Thatcham Research

We’ve officially kicked off Automated LIVE at our track testing facility in Gamston today 👏

What’s already clear is the strength of collaboration in the room.

We’ve brought together leaders from across the ecosystem, including the Department for Transport (DfT), Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), CCAV, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), global colleagues from State Farm and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, alongside our insurer members and vehicle manufacturers such as Nissan.


Progress in automated mobility doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when the right people come together sharing insight, challenging perspectives, and learning from real-world experience.


We’re proud to play that role as a facilitator, creating the space for those conversations, grounded in testing and evidence.

Automated LIVE is about being part of that wider conversation helping shape what comes next, together.

EV battery design is already reshaping repair, cost and risk and the impact is only growing.

We’re heading to Engineering Circularity in Vienna, where Dan Harrowell and Jacq Paris will be discussing how battery design is influencing damageability, repairability and total loss rates.

From the challenges of high‑voltage battery serviceability to the shift from repair to replacement, these changes are starting to redefine how risk is understood across the industry.

We’re continuing this conversation across the industry, working together to better understand and respond to these emerging challenges.

We’re heading to IBIS Global Summit in Vienna!

Dean Lander, Jonathan Hewett and Enrique Rodriguez will be representing Thatcham Research, bringing insight from across the industry.

Jonathan joins the Leaders of change keynote, sharing his perspective on what’s next.
Enrique explores the impact of megacasting and what it means for repair and evolving repair economics.

You’ll also hear from us in the lightning sessions, where we’ll be adding to the global conversation.

If you’re attending, come and say hello!

Lights. Camera. Crash. 🎬💥
It looks impressive… but there’s a serious purpose behind every impact.

Each impact helps us understand how vehicles respond in a crash - how they protect people, how damage occurs, and what it means for repairers.

Every data point feeds into insight that helps shape safer vehicles and more sustainable repair..

NEW from our Automotive Academy: Accident Repair Technician Apprenticeship

Build capability across your team with expert-led training. Our ART Apprenticeship develops multi-skilled technicians who can work across the full repair process, helping keep jobs moving and improving efficiency.

Ideal for smaller teams where technicians need to cover end-to-end repairs.

With our autumn 2026 intake now open, we’re also offering a range of other apprenticeships designed to support the next generation of repair talent.

✅ Funding available
✅ Industry-leading facilities
✅ Dedicated apprentice welfare support
✅ Accommodation arranged

To find out more, register your details below
👉 https://loom.ly/S5NTzZs

New look. Same purpose.

Our uniform pop‑up shop brought colleagues together across three days to try on our updated range and place their orders as part of our organisation‑wide rollout.

To us, it’s more than just a uniform - It’s about showing up feeling confident in who we are, what we do, and the brand we represent every day.

A big thank you to everyone who made it happen! 👏

We've introduced a new course to our Academy... Aluminum Welding Certification.

As aluminum and megacastings become increasingly common in modern vehicle design, keeping repair skills up to date is essential.

Our Aluminum Welding Certification, designed by Thatcham Research specialists, helps technicians strengthen their repair and bodyshop skill set through hands‑on training focused on safe, high‑quality aluminum repair.

The course supports workshops in becoming future‑ready, building confidence in working with evolving materials and vehicle construction as designs continue to change.

Find out more about the course and upcoming Academy dates via the link below.
🔗 https://loom.ly/_7j61j4

Something exciting is landing in our members’ inboxes…

We’re pleased to be partnering with AION Auto UK, a new entrant to the UK market, for an upcoming product showcase at our Thatcham site this June.

The day will give insurers and repairers an early look at the AION brand and its UK strategy, alongside the opportunity to get up close with the new AION V electric SUV and hear directly from the teams behind it.

It’s also a chance to explore how we’re working together to support repairability, insurability and customer confidence from day one.

If you’re a member, keep an eye on your inbox for your invitation and full details 👀

The road doesn’t read the manual, so testing has to reflect real driving conditions.

That’s exactly what our safety research team took to Toronto this week at the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV) International Conference - a global forum focused on advancing active and passive vehicle safety.

Yousif, Dom and Alex shared our findings that look beyond system capability to how safety technologies are actually used on the road.
We presented research on Ford BlueCruise, exploring how drivers engage with hands‑free systems and what that means for safety and insurance risk.

Dom also shared our work on emergency lighting and AEB, examining how blue emergency lighting affects system performance, a session that sparked strong discussion.

A great few days sharing our research, learning from global peers, and contributing to how vehicle safety technologies perform in practice, not just in theory.

We supported the Leapmotor UK Insurance Network event, hosted at Stellantis HQ.

Bringing together insurance professionals, manufacturer leadership and industry experts, the evening created a valuable space to share insight, ask questions and build a clearer view of what’s ahead.

From Leapmotor’s growing presence in the UK to practical discussions around repairability, parts and aftersales support, it was a useful opportunity to connect the dots across the ecosystem.

A highlight was hearing from our Head of Automotive, Ben Townsend, who shared how vehicle risk is being assessed across the current Leapmotor fleet and how collaboration is helping shape future improvements.

You can read more about Leapmotor’s journey so far in Ben’s full write‑up on AiQ:
🔗 https://loom.ly/M39furc

Thank you to Leapmotor and Stellantis for hosting a great evening!