AXA and NAVYA have launched a three-year partnership in an effort to develop insurance solutions tailored to autonomous vehicles.
In a statement, the companies said that, within the framework of this partnership, AXA will provide NAVYA with insurance solutions to accompany its vehicle manufacturing business but also to design customized insurance offers for its operator clients. Co-promotion actions also will be undertaken to support NAVYA's development using the two brands' strengths. Lastly, thanks to data sharing, AXA will gain a more in-depth knowledge of autonomous vehicles, notably to offer insurance solutions that are increasingly suited to this new type of mobility.
Even if autonomous vehicles will reduce the number of accidents, it is unlikely that the risk will be eliminated entirely. AXA said that this was why it will work with NAVYA to understand and respond appropriately to these potentially new accident situations; in particular in the near future, when semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicles and “traditional” vehicles will coexist on our roads. AXA observed that an autonomous emergency braking system – more efficient than the human driver – could, for example, lead to an accident if the vehicle behind does not brake fast enough. Through this partnership, AXA said, it aims to strengthen its expertise on these new technologies and also its knowledge of new risks to offer appropriate solutions.
Christopher Sapet, the chief executive officer of NAVYA, said, “This partnership with AXA is an important milestone in NAVYA's development. For a benchmark player in autonomous mobility, it is strategic to be able to join forces with a global insurance leader in order to develop a specific solution for users of new transport services, and hence contribute to enhancing our offering and improving our quality of service.”
Guillaume Borie, AVA's chief innovation officer, added, “We are delighted to be launching this partnership with NAVYA. By supporting its development, we will enhance our knowledge of the risks associated with the emergence of autonomous vehicles, and thus be able to provide offers and services that are increasingly adapted to our clients. In keeping with our previously-announced collaborations with innovative new transport players, this partnership further strengthens our ambition of being the benchmark insurer for new types of mobility.”