ABP Club Car Body Repair News - July 2015

Below is a news headline summary. The full bodyshop news stories appear on the ABP Club members' forum.

31/7/15 - 19:03		US: Ford - disputes repair costs quoted by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) following crash safety test

31/7/15 - 13:01		ABP Club Charity Spa Day - Thursday 1 October 2015 at Hill Valley Hotel, Shropshire; book your place now!

31/7/15 - 12:38		Webuyanycar.com - 20,000 qualified motorists completed an online driving theory test... 1 in 3 qualified drivers failed

31/7/15 - 12:31		Direct Line Group - Steve Maddock, Claims Director, tells Post mag there's no evidence insurer-managed ABSs were fuelling claims frequency

31/7/15 - 12:14		AW Repair Group - mobile claims and repairs monitoring app downloaded more than 200 times in two weeks

31/7/15 - 11:56		David Cameron - south-east Asia trade mission to promote the UK as leading FinTech centre in the world

31/7/15 - 11:45		Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) / Saga - insurance fraudsters from Manchester jailed for three years for fake PI claims

31/7/15 - 11:09		US: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) - aluminium-bodied 2015 Ford F-150 more expensive to repair than 2014 steel-bodied model

31/7/15 - 10:39		Automotive Compliance - free GAP rule change August roadshow for retail motor dealers: 18th - Bristol, 19th - Clayton, 20th - Bexley

31/7/15 - 10:14		Zurich - announce departure of Tim Holliday, Managing Director for UKGI Personal Lines and Endsleigh, permanent successor to be appointed

31/7/15 - 10:13		Zurich - announce departure of Tim Holliday, Managing Director for UKGI Personal Lines and Endsleigh, permanent successor tp b

31/7/15 - 09:47		Farécla - Steve Simpson appointed in R & D as Applications Technician, former Sales Development Manager at Movac

31/7/15 - 09:23		Autoglass - Simon Blake appointed as Operations and Supply Chain Director, former Head of Global Supply Chain Management at Belron

30/7/15 - 14:27		Quartix - half-year results for leading fleet telematics supplier show sales up 24%

30/7/15 - 14:15		Selected highlights from the first half results of some key vehicle manufacturers

30/7/15 - 14:09		Sun Life - to set up general insurance division this year, starting with car insurance and aiming for 250,000 policyholders within 4 years

30/7/15 - 13:55		Government - issue advice for travellers on situation in Calais

30/7/15 - 12:39		LKQ Corporation - Q2 and half-year results; H1 worldwide turnover up 8.3%

30/7/15 - 12:04		Top Gear - Clarkson, Hammond and May sign for Amazon Prime to make new motoring programme series to start in 2016

30/7/15 - 11:55		RecoAuto - launch online auction platform for low value complete vehicles plus cat C and D

30/7/15 - 11:43		DfT - new Salvage code will go ahead, but Government have turned down request to make it a statutory code

30/7/15 - 09:50		Liberty Insurance (who bought Quinn Insurance in 2011) - 200 jobs saved in Enniskillen as call-centre outsourced to Teleperformance

30/7/15 - 09:35		ABI - average motor insurance premium rose 2.1% in last quarter; average premium now £367 up 2.9% in last year; PI claims up 12%

30/7/15 - 09:20		Moneysupermarket.com - half-year results; turnover up 18%; pre-tax profit up 43%; 24m unique visitors per month

30/7/15 - 09:10		DCML - new Dealer Car Manager app calculates BIK (Benfit in Kind); increases efficiency for Sytner Audi fleet

30/7/15 - 08:59		Inchcape - half-year results; underlying profit growth; new 60,000 sqft bodyshop opened in Singapore

29/7/15 - 14:15		Vauxhall - 5 million calls a month to OnStar from its subscriber base of more than 7 million - the "original" connected car

29/7/15 - 14:00		NAB and VBRA - NAB Exec Commitee and VBRA National Repairers Council meet to discuss future plans for bodyshop sector

29/7/15 - 13:42		Audi - new Matrix OLED flat lights; thinner and flatter than conventional LEDs

29/7/15 - 13:17		Lloyds Bank Insurance - UK's microbusinesses (fewer than 10 employees) benefit from family support economy of £64.3 million per week

29/7/15 - 13:15		Cumbria Constabulary and the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) - 38 cash for crash fraudsters charged

29/7/15 - 12:51		China - the ultimate fake PI claim: pensioner pretends to get run over by car stationary at red light; dash cam footage helps clear driver

29/7/15 - 12:36		WorldSkills 2015 - keep calm! Ben Eaton, former WorldSkills competitor, offers advice to this year's contenders

29/7/15 - 12:10		Classic Car Weekly - consumer magazine says "illegal path of information from broker to claims chaser still exists"

29/7/15 - 11:57		USA: General Motors (GM) - "pushing ahead of the competition" to engage with telematics insurers

29/7/15 - 11:35		Auto Express and Warrantywise - average hourly mechanical repair labour rates vary by 220% across Britain

29/7/15 - 11:24		British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) and Acturis - upward trend in motor prices, according to latest Insurance Price Index

29/7/15 - 11:02		Mexico: Daimler and Renault-Nissan Alliance - manufacturing joint venture for Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti compact vehicles

29/7/15 - 10:20		Go Ultra Low - Motorists’ confidence in ultra low emission cars grows as average home charging rates almost triple in a single year

29/7/15 - 09:57		GEM Motoring Assist - UK's number one breakdown recovery provider, according to 2015 Auto Express Driver Power Survey

29/7/15 - 09:39		Young Driver - motoring experts back petition to include practical and classroom-based driving lessons on the school curriculum

29/7/15 - 08:43		RSA - Zurich say their offer to buy RSA will be solely in cash

28/7/15 - 19:46		Managed Fleet Services Ltd (MFS) - has been acquired by Davies Group, commercial property and housedold insurance claims provider

