ALLIANZ INSURES THE BMWi3 AND BMWi8

BMW Group offers its customers an innovative insurance solution for the i3 and i8 electric vehicles, with their global insurance partner Allianz UK.

BMW Group Financial Services and Allianz UK are further leveraging their strategic partnership in the car insurance market by offering retail customers an insurance solution tailored to the BMW i3 and i8.

The insurance offering has been designed with the unique needs of the customer in mind, covering the battery as standard and ensuring a repairer network is in place with technicians trained on repairing all aspects of BMW’s new electric vehicles; including the lightweight carbon fibre that the cars are built with.

Customers purchasing the i3 or the i8, as with all New or Approved Used BMW approved dealer customers, are entitled to 7 days free comprehensive car insurance from BMW Car Insurance. This is simply activated over the phone by the customer.  Customers are then provided with an overview of options available to them from BMW Insurance after their 7 day free policy has expired.  These include BMW Car Insurance, BMW’s current comprehensive car insurance product, and two further insurance products developed specifically with the BMW i3 and i8 in mind; BMW FlexiMile and BMW Car Insurance - Unlimited miles.

BMW FlexiMile Insurance is designed for customers driving up to 5,000 miles per year and offers the benefit of a lower premium – customers are saving 25% in premiums. If a customer exceeds 5,000 miles, this is charged on a fixed pence-per-mile basis for additional miles driven. BMW ConnectedDrive technology, built into the cars, means that the customer’s mileage is tracked and a monthly statement is produced and sent directly to the policyholder, keeping them fully informed of their mileage driven during the term of their policy. The Unlimited miles product is available for customers expecting to drive in excess of 5,000 miles during their year of cover; offering unlimited mileage cover for a fixed premium.

Should either product chosen not be cost effective, due to the customer driving more or fewer miles than anticipated, they can swap products with one call without incurring any cancellation or administration charges.  

Prior to these vehicles being launched to market, Allianz was challenged (as BMW’s global insurance partner), to work with BMW to design an innovative insurance solution for BMW customers. These products represent the first time BMW has delivered a factory fitted telematics technology based insurance product, anywhere in the world.

"With the introduction of a custom-made product for the BMW i3 and i8, we are reaffirming our commitment to providing ongoing, systematic backing to our strategic partner BMW in key technological projects, too," said Karsten Crede, CEO of Allianz Global Automotive.

"As the financial services provider for BMW Group, it is our job to support the marketing of our vehicles using intelligent products and services. In cooperation with Allianz, we can offer BMW customers an innovative and attractive product package for the i3 and i8, which underpins our aspirations to be seen as a premium provider," explains Erich Ebner von Eschenbach, head of the BMW Group's Financial Services division.

Allianz has been working with automotive manufacturers for more than 60 years and BMW Group is one of the company's key and long-standing partners.