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Ford brings first 'hands-off, eyes-on' assisted driving system to the UK

COMMENT: Ford pioneers ‘hands-off, eyes-on’ driving in the UK

Following news today from Ford, announcing that it has launched the UK’s first ‘hands-free’ assisted driving system, Thatcham Research Vehicle Technology Specialist Tom Leggett offers an expert view, explaining what “BlueCruise” is and, importantly, what it isn’t:
“While many reports have suggested that Ford has launched Britain’s first ‘self-driving’ car, this is the next development in assis

The UK's best-selling commercial van Gold-rated by Euro NCAP for 'active' safety

COMMENT: Euro NCAP Commercial Van ratings bring collision severity onto the radar

Today, Euro NCAP, the voluntary vehicle safety programme, released updated ratings for 18 commercial vans. The vans’ ‘active’ crash avoidance systems were tested against tougher new protocols, resulting in a variety of safety awards from ‘Gold’ through to ‘Not Recommended’.
Automotive risk intelligence company Thatcham Research is the UK’s only Euro NCAP accredited testing centre, and its chief

Tesla’s Model Y is the safest car to be launched onto the UK’s roads in 2022

The safest new car of 2022: Tesla Model Y crowned What Car? Safety Award winner as European new car releases achieve best-ever Euro NCAP test scores

Tesla scoops safety prize at the annual What Car? Car of the Year awards, held in London Model Y’s 98% Safety Assist score highest-ever recorded by Euro NCAP Strong-performing Smart #1 and Mercedes EQE named as award runners-up Euro NCAP reports best-ever results in 2022 with 53 of 67 cars tested earning five-star rating Driver monitoring systems and centre airbags now feature on majority of shor

Best-ever Euro NCAP test results shape Thatcham Research safest cars list for 2022

Best-ever Euro NCAP test results shape Thatcham Research safest cars list for 2022

Thatcham Research and What Car? present 10-car shortlist for the What Car? Safety Award 2023 Judges only consider five-star Euro NCAP rated vehicles, along with other criteria such as safety innovation and mass market appeal All cars tested by Euro NCAP in 2022 score four- or five-star rating for first time in programme history Results show safety performance remains a top priority for carmakers

“Nowhere is the difference between EV and ICE more clearly underlined than in the insurance claim chain.”

Thatcham Research secures funding to identify EV repair and insurance pain points

Five-month research project funded by Innovate UK (IUK), the UK’s innovation agency · Insurer LV= and SYNETIQ, a specialist in vehicle salvage, dismantling and recycling, to support Thatcham Research
Risk intelligence specialist Thatcham Research is today announcing that it will lead a funded project focused on Electric Vehicle (EV) collision repair and salvage processes and their i

Transforming a Toyota Hilux pick-up into a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle

Thatcham Research partners with Toyota on pioneering Hydrogen Hilux project

Thatcham Research is working closely with Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd (TMUK) to develop a hydrogen version of Toyota’s iconic Hilux pick-up.

The world’s first highly automated driverless parking function will be available for certain S-Class and EQS variants

Comment: Mercedes/Bosch fully automated parking system approved in Germany

The world’s first automated driverless parking function has been officially approved for commercial use, with Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority green-lighting the Mercedes-Benz / Bosch automated parking system in a parking garage at Stuttgart Airport.
Thatcham Research chief research strategy officer Matthew Avery comments:
“Mercedes-Benz continues to break new ground in Germany, w

REVEALED: Differing attitudes to self-driving tech in the US and UK

Trust in Automation: US and UK motorists’ behavioural quirks reveal Automated system design challenge

Further insights revealed from the Trust in Automation survey

Trust In Automation survey findings released

Confused UK drivers believe they can buy a fully Autonomous car today

Over half of UK drivers think that they can buy a fully Autonomous car today.

"Mercedes appears to be a brand that is getting Assisted Driving right"

Well-balanced Mercedes-EQ EQE top rated for Assisted Driving

Mercedes-EQ EQE ‘Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC’ system achieves right balance of Vehicle Assistance and Driver Engagement

ORA Funky Cat in Euro NCAP's side pole impact test

Tesla sets new ADAS performance benchmark, new Chinese entrants also gain five-star Euro NCAP ratings

Another strong batch of vehicle scores has been announced in the latest round of Euro NCAP testing, with all but one achieving a five-star rating.
Matthew Avery, Chief Research Strategy Officer from Thatcham Research, comments:
“The Tesla Model Y has aced testing, securing outstanding all-round safety ratings. It has scored the highest grade ever seen in the Safety Assist category at 98% a

Thatcham Research responds to Government announcement

Thatcham Research comment: Safe adoption pivotal to realising the societal benefits of self-driving technology

Safe adoption will play a pivotal role in realising the societal benefits of self-driving technology.

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Thatcham Research

Safer cars, fewer crashes...

As the UK's only insurer funded automotive research centre, Thatcham Research enjoy a wide remit at the forefront of the latest vehicle technology. Thatcham's leading work in vehicle safety and security has a vital role in shaping the designs of new vehicles, whilst the centre is also seen as a key industry player at the forefront of driving standards in vehicle body repair.

Thatcham's Crash Laboratory is the only official UK crash testing centre for consumer safety body Euro NCAP and are viewed as a centre of excellence when it comes to active vehicle safety, particularly the evaluation of new Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) which provide the foundation for future vehicle autonomy.

Enjoying an increasingly global influence in both the insurance and automotive sectors, Thatcham Research expertise is in great demand with a range of opinion leaders being regularly asked to provide their experience and know-how at high profile events and in the media, living up to their reputation as ‘Experts in Safety, Security and Crash Repair’.

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