ARC360 Weekly News – Friday 5 September 2025

​Steer Automotive Group has announced the appointment of Darren Mee as Chief Financial Officer as the business continues to expand and strengthen its leadership team. Read more

Fix Auto Caldicot has secured official approval from Tesla, becoming the latest site within the Fix Auto UK network to meet the manufacturer’s exacting repair standards. Read more

Nova Automotive Group has opened its fourth site in Hertford.

Having secured the contract to manage the Body and Paint operations for Renault Group, Dacia, and Alpine at the start of 2025, ITAS – International Technical Automotive Systems has announced a network of repairers has now been chosen to provide necessary coverage in the UK to meet demand. 

Castle Accident Repair Centre has attained BS10125 standard with a certificate of distinction.

Cosmetic Repair Solutions Ltd has opened a new, 10,754sqft state of the art accident repair centre in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Nicholas Orr has started a new position as Bodyshop Manager at R&R Autos Bodyshop Ltd.

Jon Biggins has been appointed Managing Director of Shorade UK. Jon was previously Group General Manager of the business.

Foz Sports Bodyshop in Alloa has passed its stage two Kitemark BS10125 audit.

Chris Clifford has started a new position as Bodyshop Manager at OC Motor Repairs.

Lee Haden-Scott has been started a new position as Regional Motor Engineer at Fix Auto UK.

New car market shrinks in August but EVs reach record share for the year 

UK new car registrations declined by -2.0% in August to 82,908 units, during what is normally the quietest month of the year – generally accounting for less than 5% of annual deliveries ahead of September’s number plate change. Read more

Electric van demand doubles as overall market shrinks again 

UK demand for new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) shrank by -13.3% in August with 14,365 new vans, pickups and 4x4s joining UK roads, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).  Read more

Jobs lost, trade in the red: will Europe’s auto future be made elsewhere?

When an industry is left to struggle under extreme strain, the social cost quickly shows. In 2024, suppliers reported more than 54,000 jobs to be cut, and already this year, another 22,000 job losses have been announced. This is not the result of a delayed shift to e-mobility but stems from a deeper competitiveness problem, with closures and bankruptcies now driving an increasing share of job losses. Read more

Travelodge chooses Nissan LCVs to refresh its UK fleet

Travelodge has chosen Nissan to refresh its UK fleet with more than 200 Townstar and Primastar LCVs. Fully wrapped in Travelodge branding and fitted with bespoke storage racking inside, the vehicles will play a key role in Travelodge maintenance and operations across the country. Read more

Volvo Cars starts production of the new fully electric Volvo ES90

Volvo Cars has started production of its new, fully electric Volvo ES90 for European markets, marking a significant milestone in Volvo Cars’ journey towards a fully electric future. Read more

Hydrogen high tech at the BMW Group: start of series production in 2028 is getting closer

BMW Group Plant Steyr is getting ready for series production of fuel cell systems. The third generation of the BMW Group’s hydrogen drive system will be manufactured in Steyr from 2028, and the company’s competence centres in Munich and Steyr are already building the first prototypes. Further drive system components will come from the technology hub in Landshut. Read more

Jaguar Land Rover staff to stay at home in cyber attack fallout

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has instructed factory staff to stay at home until at least Tuesday as the company continues to grapple with the fallout from a cyber attack. The attack at the weekend forced the company to take vital IT systems offline, which has affected car sales and production. Read more

Agenda continues to build for Mobility conference

More sector leading names have been added to the agenda line-up as momentum for the Mobility in Insurance Conference 2025 builds. Taking place on Thursday 16 October 2025 at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, the conference – in association with The CHO – will explore: GTA2 reform, technology and fraud, vehicle crime, culture and collaboration, and the future of supply chains. Read more

BEV accident repair volumes rise as average costs fall

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) crash volumes in the UK reached a record high in August, with Gecko Risk reporting 12,462 BEV repairs during the month. The increase reflects the rapid growth of EVs on UK roads and presents key considerations for both insurers and repair professionals. Read more

Shifting gears: Allianz’s motor insurance transformation is boosting growth and customer experience 

Allianz, a global leading insurance company, operates a significant property and casualty (P&C) business in Germany, where it faces a highly competitive and fragmented motor insurance market. This intense competition has led to years of price battles, resulting in limited margins for many participants. Read more

Mirka acquires Hermes bonded abrasives business

Mirka Ltd, a global leader in surface finishing and industrial solutions, has acquired the bonded conventional abrasive wheels business of Hermes Schleifmittel GmbH. Read more

Silverlake launches recycled car battery scheme

Silverlake Automotive Recycling has unveiled a new reuse scheme offering motorists in Hampshire significant savings on vehicle batteries – while helping reduce carbon emissions and landfill waste. Read more

Athenaeum acquires Johnsons Cars Ltd

Athenaeum International Holdings Ltd, the investor behind Brayleys Cars Ltd, has completed its acquisition of Johnsons Cars Ltd – signalling a major step forward in the group’s strategic expansion across the UK motor retail market. Read more

Cary Group expands UK market presence through acquisition of Nationwide Windscreens (York) Ltd

Cary Group has acquired Nationwide Windscreens (York) Limited. The acquisition of Nationwide Windscreens (York) is the fourth acquisition outside of National Windscreens, Cary Groups existing business in the UK. Read more

Europe is moving forward on rightful access to all repair and maintenance information – but the UK risks falling behind 

Today’s vehicles are increasingly sophisticated: more comfortable, efficient, and connected than ever before. They’re smart, responsive, and in many cases, already paving the way toward autonomous driving. But with all this innovation comes a fundamental shift: cars are now computers on wheels. And that means that ensuring safe, secure and rightful access to the information and systems that keep them running isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s a legislative one. Read more

Ground-breaking technology exposes over 4,300 illegal ‘ghost plates’ in Birmingham 

Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has hailed the huge impact of a pioneering pilot designed to reveal the true scale of the use of illegal ‘ghost plates’ in the region, with 4,335 instances of these non-compliant plates identified in a single location in Birmingham in just two weeks. Read more

Mobility in Transition: Five Trends are Changing the Industry’s Risk Profile 

The mobility industry is undergoing profound transformation. New technologies, business models and market players are changing the rules of the game, often faster than legislation and market structures can keep up. Gorav Dheer, Underwriter Digital Solutions & Strategic Advisor Liability Global Risk at HDI Global, explains the key developments shaping the industry. He outlines how companies can minimise risks and seize opportunities. Read more

Ben launches festive fundraising drive

Ben, the charity dedicated to supporting the automotive community, is inviting the industry to spread some festive cheer this winter through two key fundraising activities: Christmas Jumper Day and its annual Christmas card campaign. Read more

Jonathan Wade has joined UK Carline Vehicle Leasing as Head of Sales & Fleet Operations

Michael Hill has started a new role as Chief Operating Officer at LKQ SYNETIQ