AssessorsJournalMagSpring2024 web - Flipbook - Page 21
Bodyshops will very soon need to
repair these vehicles on a far more
regular basis than they have so far,
bringing potential problems around
parts and data to the masses.
Fundamentally, there is nothing wrong
with the cars being produced – they
are good products, by and large. But
the VMs in question have insuf昀椀cient
knowledge of the UK repair and
insurance market, because it hasn’t
previously been a consideration.
One example of the variations between
China’s and the UK’s repair operations
revolves around labour costs. In
China, these are noticeably lower – so
expectations are very different. For
instance, repairing a complete side of
a vehicle body in China is a common
occurrence. In contrast, when the same
damage occurs in the UK the labour
cost could well be deemed unviable,
and the vehicle written off.
To support repair and other areas of
insurance, we are working hard to
collaborate with emerging market VMs
to ensure current and future models
have parts and methods 昀椀t for the UK
market.
Over the past year experts from
Thatcham Research have travelled to
China and met of昀椀cials from major
VMs: BYD, Chery, Geely Group and
MG among them.
Our goal was not just to scope out
repair challenges, but to also build
closer links with businesses to discuss
how we could collaborate and help the
UK repair sector handle the in昀氀ux of
new vehicles.
These efforts are resulting in a number
of positive developments. Bodyshops
and insurers can already access new
repair methods through our escribe
product. Developed using information
currently provided by BYD and MG,
this gives repair teams the right level of
data, delivered directly into the insurer
work昀氀ow. The data is of course a key
Thatcham Research's Repair Technology Centre hosted a BYD product showcase event in January when the
manufacturer outlined plans for its UK dealer and bodyshop network and revealed details about approved paint
suppliers, parts supply and repair methods access.
component of bodyshop businesses
remaining compliant with the recently
updated BS 10125 repair standards.
Encouraging repairability by design
Alongside providing better data, our
ongoing discussions with China’s VMs
are focused on availability of parts
and improving parts logistics across
the supply chain. More fundamentally,
we’ve been pleased to note how
keen the VMs are to improve future
manufacture by adopting an approach
of ‘repairability by design’.
The more companies can do to make
repair easier and cost-effective, while
also cutting key-to-key times for
consumers, the greater their chance of
sustained success in the UK market.
Facilitating direct dialogue between
China’s VMs and the UK repair sector is
another item that’s high on our agenda.
Thatcham Research recently hosted
BYD at a product showcase event held
in our Repair Technology Centre where
stakeholders from across the value
chain gained insights into its vehicles
and its future plans.
Our work with BYD, driven by our
programme of automotive risk
intelligence, is ensuring safety, security
and sustainable repair are a key
attribute of its future vehicle design;
and that repair data is made available
throughout the value chain.
BYD became the global leader in fully
electric vehicle sales in the last quarter
of 2023. However, one of the reasons
it agreed to work with us is to better
understand UK and European market
requirements for insurable vehicles.
While there remains much work to be
done, BYD is one brand applying itself
to this journey in a positive way. As an
example of its commitment, BYD is
sponsoring Thatcham Research repair
method projects on the Seal and
ATTO 3.
Thatcham Research remains willing to
support BYD and other VMs to strive
for safe, secure, sustainable mobility.
Our message to exporters from China,
India and Vietnam is to think carefully
about UK-speci昀椀c considerations
before selling cars here. Understand
the market in full and make sure the
right logistics are in place.
As part of this, we continue to
champion the UK’s independent
repair network as a positive force in
making new vehicles sustainable in
the marketplace and driving down the
total cost of ownership. That’s a better
outcome for the VMs, for the insurance
and repair value chain and, ultimately,
for the consumer.
All this work is intended to ensure
repair teething problems are dealt with
as quickly and ef昀椀ciently as possible.
In this way VMs can pre-empt issues
in future and managing the continued
in昀氀ux of vehicles, whether from China
or other emerging markets, should
become smoother over time.
Darren Bright (centre), Thatcham Research's Principal Engineer – Automotive Repair, talks to visitors at the BYD event.
This will bring a sense of relief to
repair businesses that keep glancing
anxiously at the volume of new vehicles
– with the diversity of systems and
components they contain – which are
currently revving up on the starting
grid.
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