2025 VW Paint & Body Programme. Chesterfield has also successfully passed its BS10125 audit – with zero non-conformities.

Martin Ward, CEO of ZIGUP, commented: “It has been a great start to the year for our rental businesses with Spain delivering a standout performance and UK&I Rental showing good momentum with recent fleet wins and expansion of our specialist fleet. Claims & Services has continued to add new partners and extended services to existing contracts.” Read more

‘Carspreading’ is on the rise – and not everyone is happy about it 

Critics call it “carspreading”. In the UK and across Europe, cars are steadily becoming longer, wider and heavier. Consumers clearly like them – a lot. Big cars are seen as practical, safe and stylish, and sales are growing. So, why are some cities determined to clamp down on them – and are they right to do so? Read more

UK car market set to finally return to pre-pandemic scale as 10.2m transactions predicted for 2026 

According to Autotrader analysis, the UK car market is expected to close 2025 with an estimated 9.8m total transactions, delivering the largest combined new and used market since 2019. Read more

JLR boosts factory safety and operational efficiency with drone-based inspection pilot

JLR is trialling drone technology at its Electric Propulsion Manufacturing Centre (EPMC) in Wolverhampton, dramatically reducing machinery and site inspection time by up to 95%. The pilot is an important step forward in operational efficiency and employee safety, aligning with JLR’s vision for its factories of the future. Read more

Hyundai Motor Group Fosters Collaboration with Hydrogen Industry Leaders at Hydrogen Council Global CEO Summit

Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) co-hosted the Hydrogen Council Global CEO Summit from December 2 to 4 in Seoul, Korea, bringing together about 200 global leaders and policymakers to set the strategic direction for the global hydrogen industry and accelerate its transition. Read more

BMW Group sets new climate target for 2035: At least 60 million tons of CO2e savings compared to 2019 – another milestone on the road to net zero

The BMW Group has defined a new 2035 milestone for cutting CO₂e emissions on the road to net zero. The company aims to reduce its CO₂e emissions by at least 60 million metric tons compared to 2019 levels, an additional reduction of approximately 20 million tons of CO₂e beyond the existing 2030 target. Read more

NIO Inc. Delivered 36,275 Vehicles in November, Up 76.3% YoY

NIO delivered 36,275 vehicles in November 2025, representing an increase of 76.3% year-over-year. The deliveries consisted of 18,393 vehicles from NIO’s premium smart electric vehicle brand NIO, 11,794 vehicles from the family-oriented smart electric vehicle brand ONVO, and 6,088 vehicles from the small smart high-end electric car brand firefly. Read more

In-car tracking of vital signs: BMW Group takes medicine to the road.

When your car monitors your heart rate: The BMW Group and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin are exploring how connected sensors can measure a driver’s vital signs for early detection of risks such as heart attacks or strokes. It’s an exciting glimpse into the world of automotive health – and a collaboration that combines mobility and medicine like never before. Read more

Motor Lunch set to show support for Rainbow Trust

ILC’s Motor Claims Networking Lunch 2026 is rapidly nearing full capacity, with more than 750 key persons of influence from across the sector already set to attend and show their support for the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity. Read more

Data as strategy: unlocking the connected claims ecosystem

Data is no longer just an operational tool – it’s a strategic asset with the potential to transform the entire claims journey. That was the central message during ILC’s Exclusive Motor Claims Conference from David Vella, Managing Director – UK & Ireland at GT Motive, who called on insurers to connect, integrate and act on the insight already within their systems. Read more

Rising Stars of UK Skills Triumph at WorldSkills UK National Finals 

The UK’s most talented young professionals have been crowned champions at the WorldSkills UK National Finals in a glittering ceremony at the ICC Wales (Friday 28 November). Read more

AbraClean – Faster Surface Cleaning

Just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, a surface finish is only as good as its underlying layers. This is why precision and meticulous dust removal are so important when painting and coating. With AbraClean, you can ensure that your surface preparation is fast and effective. Read more

Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2025 

From the green spaces that improve our health to the quality of air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the soil that grows our food – our environment shapes who we are as a nation. It underpins our economy, our wellbeing, our very sense of place. When the environment thrives, we thrive too. Read more

UK EV surge leaves insurers face rising write-off costs 

New research from FWD Consulting reveals that UK businesses may be facing more than £461 million annually in electric vehicle (EV) write-off costs, driven by limited national repair capacity and growing commercial-fleet collisions. Read more

Pause on motor finance complaints handling to lift on 31 May 2026 

The FCA is lifting the pause on the handling of motor finance complaints on 31 May 2026. This timeframe enables it to finalise and begin implementing any compensation scheme, while giving firms a reasonable period to prepare. Read more

Staying safe from crash for cash scams in poor driving conditions 

As we head into winter, it’s important to do all you can to drive safe. As not only are collisions more likely because of challenging road conditions, but crash for cash scammers can take advantage of this to cause an accident. Read more

LKQ SYNETIQ, has appointed Annick Jourdenais as its new Managing Director to help lead the business’ mission of increasing access to sustainable, affordable mobility. Read more

Mick Burke and Matt Wilkinson have joined NWVA’s Blue Light Team.

Marc Powell has started a new position as Technical Service Representative – Commercial Vehicle at AkzoNobel Refinish.

The Board of Directors of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has re-elected Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, to serve a second term as ACEA President in 2026. Read more