28/7/15 - 19:25		The IMI - Skill Auto Auto Refinishing, Auto Tech or Auto Body finalists announced; finals at the NEC, Birmingham, 19-21 November

28/7/15 - 18:55		Isuzu Truck - celebrates first year of success of its Advanced Apprenticeship Programme

28/7/15 - 13:24		US: NACE - organisers "disappointed" in overall numbers, reports BodyShop Business magazine

28/7/15 - 13:12		RSA - issue statement regarding possible bid from Zurich

28/7/15 - 12:25		Volkswagen - knocks Toyota off the top spot as the world's most popular selling vehicle manufacturer

28/7/15 - 11:37		Thatcham - latest insight papers and research include the Lexus RC with Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) for the roof and bonnet

28/7/15 - 11:13		Henkel - new Loctite workshop hand cleaner is now ultra-safe

28/7/15 - 11:02		LeasePlan - new report published in partnership with Deloitte offers expert guidance on fleet funding & taxation

28/7/15 - 10:46		AkzoNobel - new-look labelling for vehicle refinishing products

28/7/15 - 10:16		GoCompare - 1.2 million motorists have had an accident or near miss thanks to dashboard distractions

28/7/15 - 10:10		Accident Exchange - 2014 stats show 9% of collisions involved driver pulling from a side road; 12% increase in a year; £266m repair bill

28/7/15 - 07:57		Mercedes-Benz Vans - Rescue Assist QR code stickers can now be retrofitted to Mercedes-Benz UK vans built since 1996 free of charge

28/7/15 - 07:41		US: JD Power - safety and collision avoidance technology such as blind-spot monitoring and park assist make cars more appealing to drivers

28/7/15 - 07:15		RSA Insurance Group - Zurich confirms they are evaluating a possible offer for RSA

28/7/15 - 06:58		Quindell - Shareholder Action Group is "impressed by the professionalism and pedigree" of Quindell's new Board of Directors

27/7/15 - 14:06		Ageas - partners with Hampshire Police to reduce uninsured driving

27/7/15 - 13:54		Just Car Clinics - annual awards at Doncaster Racecourse celebrate the JCC team; JCC Hull named Bodyshop of the Year

27/7/15 - 13:52		UK Body Repair Economic Climate Survey - Reminder for bodyshops to complete the quick and easy short survey

27/7/15 - 13:42		The Freight Transport Association (FTA) - calls for construction vehicles such as concrete mixers to be subject to HGV regulatory framework

27/7/15 - 13:24		Plaxton's - Alexander Dennis fined for exposing workers to HAVS at aftersales, repair and refurbishment depot

27/7/15 - 13:11		HMG Paints - Future Entrepreneurship Partnership Future Entrepreneurship Partnership: benchmark for coatings sector training programmes

27/7/15 - 12:50		Ethical Marketing Charter - National Accident Helpline and law firms launch industry-led initiative to promote ethical PI practices

27/7/15 - 12:22		Cumbria Constabulary - 38 charged with 'cash for crash' offences across Cumbria

27/7/15 - 12:07		Australia: Berkshire Hathaway - commercial insurance: Warren Buffett's insurance firm "wants to put brokers out of business"

27/7/15 - 11:28		Nissan - new retail insurance partnership with Maiden Insurance Partnerships

27/7/15 - 11:17		Valeo - aftermarket sales up 8%; OE sales of €6,316 million, up 16% (7% like-for-like) thanks to autonomous vehicle technology

27/7/15 - 10:01		Institute of Advanced Motorists’ (IAM) - high-mileage drivers drivers think speed cameras are a waste of time

27/7/15 - 09:25		Quindell (Slater & Gordon) - contract renewal ended with Swinton for 1.2m motor policies

27/7/15 - 07:49		Apprenticeships - government to crack down on poor quality training courses being passed off as apprenticeships

26/7/15 - 17:33		Government - Small Business Commissioner to help tackle payment disputes and other unfair practices

24/7/15 - 15:00		Ethan Rees Linwood Memorial Fund - last few places at charity golf day, Wednesday 29th July

24/7/15 - 14:17		Department for Transport - government response to Transport Select Committee: Second Special Report - 12 recommendations

24/7/15 - 14:05		AkzoNobel - new-look labelling for vehicle refinishing products

24/7/15 - 14:00		Sure Thing - Scottish Motor broker, set up by ex Kwik Fit boss, celebrates successful first year

24/7/15 - 13:48		Nationwide JCC - today's acquisition for £13.77m takes NARS to 108 bodyshops; 7% UK accident repair market share

24/7/15 - 12:38		Thatcham - Repair Focus 2015 highlights - check out the video!

24/7/15 - 11:38		Allianz - 23 university students join insurer's 2015 Summer Internship Scheme

24/7/15 - 11:24		Sandicliffe Motor Contracts - appoints Gary Black, previous Fleet Manager of the Year, to head up sales support

24/7/15 - 09:44		Nationwide Accident Repair Services - acquires Just Car Clinic group for £13.8m; 28 JCC bodyshops

24/7/15 - 09:16		Lexus - one-off RC F high-performance coupe has body panels finished in electro-luminescent paint

24/7/15 - 09:03		Insurance Revolution - Manchester motor broker that specialises in drivers who find it difficult to get insurance trebles workforce

23/7/15 - 16:22		Chaucer (part of Markerstudy Group) - agreement to buy Quinn Direct car insurance book making Markerstudy 8th largest insurer (ABP yearbook)

23/7/15 - 15:54		Irish Independent - reporting that Aviva and Allianz are refusing to cover new customers in Ireland driving cars 15 years or older

23/7/15 - 13:40		ChipsAway - 24% of repairs are on silver cars

23/7/15 - 12:46		Volkswagen and Fleet Investments BV - dispose of holding in LeasePlan for €3.7 billion

23/7/15 - 11:38		US: Apple - another automotive industry name joins technology giant, Apple: Doug Betts, former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles exec

