ARC360 News – Friday 8 May 2026

Activate Group has launched a new insurer-focused collision management brand following the integration of its Motor Repair Network and Avant Repair Network businesses. Read more

All Motofix Accident Repair Centres are now fully registered and compliant with SERMI, strengthening its ability to deliver secure, high-quality repairs as vehicle technology evolves.

Both The Pennings Group and CARS of Grimsby Ltd have officially adopted RWC’s Train to Gain programme to provide compliance, dedicated CPD and upskilling across their respective operations.

Mathew Poole has started a new role as Senior Client Account Manager at Steer Automotive Group. 

XL Motors is now a BYD Approved Accident Repair Centre.

ABL 1Touch – Hook has successfully passed its recent BSI audit.

Vertex Bodyworks is now BS10125 accredited.

Allscreens Nationwide is now working with Convo, making its booking and repair process accessible to customers whose first language is sign language.

Matthew Weeks has started a new position as Parts Specialist at Komoo.

Danielle Chruszcz has started a new role as Chief Marketing, People and Sustainability Officer at Activate Group Ltd.

ITAS – International Technical Automotive Systems has announced its selection by Mercedes-Benz AG to host the 2026 Mercedes-Benz European Body Repair Best Practice Workshops in October. The business has also announced its partnership with smart Europe GmbH and D&T Drive & Training AG to research, develop and deliver three brand specific training modules to its UK and European network of repairers. 

Fix Auto has officially launched in New Zealand.

Stellantis and Leapmotor announce their intention to take their strategic partnership to the next level

Stellantis NV has announced with Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co Ltd that they are exploring the expansion of their strategic partnership through a series of initiatives intended to build on the early success of their collaboration. Read more

Two millionth electric car registered as market rebounds strongly from tax changes 

The UK new car market grew by 24.0% to reach 149,247 registrations last month, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The increase reflects a rebound from an unusually weak April last year, when buyers pulled purchases forward to March to beat incoming vehicle tax increases, including the application of VED and the Expensive Car Supplement (ECS) on battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Read more

Toyota showcases end-to-end vehicle development at Technical Center in Japan

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) has held a media and stakeholder event at the Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama (TTC-S), its research and development center located across Toyota City and Okazaki City in Aichi Prefecture. The event showcased the frontline of its ever-better car-making initiatives – where a cycle of highly intense driving, intentional breaking, rapid onsite fixing and then retesting is carried out. Read more

Advances in battery cell production: How the BMW Group uses AI.

Less trial and error, earlier clarity on what works: at the BMW Group’s Battery Cell Competence Centre (BCCC), AI models are being piloted that could save significant amounts of time, money and raw materials in battery cell production. We offer a glimpse of how one technology is turning insights into practice faster, accelerating progress in battery cell production. Read more

Living with a Volkswagen Tayron 

There is a lot of noise across Europe currently about EVs, both in terms of number of sales and general press coverage, and there is no doubt that recent events may well drive sales up further. Thatcham Research’s Head of Automotive, Ben Townsend reports. Read more

Best-selling cars in April: UK favourite beats Jaecoo 7 to top spot 

New car sales rose 24% in April and the two millionth UK-registered electric car hit the road, according to the latest industry data, while a popular SUV reclaimed the top spot from a Chinese model. Read more

Van market returns to growth with EV boost 

The new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market rose by 6.8% in April with 21,716 vans, pickups and 4x4s joining UK roads, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). While the performance is compared against a weak April last year – a month impacted by tax changes – the return to growth after a disappointing March is welcome. Read more

MIB joins ILC as Industry Body Partner

ILC has announced the addition of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) as a new Industry Body Partner, further strengthening collaboration across the UK insurance claims sector. Read more

Accident and Repair sector losing 1,700 workers a year

The UK’s accident and repair sector is losing skilled workers at a rate that threatens to drive up motor insurance costs and extend vehicle repair times for millions of motorists, according to new research from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). Read more

Solera Audatex: Listening. Acting. Evolving.

Solera Audatex has analysed the themes from feedback to its NPS survey and ongoing conversations, prioritised what matters most to its customers, and translated that insight into tangible improvements across the Audatex platform. The developments reflect its work – and continued commitment to evolving alongside its customer’s businesses. Read more

Mirka UK announces leadership transition

Mirka UK has confirmed that Managing Director Craig Daycock will retire at the end of 2026, bringing to a close a 40-year career with the surface finishing technology specialist. To support the transition, Phil Sandford has taken on the interim role of Business Development Director before assuming the position of Managing Director in January 2027. Read more

Grove Group becomes official Glasurit distributor

We are proud to announce our official appointment as a distributor for Glasurit, a move that marks a significant milestone in Grove Group’s mission to provide the UK bodyshop industry with the ultimate premium refinishing portfolio. Read more

LKQ: What the EU’s new End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation means for the aftermarket 

In an end-of-year post, it was flagged that 2026 would bring a final vote on the EU’s End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation. That vote has now taken place, and the result is a piece of legislation that deserves a closer look, not least because its implications for independent repair and remanufacturing are more significant than the somewhat unglamorous name might suggest. Read more

Uninsured drivers: 2.9 million admit they’ve been fined for driving without cover 

One in 20 adults have received a fine for driving without insurance, and 3.2 million admitted that they have lost their policy details once before. A new study has estimated that approximately 2.9 million motorists have been fined for driving without insurance at least once in the past. Read more

Beyond the lock: the changing landscape of vehicle theft 

As automotive technology advances, so too do the methods used by car thieves. Today’s thieves aren’t just relying on traditional methods; they’re using more advanced techniques and actively working to block tracking and recovery efforts.  Read more

FCA to review claims management practices 

The FCA is launching a review of the claims management market, following concerns that consumers are being failed by some claims management companies (CMCs) and law firms. Read more

Turning Mobility Data into Insurance Value and New Ecosystems 

Software‑Defined Vehicles (SDV), AI and digital twins are reshaping how value is created in both mobility and insurance. Vehicles are no longer just assets that depreciate once they leave the showroom; they are evolving continuously updating, data‑rich platforms that can power new services, risk models and ecosystem collaborations across industries. Read more