AXA XL Launches Customisable Driverless Car Insurance Product

There is one big question that every owner, or renter, of a driverless car will be asking in the future; if this thing crashes by itself, who is to blame and will the insurance cover me? It is a difficult one to answer because the technology is still evolving, manufacturers are still pursuing slightly different routes to the same result and driver error – even if it is a simple thing like nt accepting the software updates – may always be a factor. Here’s some news from AXA XL, who are busy racing towards the autonomous future.

AXA XL has announced the launch of a new insurance solution designed to cover the risks associated with autonomous vehicles. The offering will help companies developing or using the technology to better manage and transfer those new and evolving risks.

The policy provides a core coverage of third-party liability, damage to property insured and vehicle theft. Additional coverage can be added to meet each client’s needs:

• Modular coverage options: Liability for Damage in the Insured’s Care, Custody or Control, Liability for Damage to Trial Suite, Cyber Attack Liability for Damage / Bodily Injury, AV Trial Interruption, Data Restoration Expenses.
• Available extensions: Statutory Motor Liability Cover, Cyber Extension, Crisis Management/Response Service, Loss of Turnover Extension.

Mukadder Erdoenmez, Head of International Casualty for Europe at AXA XL, who leads AXA XL’s New Economy, Autonomy & Technology team (NEAT), commented: “Investment in the development of autonomous technologies has skyrocketed in recent years, reaching USD 10.3 billion in 2018 alone, according to venture capital experts Pitchbook. The number of companies using intelligent machines within their operations is also increasing.”

Sinan Geylani, Underwriting Manager, Autonomous Systems & Vehicles at AXA XL, added: “We saw this as an opportunity and created a customisable single policy to support those forward-thinking companies that are already shaping and using autonomous technologies.”

AXA XL already has significant experience in the field of autonomous technologies, having worked with Oxbotica –a technology company with a focus on mobile robotics and autonomous systems– since 2016.

In 2017, AXA XL joined the UK government-backed DRIVEN consortium to contribute to the deployment of a fleet of autonomous vehicles between Oxford and London, the most ambitions autonomous vehicle project ever attempted at the time.

The following year, AXA XL established a multi-disciplinary Global Autonomy Centre of Excellence and announced the creation of an insurance solution to support the adoption of autonomous technologies.