23/7/15 - 11:32		SMMT - British CV production up almost a third in first half of 2015

23/7/15 - 10:48		The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) - financial services firms no longer able to charge customers premium rates for complaints calls

23/7/15 - 10:40		Generali - acquisition of motor insurance technology company, MyDrive Solutions

23/7/15 - 09:34		Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA) - rise of autonomous cars will change the nature of car ownership and challenge the motor insurance market

23/7/15 - 09:27		Ptolemus Consulting Group - telematics insurance in the UK: 2013 forecast of 163% growth in the UK; actual growth just 15%

23/7/15 - 09:04		RM - gains worldwide approval for R-M automotive refinish paints for use by the Tesla distribution and bodyshop network

23/7/15 - 08:52		uSwitch - car insurance price rise will be double blow for young drivers

23/7/15 - 08:44		Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) - dangerous drivers: taking selfies (9%), video calls (18%) and watching TV (7%)

23/7/15 - 08:36		SMMT - best half-year for UK car manufacturing since 2008 as productivity accelerates

23/7/15 - 07:42		Vertu (Bristol Street Motors) - trading update; sales growth continues with strong profitability

22/7/15 - 14:04		Auto Body Professional - 2015 is a "pivotal year" for motor insurers, says Paul Sykes, Audatex UK MD

22/7/15 - 13:55		National Apprenticeship Week 2016 - dates announced for next year: 14 to 18 March 2016

22/7/15 - 13:48		Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) - outgoing chief exec, Martin Wheatley, has "unfinished business"

22/7/15 - 12:02		Aston Martin - just released trailer for Spectre, the new James Bond film, features the new Aston Martin DB10

22/7/15 - 11:35		Bike Trac - £642,729 worth of motorcycles recovered in first six months of the year using tracking device; double same period last year

22/7/15 - 11:17		GoCompare - rising premiums and IPT increase should be a wake-up call to complacent drivers

22/7/15 - 11:09		Post - Insurance Fraud Awards 2015 shortlist announced

22/7/15 - 10:51		Jennings Motor Group - new motorhome business venture between Ford Transit Centre in Middlesbrough and local firm, Devon Conversions

22/7/15 - 10:27		US: NACE - International Autobody Congress and Exposition underway in Detroit, USA

22/7/15 - 09:44		US: Wired magazine - cybersecurity researchers remotely hack into Jeep Cherokee using telematics system

22/7/15 - 09:38		RMI and VBRA - VBRA board resigns, replaced by members of RMI board; VBRA accounts show reserves of £836,000

22/7/15 - 08:14		Australia: Suncorp Insurance and Audatex - roll-out new Audanet repair platform

21/7/15 - 22:13		Motofix Group - acquire their 7th bodyshop, Andrew Symms in Yeovil; more acquisitions in south west in coming months

21/7/15 - 13:51		European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) - #letsgo campaign: calls on European Comission for target reduce serious road injuries

21/7/15 - 13:35		Global NCAP - European Parliament awarded 2015 Consumer Champion Award for saving thousands of lives over the past 20 years

21/7/15 - 13:25		UK Assistance Accident Repair Centre Heywood - arsonists cause half a million pounds of damage to cars at Direct Line's Heywood bodyshop

21/7/15 - 13:09		Aviva - the fight against insurance fraud: global claims director David Lovely tells Post "some competitors are feeding the beast"

21/7/15 - 12:58		Vauxhall - technicians to capture on video recommended repair work and share it with owners immediately via mobile and email

21/7/15 - 12:50		SmartWitness - dash cam maker names 11am on Saturday 25 July the most likely time that motorists will have a crash

21/7/15 - 12:40		Fix Auto Dagenham - two more awards for the team at Barking & Dagenham Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2015

21/7/15 - 12:19		The Financial Ombudsman Service - Apr-June 2015 complaints data: 55% of complaints are PPI insurance; 6,263 enquiries about motor insurance

21/7/15 - 11:45		Petrol and diesel prices - price differential at narrowest for 5 years

21/7/15 - 10:47		Admiral - second largest UK motor insurer (ABP Industry Yearbook) annouces 280 new jobs in Wales: Newport, Cardiff and Swansea

21/7/15 - 10:36		Austria: Axalta - Standox lends support to Formula Student motorsport competition in Austria

21/7/15 - 10:25		Petrol and diesel sales - hit 5-year high in first half of 2015

21/7/15 - 10:18		Waregrain Group - announces 2015 golf day; Tuesday 29th September at The Players Club, Chipping Sodbury

21/7/15 - 10:02		Germany: TomTom and Bosch - partner on innovative mapping technology for automated driving

21/7/15 - 09:50		The National Audit Office - decline in the financial health of further education (FE) colleges; 110 operating with a deficit

21/7/15 - 08:49		AA - average motor premiums increase by 5.2%, now £549.46; the days of cheap premiums are over according to the AA index

20/7/15 - 14:02		Quindell Legal Services - planning permission to expand Professional Services Division office to accomodate an additional 140 staff

20/7/15 - 13:48		Auto Body Professional - VW's Total Loss Avoidance programme: just 1 repair a month could generate £36k per year in part sales for bodyshop

20/7/15 - 13:33		UK Government - £20m govenment cash matched by industry to fund research and development for driverless vehicles

20/7/15 - 13:26		EurotaxGlass’s - targets European automotive market with new data division to provide insight to manufacturers and fleets

20/7/15 - 13:12		RAC - Diesel motorists to benefit from UK ‘fuel price flip’ – but there’s scope for a further 4p per litre to come off the pump price

20/7/15 - 12:04		Direct Line - "seven day" prize draw to promote Direct Line's Seven Day Fix service

20/7/15 - 11:46		HPI - a four-year MoT period opens the door for clockers looking to make a fast profit, says HPI

20/7/15 - 11:38		LeasePlan - survey of 3,777 lease vehicle drivers reveals that in-vehicle telematics would affect driver safety, leading to fewer accidents

