Keyword
telematics
Industry encouraged to offer discount for using cellphone blockers
December 11, 2017 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorVehicle owners who install smart phone-blocking apps should get a break on insurance rates, some industry groups contend. British Columbia’s government-owned auto insurer says it will roll out telematics devices designed to block drivers from using their wireless phones on…
Octo completes acquisition of Willis Towers Watson’s UBI assets
December 11, 2017 David Gambrill, Editor-in-ChiefOcto Telematics, a global provider of telematics for the auto insurance industry, has completed its acquisition of the usage-based insurance (UBI) assets of Willis Towers Watson. Octo’s acquisition includes Willis Towers Watson’s DriveAbility solution and the DriveAbility Marketplace. Geoff Werner…
Regulator challenges rosy telematics picture
December 2, 2017 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorCanadian auto insurers have been using telematics to gather data on driving behaviour for years, with one insurer having billions of miles’ worth of data, but it remains debatable whether pay-as-you-drive technology actually reduces insured losses. Claims costs “could conceivably…
Octo Telematics to acquire Willis Towers Watson’s UBI assets; firms to partner on insurance-related products
October 12, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterOcto Telematics and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) have reached an agreement in which the former will acquire the latter’s usage-based insurance (UBI) assets, setting the stage for the two companies to work together on more auto telematics opportunities. Leveraging Octo’s…
Canadian auto industry seeing no reduction in accidents, but greater severity: NICC speaker
October 11, 2017 Jason Contant, Online EditorThe Canadian auto industry overall is seeing no reduction in car accidents and “big cost pressures upward on severity coming from both injuries and the repairs of cars themselves,” a speaker suggested last week at the National Insurance Conference of…
Home telematics startup Roost closes second round of funding with investments from Desjardins Insurance and Aviva Ventures
August 23, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterRoost, a U.S.-based innovator in smart home telematics for the insurance industry, announced on Wednesday it has closed its second round of funding with US$10.4 million in investments from three companies, including Desjardins Insurance. The US$10.4 million Series B funding includes strategic investments from three companies, led by Aviva Ventures, with participation from Desjardins Insurance and Fosun RZ Capital in China, noted information from Sunnyvale, Calif.-headquartered Roost. Existing investors also participated in the round, bringing total funding to date to US$17 million.…
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador finalizes terms of reference for auto insurance review
August 16, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe provincial government announced on Tuesday that it has finalized the terms of reference for the automobile insurance review for Service NL and the provincial Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities (PUB). Government has directed PUB to begin its review…
Allstate Canada expands UBI program Drivewise into Nova Scotia after “great success” in Alberta and Ontario
August 15, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Allstate Insurance Company of Canada announced on Monday that it is expanding its usage-based insurance (UBI) program Drivewise in Nova Scotia “after experiencing great success in the provinces of Alberta and Ontario.” Drivewise rewards those who exhibit safe driving…
Canada’s fintech adoption rate doubles in last 18 months: EY report
July 25, 2017 by Angela StelmakowichCustomer wants, needs and demands are guiding players in Canada’s fintech space toward developing simpler, more transparent and customer-centric financial services products, with insurance expected to see a big increase in uptake in future, suggests new research released Tuesday by…
“Nearly all” U.K. drivers paying record amounts for car insurance: Association of British Insurers
July 10, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterDrivers in nearly all age groups in the United Kingdom are paying record amounts for their car insurance and could face further increases unless the government takes action to reduce claims costs, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) warned recently.…
Mobile telematics data can offer rich insights into distracted driving and impact loss trends, Insurance Analytics Canada speaker suggests
June 28, 2017 Jason Contant, Online EditorMobile telematics data, while sometimes providing “noisy,” or meaningless information, can also offer rich insights on distracted driving that could impact loss trends, a speaker suggested on Wednesday at the third annual Insurance Analytics Canada Summit in Toronto. Ted Gramer,…
Customer-Centred
June 13, 2017 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorDoug Reevey, outgoing chair of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada and owner of a repair facility wants consumers to have a choice of where to send their telematics data.