Helping innovative Kiwis achieve global success

Ohmio’s autonomous (driverless) vehicles are changing the way communities around the world can connect, offering a safe, sustainable and more efficient means of transporting people and goods. But as technology evolves, so too do the risks.

When Ohmio, an Auckland-based innovator of intelligent transport systems, was looking to renew their insurance policies, we canvassed our global insurer connections to find new cover for their very unusual requirements.

The future of connected communities

With Ohmio seeking to expand their reach into more international markets, they needed locally supported insurance policies for their offshore contracts that would protect them, as they took their visionary technology to the world.

“When you approach an insurance company with an autonomous vehicle, insurers don’t really know where to classify that. It’s not off-the-shelf insurance”, explains Mahmood Hikmet, Head of Research and Development at Ohmio. “That means we needed someone who knows who to ask and how to ask the right questions to get the right solution.”

When Ohmio discussed their needs with Angie Lotter, Gallagher Group Broking Manager – Financial & Professional Risks, she knew that their unique risks would take detailed analysis to find the right solution.

Local focus, international strength

Angie visited Ohmio’s Pakuranga base to gain a deeper understanding of their operations, their vehicles and their ambitions for growth. She then canvassed the entire New Zealand market, before reaching out to Gallagher’s UK and Australian teams. Despite Ohmio’s cutting-edge offering, their relatively small global presence as a New Zealand-grown company meant that the opportunity to find insurers who wanted to cover their risks was slim. With perseverance, Angie discovered a Zurich-based insurer, with a particular appetite for emerging risks.

Getting the right insurance cover can prove challenging for some businesses with complex needs, commented Angie. “As autonomous vehicles obviously come with unique risks – I had a fairly good sense that it was going to be tricky, but thanks to our global connections in UK and Australia we were able to get it sorted,” Angie says.

The Gallagher advantage

Our size and scale give us a significant advantage when negotiating premiums, terms and claims on a client’s behalf. In particular, the Gallagher advantage helps us to secure more cover options and competitive pricing from a wide range of global insurers.

For specific industry advice and services, we call on the expertise of our specialist broking teams who combine extensive capabilities with deep sector experience to help you face your future with confidence. For more information talk to your Gallagher broker.