20/7/15 - 11:26		Just Car Clinics - two 5-a-side teams complete in One Call Insurance charity football tournament to raise funds for Eve Merton Dreams Trust

20/7/15 - 10:37		Trading Standards - new legislation from October to assist consumers in resolving their disputes with businesses

20/7/15 - 09:37		Ford - camera-based advanced front lighting system widens beam at junctions and roundabouts after interpreting traffic signs

20/7/15 - 09:16		Met Police - north London crash for cash gang convicted for attempting to defraud Zurich and Direct Line of £5.6million

19/7/15 - 17:56		Jim Monteith - (ex Ai Claims and FARG) leaves RAC and now seeking new challenge

19/7/15 - 11:23		Aviva - to spend £millions this year fighting over 1,000 spurious claims for whiplash compensation

17/7/15 - 15:37		Quindell - Evening Standard reports that accounts are now "in order with its shares set to resume trading on AIM"

17/7/15 - 14:11		LORD Fusor and INDASA Abrasives (UK) - new partnership for automotive aftermarket distribution

17/7/15 - 13:37		Dicksons of Forres - car servicing centre to close to accomodate expanding bodyshop side of the business

17/7/15 - 13:25		Deloitte - latest "Insurance Disrupted " report identifies 9 killer applications of digital technology in general insurance

17/7/15 - 13:02		The Retail Automotive Alliance - confirms John Matthew's (ex Audatex, Fix Auto & AutoRestore) appointment as Business Developement Director

17/7/15 - 12:35		Fix Auto UK - Wilson & Co join network as Fix Auto Bolton

17/7/15 - 12:26		Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) - chief exec Martin Wheatley to stand down in September

17/7/15 - 12:18		PPG Industries - Michael McGarry appointed as President and CEO from 1 September; replaces Charles Bunch who has been CEO for 10 years

17/7/15 - 11:25		London Road Danger Reduction Partnership - cyclists invited to see for themselves how difficult it is for LGV driver to see other road users

17/7/15 - 11:15		US: San Jose, Santa Clara County - latest staged crash scam involing the “Coffee Break” gang; 100 false claims could be worth more than $2m

17/7/15 - 10:59		Google - three Google employees suffer minor whiplash in accident involving Lexus SUV self-driving car prototype

17/7/15 - 10:49		Independent Transport Commission (ITC) - younger people are ‘falling out of love’ with the car; just 64% of 16-24 yr olds learning to drive

17/7/15 - 10:23		Tracker - urges fleet managers not to be seduced by the volume of telematics data, intelligence is only intelligent if useable

17/7/15 - 10:05		Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) - US & EU trade deal to increase automotive trade by 20%; $20bn income boost

17/7/15 - 09:36		FMG - FMG Legal (ABS law firm jointly owned with FMG) extends contract with PI firm, NewLaw Solicitors

17/7/15 - 09:30		LV= - Brits under siege from 60m nuisance calls and texts every day; over 80% who receive PI calls have never been in accident

17/7/15 - 08:54		Ministry of Justice - review of the MedCo system; call for evidence on system for allocating medical reports in support of whiplash claims

16/7/15 - 19:07		bodyshop magazine - finalists announced for the paint, panel and VDA awards; 4 of the 8 technician finalists are from Devonshire Motors

16/7/15 - 15:03		Euro Car Parts (ECP) - invests over £500,000 in major bodyshop technical training programme to deliver 300 events at 225 branches

16/7/15 - 14:06		WNS (Holdings) - results for Q1; worldwide profits up 8.7% on turnover up 2.4%

16/7/15 - 14:02		Auto Body Professional magazine - telematics: analytics that are "impartial and incontestable" writes Malcolm Banner, NARG

16/7/15 - 13:49		ABP Ireland National Meetings 2015 - 15 exhibitors confirmed! Tues 8th Sept - Dublin & Weds 9th Sept - Belfast

16/7/15 - 13:37		BSI - appoints Dr Stephen Page as a non-exec director; specialises in in corporate risks such as cyber security and counterterrorism

16/7/15 - 13:25		Aviva - semi-professional football player ordered to pay insurer's costs of more than £11,000 for dishonest whiplash claim

16/7/15 - 13:15		Telefónica (O2) - two new telematics products and an app for the Spanish market that offers car insurance savings

16/7/15 - 12:51		BASF Coatings - new Global Trend Book features 65 colours and info on global and regional color trends

16/7/15 - 12:37		ACIS - L&I Eaton Accident Repair Centres signs up to ASCRIBE online stock management and ordering

16/7/15 - 12:18		PPG / Nationwide - sponsored Porsche Carrera driven by Dan Cammish leads championship half way through season; "best car on the grid"

16/7/15 - 10:49		Covéa Insurance - new service initiative with Audatex to provide customers with a 48-hour decision on most reported motor claims

16/7/15 - 10:38		Southend Magistrates' Court - disqualified driver arrested driving home from court after receiving ban... he was driving without insurance

16/7/15 - 10:28		Covéa - Head of Claims Motor Engineers for Covéa insurance and Thatcham's Executive Director attends first PACTS meeting

16/7/15 - 10:17		AW Repair Group - launch free App; includes crash data capture, QuickQuote calculator and claim and repair tracking

16/7/15 - 10:05		Paint Perfect Motorsport - Lincoln-based bodyshop starts crowd funding share scheme to get Clio Cup race car back on track

15/7/15 - 23:07		Direct Line - landlord insurance radio ad banned by ASA

15/7/15 - 14:42		MIRA - research establishment in Nuneaton acquired by Japanese HORIBA

15/7/15 - 14:08		The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) - an increase in whiplash claims are NOT driving up the price of car insurance

15/7/15 - 13:45		Standox - provides practical advice for painters: correct refinish techniques for summer

15/7/15 - 13:31		RMI - attack draft of proposed new salvage Code of Practice; "clearly drafted to protect insurers"

15/7/15 - 13:16		MoneySuperMarket - drivers given the chance to drive the UK’s first mind-controlled car; a BMW i3 that registers brain waves

15/7/15 - 12:55		S&G Response - reliable and readily available repair methods for CV repairs a "big concern" says MD, Andy Whatmough

15/7/15 - 12:33		The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) - publishes final guidance on competition powers; Insurance Age reveals FCA staff spending hit £1.7m

15/7/15 - 11:57		Helphire - the GTA will survive without Helphire, says CHO Director General, Martin Andrews

15/7/15 - 11:26		Vauxhall - 2,275 borderline total losses saved: worth £4,811,441 to the bodyshop industry: read ABP's interview with Tony Neff, online, now!

