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Most Companies Unprepared for Emergence of Autonomous Vehicles, According to Munich Re SurveyMost companies are unprepared for the emergence of autonomous vehicles (AVs), according to corporate risk managers surveyed by Munich Re at the 2016 Risk and Insurance Management Society Conference (RIMS). Despite the potential business impact of this technology, a majority (65 percent) of risk managers surveyed said their companies have done nothing to prepare for the emergence of AVs in the auto market. Of those who have taken some form of action to prepare, 23 percent have discussed the new technology internally, eight percent have established a task force and four percent have created an operational plan. According to global consultant McKinsey & Company (News - Alert), consumers will begin to adopt AVs starting in 2020 - and AVs will become the primary mode of transportation by 2050. "With innovative companies making significant strides in the development of self-driving cars, it's no longer a matter of if, but rather when the time will come for the wide-scale adoption of AVs," said Tony Kuczinski, President and CEO of Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. "The timeline for adoption may be sooner than many realize. As such, it's important for companies to start preparing now for how this technology could potentially impact their business, to both leverage opportunities and most effectively mitigate risks." According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driver error is the cause of 94 percent of accidents. By reducing driver error, AV technology could significantly reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents and have wide-ranging implications for the insurance industry. In 2015, Munich Re, US, established a Mobility Domain as part of the company's overall commitment to understanding and developing innovative solutions for emerging risks, and as an engine for future growth. The Mobility Domain is establishing strategic partnerships and pilot projects for the company and its clients to develop risk management solutions for the new era of mobility, including areas such as vehicle tlematics, shared mobility, crash avoidance systems, and autonomous driving. Over time, these technologies could save lives and reduce losses. Added Kuczinski: "As AV technology progresses, the potential risk exposures and their implications for the insurance industry and society will continue to evolve. Cyber security in particular is one area we are watching closely, as the vulnerability and implementation of safeguards for AVs remains to be seen." Security of technology is top of mind for risk managers, as the majority of survey respondents (55 percent) feel cyber security is the greatest insurance concern associated with AVs. This was followed by allocation of liability when autonomous/non-autonomous vehicles share roads (27 percent), economic disruption (seven percent), safety (seven percent), and the cost of technology to repair damaged vehicles (four percent). From a cyber security perspective, respondents believe the greatest threats to AVs are auto theft by an unknown individual hacking into and overtaking vehicle data systems (42 percent) and the failure of smart road infrastructure technologies (36 percent). When asked what they thought posed the greatest challenge to the widespread adoption of AVs, nearly half of the risk managers (41 percent) cited regulatory or legislative obstacles, followed by safety (24 percent), security of technology (19 percent), cost (11 percent), and the ability to function in all weather and road conditions (five percent). Please click here for more information about AVs and insurance. Methodology The survey was conducted on-site at the Risk and Insurance Management Society Conference (RIMS) in San Diego, CA (News - Alert) from April 10-13, 2016. It is intended to represent the sentiments of more than 100 risk manager attendees who participated in in-person interviews at the event.
Princeton, NJ July 19, 2016 Munich Re stands for exceptional solution-based expertise, consistent risk management, financial stability and client proximity. This is how Munich Re creates value for clients, shareholders and staff. In the financial year 2015, the Group - which combines primary insurance and reinsurance under one roof - achieved a profit of €3.1bn on premium income of over €50bn. It operates in all lines of insurance, with more than 43,000 employees throughout the world. With premium income of around €28bn from reinsurance alone, it is one of the world's leading reinsurers. Especially when clients require solutions for complex risks, Munich Re is a much sought-after risk carrier. Munich Re's primary insurance operations are concentrated in the ERGO Group. ERGO is one of the leading insurance groups in Germany and Europe. ERGO is represented in over 30 countries worldwide and offers a comprehensive range of insurances, provision products and services. In 2015, ERGO posted premium income of €17.9bn. In international healthcare business, Munich Re pools its insurance and reinsurance operations, as well as related services, under the Munich Health brand. Munich Re's global investments (excluding insurance-related investments) amounting to €215bn are managed by MEAG, which also makes its competence available to private and institutional investors outside the Group. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on current assumptions and forecasts of the management of Munich Re. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the forward-looking statements given here and the actual development, in particular the results, financial situation and performance of our Company. The Company assumes no liability to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
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