State Farm-Ford, RSA-ingenie team up on telematics

Ford Motor Company is working with State Farm Insurance to use built-in vehicle technology, allowing joint customers to qualify for auto insurance discounts.

In related news, RSA said it will provide underwriting capacity to ingenie, a telematics technology firm that offers in-car devices and auto insurance to young drivers aged 17 to 25 in the United Kingdom.

In the State Farm-Ford partnership, through Ford’s SYNC technology — an in-car connectivity system standard on 2009 model year and newer vehicles — drivers can participate in State Farm’s usage-based insurance (UBI) program, Drive Safe & Save. The program tracks mileage monthly and yearly to determine if drivers get a rate break of anywhere from 5% to 40%.

“SYNC Vehicle Health Report is free for the life of the vehicle, so our customers can qualify for insurance discounts without having to pay a monthly subscription,” says Doug VanDagens, Ford Connected Services global director.

Ford and State Farm announced the program will start in Utah initially and then expand to other states in the United States.

The RSA-ingenie partnership is the first such initiative from RSA and part of the company’s strategy to build its telematics capability, the company noted in a recent release.

“It’s important to us and ingenie that young drivers can afford insurance and are safe on the roads,” said Mark Christer, personal lines managing director of RSA. ”Their track record of a strong management team, the extensive research that went into developing the technology and their refreshing approach to engaging with young drivers and parents made them an obvious choice to team up with.”