15/7/15 - 10:15		ERS (formerly Equity Red Star) - 161 staff to leave ERS, reports Post; 15th largest UK motor insurer in ABP Yearbook

15/7/15 - 09:53		Volkswagen - develops "V-Charge": automated parking and charging of electric vehicles

15/7/15 - 09:40		Government - average pay up 3.2% compared to this time last year, with unemployment down and employment up

15/7/15 - 09:25		Markerstudy - Simon Marsh, vehicle secutiry and safety systems expert, appointed to head up TeleMGA - in-vehicle techology policies

15/7/15 - 09:09		Bobatoo.co.uk - in a survey of 911 UK motorists, less than a third would choose a driverless car; main concern is safety

15/7/15 - 07:43		Moneysupermarket.com - trading update

15/7/15 - 07:40		AA - expands its financial services products in conjunction with Bank of Ireland to offer morgages, ISAs, lonas, credit cards

14/7/15 - 10:48		Swindon Crown Court - three spared jail after admitting "entirely fictitious" road traffic collision and PI claims

14/7/15 - 10:40		Brightside - specialist insurance broker launches branded car insurance

14/7/15 - 10:27		Copart - "A Smashed Car Is Gold To Copart"; bullish view from American investment house

14/7/15 - 10:21		Maxi-Low UK - CV company takes over producxtion facilities of Allfleet Bodyshop Services, Loughborough, which ceased trading in February

14/7/15 - 10:09		The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) - EU review of car hire sector:Avis Budget, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Europcar, Sixt & Hertz

14/7/15 - 09:52		Churchill Car Insurance - 35% of drivers wrongly think a fully comp policy fully covers them to drive any vehicle

14/7/15 - 09:40		Inflation rate – falls again; CPI down to 0.0%; RPI unchanged at 1.0%

13/7/15 - 15:02		USA: Solera - to acquire remaing 50% (to give 100% ownership) of Identifix, an SMR provider of vehicle diagnostics and repair intelligence

13/7/15 - 14:09		2015 AGS HBC Gumball Rally - UK motor claims industry rallies around to support charties

13/7/15 - 13:55		Helphire - withdraw from ABI GTA on credit hire; replaced with bilateral agreements

13/7/15 - 13:52		Bodyshop mag - Celtic Manor event & awards on 25 Sept; exhibition & conference in same room; suppliers to pay £95 to attend during daytime

13/7/15 - 13:43		Axa - victory over £140,000 organised, contrived motor collisions gang operating in Southampton

13/7/15 - 13:33		Auto Body Professional - find out how Chartwell have seen a 70% reduction in supplementary estimates in the latest issue; read online now!

13/7/15 - 13:28		Fred Smith & Sons (Motor Bodies) Ltd in West Brom - secures 7-figure funding package for expansion

13/7/15 - 13:04		Bosch - joint research initiative between Bosch and 21 partners from 4 countries to develop computers for automated driving

13/7/15 - 12:30		Honda UK - Honda Borderline Write Off Avoidance programme incentive now live

13/7/15 - 12:01		I Love Claims - register now at the newly re-launched I Love Claims website

13/7/15 - 11:52		Thatcham - Solus ARC announces apprenticeship strategy and recruitment drive for new generation of repair technicians

13/7/15 - 11:36		Spraybooth Technology Limited (STL) - East Bilney Coachworks' new STL system with 5 moveable bays and a static booth at King Lynn site

13/7/15 - 10:33		AA - blue overtakes silver as the most popular car colour choice for AA members

13/7/15 - 10:15		The ABI - insurance fraud: insurers expose £3.6 million every day; motor insurance fraud most common & highest value: £835m up 3% on 2013

13/7/15 - 10:05		Cambridgeshire police - 235 careless drivers caught in crackdown on tailgating, hogging the middle lane and driving too slowly

13/7/15 - 09:34		Secretary of State for Business - the UK is home to the "world’s most productive automotive sector"

13/7/15 - 09:24		CBI - 68-page survey says "Skills Emergency" could starve growth in UK

13/7/15 - 09:03		Confused.com/Towers Watson - motor insurance premium index shows annual rise of 3.6% to £600 (with1.6% rise in last quarter)

12/7/15 - 11:43		Daily Mail - insurers will have to show last years premium on renewal letters and explain why price has gone up

12/7/15 - 11:17		Sunday Times - "Insurance costs are set to soar after ‘stealth’ tax rise"

10/7/15 - 13:55		Fix Auto Wrexham - ABP's visit to Fix Auto Oswestry's second site; bodyshop acquired and refurbished in less than two months

10/7/15 - 13:39		Selsia Vehicle Accident Centres - targeting the fleet sector as exhibitors at three fleet shows this autumn

10/7/15 - 13:34		TomTom Telematics - landmark milestone of 500,000 subscribed vehicles passed; more than 36,000 global customers

10/7/15 - 13:12		DVLA - driving licence check code extended from 72 hours to 21 days: "a victory for common sense", sayd RAC

10/7/15 - 11:17		Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) - large-scale referral fee fraud investigation sees nationwide police action

10/7/15 - 11:13		Diesel prices - drivers "ripped off by £40m a week"; retailers making 6x more profit on every litre of diesel sold than petrol

