Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is following Tesla and General Motors’ leads, by launching its own in-house auto coverage – and Nationwide Insurance is serving as one of the company’s underwriters.
Rivian recently announced its plans to sell its own insurance, together with its electric trucks and SUVs as part of its digital ordering process. Utilizing its connected vehicle platform, the auto manufacturer says it can quickly diagnose issues with any of its automobiles for the purposes of filing a claim. Customers will also receive rate reductions for using Rivian’s Driver+ system, which helps drivers steer and automatically adjusts speeds on the highway.
The manufacturer is also offering an end-to-end approach to repairs, as it has its own proprietary collision centers and service centers ready to serve Rivian drivers. Rivian hopes that customers who sign up for its insurance will appreciate how transparent the experience would be after filing a claim, and seamlessly having their vehicle serviced all in-house.
For its initial launch, Rivian Insurance will be made available to customers in 40 states. While it is unclear if there are other third-party insurance carriers underwriting Rivian’s insurance, news outlet WGLT confirmed that Nationwide Insurance is one of the participating insurers.
“When customers purchase their Rivian vehicle, the company will offer customers auto insurance products underwritten by Nationwide,” a statement from a Nationwide representative said. “The partnership will lead to improvements in product development and customer service experience for both companies.”
The representative added that Rivian is “revolutionizing the electric vehicle and connected car industry” by developing products with the customer’s best interests in mind, and that Nationwide is proud to offer its best-in-class products and digital infrastructure to help Rivian meet customers’ needs.