10/7/15 - 11:04		Thatcham - auto-braking: HGVs to catch up with cars: November deadline for mandated fitment of AEB systems in new HGV over 7.5 tonnes

10/7/15 - 10:51		Budget - Glass's: summer Budget "supports the ongoing economic recovery in general terms and that this is good news for the motor industry"

10/7/15 - 10:45		The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) - clarifies how it decides to handle cases of misconduct

10/7/15 - 10:38		HPI - consumers see buying a used car privately as a more "trustworthy" and "sincere" option than buying from the trade

10/7/15 - 10:30		Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - Auto Bodyworks and Wheel Clinic fined for failing to comply with improvement notices

10/7/15 - 10:17		Rye Street Group - Billy Duffy "delighted" and "proud" with Motor Trader Bodyshop of the Year Award

10/7/15 - 09:51		Staffordshire Police - 4,386 vehicle seized in first two years of crackdown on uninsured drivers

10/7/15 - 09:42		Privilege Insurance (Direct Line Group) - Lincoln named the road raage capital of Britain

10/7/15 - 09:26		London Tube Strike - 1,495 separate congestion hotspots recorded at 17.40 yesterday evening

10/7/15 - 09:14		Carole Nash - Groupama owned motorcycle insurance broker reports 0.5% rise in pre tax profit in "fiercely competitive" market

10/7/15 - 08:24		Enterprise - how they won Outsourced Partner Claims Initiative of the Year at this week's British Insurance Awards

10/7/15 - 08:20		Axa - how their "Making Claims Clear" initiative won Claims Initiative of the Year at this week's British Insurance Awards

09/7/15 - 15:08		RMI - signs agreement with VBRA

09/7/15 - 14:06		Fix Auto - $8.2M (Canadian) investment in Fix Auto World "most important strategic move in the history of Fix Auto"

09/7/15 - 14:04		House of Commons - new Transport Select Committe membership; Louise Ellman re-elected as chair

09/7/15 - 13:12		USA: LKQ - pay $29m forCoast, one of the largest wholesale aftermarket suppliers of replacement parts for the recreational vehicle industry

09/7/15 - 13:04		Auto Body Professional magazine - read online now! Exclusive insight into Carlyle, new owners of Nationwide

09/7/15 - 13:00		Motor Codes - consumer arm of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) appointed ADR provider for UK automotive industry

09/7/15 - 12:42		Auto Body Professional - latest issue inclues: GT Motive to start in UK in Q3 as major Audatex competitor & Carlyle - new Nationwide owners

09/7/15 - 12:10		3M - applying 3M science at Goodwood Festival of Speed

09/7/15 - 11:15		Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) - number of new cars bought on finance provided through dealerships grew 6% in May

09/7/15 - 11:09		Romania - GI market recorded losses of €30 million; insurance market overall reduced total loss by €300m versus 2014

09/7/15 - 10:58		Budget - Ernst & Young (EY): increase in Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) of more than 50% could mean a rise in uninsured drivers

09/7/15 - 10:21		Autosales Mitsubishi - Aftersales Manager Paul Harrison organises charity fun run to raise money for Market Drayton Foodbank

09/7/15 - 10:11		LV= - insurer sets up temporary office in Premier Inn hotel to cope with flood of claims following freak hail storm in the north east

09/7/15 - 08:49		Ireland:Galway Circuit Civil Court - judge throws out two €38,000 PI claims by brothers in case against Aviva

09/7/15 - 08:42		Budget - KPMG: Insurance Premium Tax increase will raise an additional £1.75bn for the UK government

09/7/15 - 08:41		British Insurance Awards from Post mag - full list of winners (& finalists) for all 25 awards

09/7/15 - 08:30		Motor Trader awards - full list of winners (& finalists) for all 25 awards; Rye Street win Bodyshop of the Year

09/7/15 - 08:28		Budget - MoneySuperMarket: increase to insurance premium tax will add £35 to insurance bills for the average two-car family

09/7/15 - 08:07		Budget - NFU Mutual: "Budget will provide welcomed reassurances for many mid-sized business owners"

09/7/15 - 07:59		Budget - AA outrage at hiked Insurance Premium Tax; increase will mean extra £17.50 on average £530 premium

09/7/15 - 07:30		Marshall Motor Holdings - trading update; good growth in profits; well placed for acquisitions

08/7/15 - 17:44		USA: LKQ - acquire PartsChannel (second largest aftermarket parts distributor in US)

08/7/15 - 16:22		I Love Claims - ABP's report from the sixth annual I Love Claims Motor conference

08/7/15 - 16:00		Budget - comment from Aviva on George Osborne’s proposed review of CMCs and cap on the fees they can charge

08/7/15 - 15:57		ABP Club Charity Spa Day - Thursday 1 October 2015 at Hill Valley Hotel, Whitchurch, Shropshire; book your place now!

08/7/15 - 15:11		Budget - responses from ABI, BIBA, RHA, FTA,

08/7/15 - 15:10		CitNOW Video Awards - winners announced; Cooper BMW Bodyshop, Chelmsford, win the CitNOW Bodyshop video" award

08/7/15 - 15:01		Budget - IFB (Insurance Fraud Bureau) welcomes review into the regulation of claims management companies

08/7/15 - 14:58		Budget - road improvement and upgrades announced

08/7/15 - 14:52		Auto Body Professional magazine - latest magazine includes industry Q2 financial results

08/7/15 - 14:09		ABP Club Charity Spa Day - Thursday 1 October 2015 at Hill Valley Hotel, Whitchurch, Shropshire; book your place now!

08/7/15 - 13:49		Budget latest - £9 an hour "national living wage" by 2020; personal tax allowances up; budget speech ended at 1.42pm

08/7/15 - 13:42		Paragon Automotive - Ian Carlisle appointed as new group CEO; fomer Autoglass Managing Director UK and Ireland 1996 – 2003

08/7/15 - 13:31		Budget latest - changes to dividend tax; corporation tax cut; pension tax allowance changed; benefits cap introduced

08/7/15 - 13:20		Budget latest - Sunday trading hours to be relaxed; devolving power to create "Northern Powerhouse"; inheritance tax changes

08/7/15 - 13:14		Budget latest - apprenticeship levy to be applied to all large firms

08/7/15 - 13:10		Budget latest - new Roads Fund financed by Vehicle Excise Duty on new cars from 2017; MOT now not until car 4 years old

08/7/15 - 13:03		Budget latest - insurance premium tax up to 9.5% (from 6%); major review of regulation of claims management companies

08/7/15 - 13:03		Budget latest - public sector pay rises set at 1% for next 4 years

08/7/15 - 12:51		Budget latest -key positioning statements; significant slowing pace of deficit reduction - less austerity

08/7/15 - 12:48		Office for National Statistics (ONS) - latest ONS figures for Profitability of UK companies: January to March 2015

08/7/15 - 12:37		Zurich Insurance Group - selects BT as global networking provider for insurer's operations in 49 countries

08/7/15 - 12:18		Dent Wizard - mobile SMART repairer supplied with 25 new long wheelbase Mercedes-Benz Vito vans by Fleet Alliance

08/7/15 - 12:03		Markerstudy - 9th largest motor insurer (ABP Yearbook figures) launches Coat of Arms at staff conference

08/7/15 - 11:56		RS Motors - Richard Smith of RS Motors, an accredited shotgun coach, wins the Birmingham Proof House trophy 2015

08/7/15 - 11:27		Axalta - awarded Volvo Car Corporation's Quality Excellence (VQE) Award in Germany

08/7/15 - 10:12		Australia: Symach – new Gemini Brisbane site is Australia’s largest bodyshop and the fifth Symach-Gemini project in two years

08/7/15 - 09:50		Mercedes - new E-class (W123), due Mch 2016, will "take a further major step along the road to accident-free and autonomous driving"

08/7/15 - 09:21		Axalta - Cromax Repair Systems: a range of four repair systems that cover everything from spot repairs to refinishing premium vehicles

08/7/15 - 09:14		Dews Motor Group - new 24-hour email helpline for service customers trialed; if popular, could be rolled out to accident repair customers

08/7/15 - 08:40		China: Solera (owners of Audatex) - parter with MAPFRE Insurance to invest $5 million in Chinese car insurance research facility

08/7/15 - 07:55		RSA - accounting watchdog to investigate individuals involved with financial irregularities at RSA Ireland

07/7/15 - 22:01		Going to Motor Trader awards or British Insurance awards on Wednesday evening? Warning no tube trains after 6pm Wed and all day Thurs

07/7/15 - 13:47		TyreSafe - 10 million tyres on the roads of England, Scotland and Wales could be dangerous and illegal in 2015

07/7/15 - 13:25		Steve Thompson - former Group Sales Director of Nationwide joins I Love Claims to grow motor business

07/7/15 - 13:03		Cambridge News - customer service from an insurer or "how to avoid taking any responsibility whatsoever"

07/7/15 - 12:46		Bahrain: Bodyshop Revolution - Bahrain-based Euro Motors reveals plans for $10 million bodyshop facility

07/7/15 - 12:27		The Financial Conduct Authority - Jonathan Davidson (ex Direct Line COO) appointed new Director of Supervision – Retail and Authorisations

07/7/15 - 12:15		Innovation Group - UK insurers urged to “overtake competitors by exploiting digital”

07/7/15 - 10:49		Glass's - June Hot Five dominated by family-friendly MPVs and 4x4s as summer gets underway; budget brand Dacia hits top 5 for first time

07/7/15 - 10:37		Just Car Clinics - Bradford bodyshop awarded Jaguar Land Rover approval incl structural steel and aluminium repairs; £55k investment

07/7/15 - 10:21		The MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau) - updated uninsured drivers' agreement will come into force for accidents occurring on or after 1 Aug

07/7/15 - 09:49		Autoglass - Melvin Rolling (AutoRestore Technical Director, 14 yrs) appointed Head of UK Facilities - responsible for fleet at Autoglass

07/7/15 - 07:11		RSA - appoint Scott Egan (ex Towergate, Zurich and Aviva) as Group Chief Financial Officer

06/7/15 - 22:09		ABP Club - 2015 UK Body Repair Economic Climate Survey launched

06/7/15 - 16:16		Honda UK - Write Off Avoidance Programme offers VDAs a £10 high street voucher for each successful claim submitted

06/7/15 - 12:55		Auto Body Professional magazine – we asked 1,500 bodyshops about second hand car parts in body repairs; read the results in the latest issue

06/7/15 - 12:50		SMMT – record first half for commercial vehicle sales; vans up 19.8%; trucks up 40.6%

06/7/15 - 12:41		Auto Body Professional magazine - latest issue features Duncan Price from the DfT talk of plans to review structural repairs

06/7/15 - 12:32		Ageas - Personal Accident cover is hit and miss for SMEs – only six out of 10 have cover

06/7/15 - 12:27		Auto Body and Motor Claims Expo 2016 - stand bookings now open; check out the 2015 Expo Review online now!

06/7/15 - 10:28		Netherlands: Axalta Coating Systems - acquires Metalak, Spies Hecker importer in the Netherlands and Belgium

06/7/15 - 09:33		AA Insurance - hailstones the size of golf balls cause £1.5m damage to 1,700 cars in the north east

06/7/15 - 09:11		SMMT - new car sales in June up 12.9%; record sales in first half of year up 7.0%; 40 consecutive months of growth

05/7/15 - 11:54		Sunday Mirror - reader found a treasured car destroyed rather than repaired by his insurer – is there anything he can do

05/7/15 - 11:46		Sunday Times - exposes strong arm tactics of CSS (Complete Claim Solutions); their cold callers push clients into false car accident claims

04/7/15 - 00:05		Quindell - lawsuit against the firm by 600 of its shareholders could begin next week in form of a group litigation order

03/7/15 - 14:08		EMM - introduces Colad Sensor Covers, the quick and easy solution for masking integrated parking sensors

03/7/15 - 14:01		ILC Motor Conference - last call to book for next Tuesdays event at Ricoh; discounted rate for ABP bodyshop members

03/7/15 - 13:47		Solera - acquisition of CAP Automotive by HPI, cleared by CMA; full 42-page decision available

03/7/15 - 12:34		Axalta- BB Body Repairers discusses the benefits of Axalta’s Paint and Refinish Apprenticeship Programme

03/7/15 - 11:05		Auto Body Professional - new issue available on-line, inc GT Motive to start in UK in Q3 as major Audatex competitor & new Nationwide owners

03/7/15 - 10:47		Blue Insurance - 100 jobs announced at Dublin-based insurer

03/7/15 - 10:44		The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) - Dr Michael Grenfell appointed Executive Director – Enforcement

03/7/15 - 10:05		Department for Work and Pensions - millions more to be automatically enrolled into workplace pensions

03/7/15 - 09:49		US: Enterprise Holdings - veterans and reservists comprise nearly 10 percent of Enterprise Holdings' total US workforce

03/7/15 - 09:43		Google's self-driving car - insurers to "lose": premiums could shrink by 50% by 2025 and 80% by 2040

03/7/15 - 09:24		Henkel - Mini Cooper, Colchester named "Best Workshop" in the UK for time lapse video showing the team colour coding a Mini Countryman

03/7/15 - 09:14		PPG Industries - confirm headline sponsorship of ABP Ireland National Meetings 2015, Tues 8th Sept - Dublin & Weds 9th Sept - Belfast

03/7/15 - 08:52		AW Repair Group - pass Volkswagen Audit with flying colours; one of 33 bodyshops to hold Volkswagenfull structural aluminium approval

02/7/15 - 14:11		Thatcham - Harmonised Future 3D Vehicle Test Target Event – Tuesday 28th July 2015

02/7/15 - 14:06		Vauxhall - BBC report: stolen parts being sold on to the body repair market

02/7/15 - 13:45		BMW - testing hydrogen fuel cell technology from the BMW i8 and 5-series GT prototypes in production vehicles

02/7/15 - 13:39		Jaguar Land Rover - sign agreement with Magna Steyr to "build some future vehicles in Graz, Austria"

02/7/15 - 13:32		APU - new ‘crash for ready cash’ motoring scam identified: criminals demand money at scene of staged accident to avoid insurer involvement

02/7/15 - 13:24		Grove Group - Anne White (ex Akzo Nobel) appointed as Business Development Manager for the South West region

02/7/15 - 13:16		Tracker - stolen £20,000 caravan in Northamptonshire recovered just 4 hours after theft thanks to telematics technology

02/7/15 - 13:02		Gocompare.com - 42% of comprehensive car policies exclude misfuelling

02/7/15 - 11:04		Auto Body Professional magazine - new issue on its way in the post; available on-line NOW - biggest ever issue: 72 pages!

02/7/15 - 10:38		BIBA - welcomes improved level playing field for customers with conclusion of Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) political process

02/7/15 - 10:34		The ABI - new ABI data shows why age is a factor in the price of car insurance; more likely to have accidents and make expensive PI claims

02/7/15 - 10:25		ClickMechanic - women drivers charged £45 more than men for mechnical repairs; eight out of the ten cities charged a ‘female premium’;

02/7/15 - 09:14		Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles - nearly 50% of van drivers, equating to over 1.2 million vehicles, are driving overloaded vans on UK roads

02/7/15 - 09:04		The Co-operative Insurance - 6,523 motorists driving on the roads with over 12 penalty points; male driver in Liverpool with 45 points

02/7/15 - 01:06		Motor Transport awards - full list of all 19 winners and 74 finalists

01/7/15 - 14:27		Chubb Insurance (UK's 42nd largest motor insurer) - to be bought by ACE, a Swiss insurance company, for $28.3 BILLION

01/7/15 - 14:04		CAA (Countrywide Accident Assistance Ltd) - acquired by Gallagher Bassett International

01/7/15 - 13:44		Auto Body and Motor Claims Expo 2016 – stand bookings are now open for Expo 2016 15th & 16th March, EventCity, Manchester

01/7/15 - 13:37		ClickMechanic - online mechanical repairs marketplace; "UK repair industry has abundance of repair data & great mobile mechanics"

01/7/15 - 12:59		Gallagher Bassett International (GBI) - global third party claims administrator acquires CAA (Countrywide Accident Assistance Limited)

01/7/15 - 12:01		Saga - Bennetts bike insurance purchase, latest press release reveals the UK’s over 50s spent £340 million on motorcycles in 2014

01/7/15 - 11:39		Spies Hecker - new Magic Sparkle mixing tint contains glass flake pigment

01/7/15 - 11:28		Keoghs - latest Fraud Index reveals sophisticated fraudsters in top hotspots: Birmingham, Manchester, East London, Bradford and North London

01/7/15 - 10:25		The Deregulation Act 2015 - policyholder no longer needs to have receipt of motor insurance certificate for policy to be valid

01/7/15 - 10:02		BVRLA - fleet sector demands safer vehicles; autonomous driving and safety technologies are key to reduced accident rates

01/7/15 - 09:47		One Call Leasing - new interactive fleet vehicle procurement and management website

01/7/15 - 07:41		AA - announce joint venture in India for roadside assistance

01/7/15 - 07:38		Saga - complete £26m acquisition of Bennettts, one of UK's largest motorbike insurers with 220,000 customers

01/7/15 - 03:03		USA -Rhode Island state pass bill that creates a 2-tier accident repair industry; Class A repairers need to be certified by an OEM

01/7/15 - 02:34		ABP website in June 2015: 127,282 visits and 1.46 million hits; record of 59,500 hours spent visiting site during the month