MONACO DI BAVIERA (GERMANY) (ITALPRESS) – The promise of autonomous mobility is not only a technological leap: represents a transformation in terms of safety, comfort and accessibility already in progress with Level 3 vehicles on European roads and the Level 4 system that are tested in real environments. At the 13th Allianz Motor Day in 2025, hosted at the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT) in Ismaning in Bavaria, Allianz signals significant improvements in safety for autonomous vehicles and calls for testing standards at European level to ensure their safe integration on European roads, including vehicle safety issues, responsibility, use of autonomous vehicle board data (AV) and more inclusive mobility. The Group already provides testing areas in different countries, including Germany, Norway and Singapore.
The research of the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT) and the analysis of the proprietary sinisters indicate a significant decrease in the frequency of claims for compensation for car liability thanks to advanced guidance assistance systems (ADAS) currently available on some models. Although these systems already show considerable potential, consumers across Europe consider automated driving technology still relatively untested, but expect important improvements in terms of safety and comfort. These results, published in the Allianz Hands Off Report – The Safety Promise of Autonomous Mobility, highlight the transformative effect of automated road safety systems and insurance dynamics.
“The question is no longer whether autonomous mobility will come, but how fast, how safe and how fair it will be. Any technological progress must result in less collisions, less casualties and greater independence for millions of people. In Allianz, we believe that autonomous driving is a shared responsibility to develop a more secure and inclusive mobility. Together with the Allianz Center for Technology, manufacturers and regulatory authorities, we will model security standards and promote innovative insurance solutions. The future of mobility will be autonomous, but security must always remain in the hands of man,” said Klaus-Peter Roehler, member of the Board of Management of Allianz SE, with responsibility for Insurance German Speaking Countries, Central Europe, Global Property & Casualty.
As a leader in the innovation of safety-centered mobility, Allianz proposes a European “guided partner” for autonomous systems: Autonomous driving vehicles must be approved to use European roads in the future. According to Allianz, the certification process is not yet fully regulated by the provisions of the EU Regulation. Therefore, the insurance company proposes a combination of digital driving simulations, a practical test in identical predefined conditions (for example, in brakings or emergency maneuvers) and a test in real conditions in various driving contexts (for example, at night or on the highway). In order to clarify accidents and learn from ‘lost accidents’, Allianz supports the creation of a European-wide database jointly managed by manufacturers, regulators and insurers. “We call for uniform European testing for autonomous vehicles to ensure a reliable verification of the necessary safety standards across the EU. Let’s call it ‘Guide path’ for autonomous vehicles. Just as humans must demonstrate that they can conduct a vehicle safely, autonomous vehicles must demonstrate that they can move and proceed safely in all driving situations. Open access to vehicle data related to accidents and safety is essential to ensure the correct attribution of responsibility and maintain public confidence,” said Roehler.
The Allianz Center for Technology (AZT) has examined the safety performance of autonomous driving and predicts that automation will dramatically reduce accidents caused by human errors, such as fatigue, distraction or evaluation errors. The AZT anticipates a 20% decrease in road accidents in Europe by 2035, which will reach more than 50% from 2060 onwards, using 2023 as a reference year, as it will increase the share of conventional vehicles (Levels 1 and 2) and automated (Levels 3 and 4). This perspective incorporates the future penetration of the market of active operating systems, even in conservative and prudent scenarios, and the impact of mixed traffic with vehicles without autonomous systems, rather than the only technical potential. It is based on the development of internal models and data of the National Association of German Insurance GDV. Already in cars currently in circulation, ADAS with automated emergency braking (AEB) highlight this high security potential. An analysis carried out by Allianz on 20,000 claims for compensation for automotive civil liability, has shown that collisions in the back, under smooth traffic conditions, decreased on average by 30% when AEB was installed as standard. The most advanced systems have decreased by 66% retromarcia accidents in parking cases.
“The message is clear: when adopting as standard equipment of advanced driving assistance systems, safety improvements are immediate and significant. In cases where adoption is partial or left to optional packages, the benefits remain modest. For Allianz, this highlights the importance of a broad and standardized implementation of driving assistance systems as a legal requirement,” said Christian Sahr, Head of the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT). Although less accidents are expected, the cost of each left will increase as autonomous driving vehicles become more technologically complex. The lower frequency of the left is offset by an increase in repair costs, mainly due to the cost of the sensors and the increase in the prices of components and labor. Claims for damage from hail or theft could increase, and also new forms of risk, from software malfunctions to cyber attacks, will require new types of coverage.
“The autonomous driving vehicles will also transform the way we evaluate and determine the risk price. Although the traditional classification of vehicles, based on the historical frequency of the Left, remains relevant, their importance will gradually decrease as we will give greater importance to the safety performance of the driving assistance system. We are developing our price determination models to integrate the classifications of existing types with a safety score model, reflecting how both the vehicle and its systems contribute to the overall risk. This will ensure a more accurate and far-sighted approach to the determination of premiums. At a time when consumers face increased living costs, autonomous driving can offer both safety and economic accessibility of automotive insurance,” said Roehler.
To assess the confidence and acceptance of autonomous driving vehicles, Allianz conducted a representative consumer survey in seven European countries: Italy, Austria, Germany, France Switzerland, Czech Republic and United Kingdom. The results show a broad confidence in safety improvements, but also show uncertainty regarding technological maturity. Over half of respondents (56%) expect autonomous driving vehicles to be safer or at least as safe as human driving vehicles. Consumers also appreciate the potential improvements in comfort, such as the use of travel time for other activities (50% of respondents), and increased mobility for themselves (40%), for people with disabilities and for the elderly (65%). At the same time, concerns remain: 69% fear the reliability of systems in unexpected situations, 72% consider technology “too new and untested”. 64% would feel comfortable in autonomous driving vehicles only if it could regain control at any time. The European comparison shows that Italians have the highest level of confidence in the safety of autonomous vehicles (65%), while the most critical are interviewed in the UK (44%).
The Germans average at 57%. “It is clear that throughout Europe trust is less based on perfection and more on proof. People do not only want autonomous vehicles to offer security equal to or greater to human driving, but also ask that it be supported by transparent data, rigorous supervision and clear assumption of responsibility,” said Roehler.
Marcello Maria Zacchetti, Engine Manager of Allianz S.p.A. said: “Since Italy is still in an initial phase of transition from the widespread adoption of assisted driving technologies to more advanced systems, we find with interest that Italians express a high level of confidence in the perception of safety of autonomous vehicles, as well as the Report. In fact, future growth of this market is expected, in a context in which the car insurance sector will grow only moderately: This will generate an opportunity for insurers, whose main challenge will be to identify the appropriate terms, methods and times to invest and focus properly on this evolving segment. This trend combines well with the continuous research and development of Allianz to provide proactive and innovative services, improving security and assistance to its insurers, as well as the ability to identify insurance products that are increasingly responsive to customers’ needs.
When the responsibility of driving passes from human beings to autonomous vehicles, establishing responsibility after an accident becomes more complex. The question is whether the autonomous guide requires a new system of responsibility or whether traditional auto insurance may eventually be replaced by product liability for the manufacturer/operator. In mixed traffic, where both autonomous and human-driven vehicles coexist, responsibility can involve several parts, including vehicle owners, manufacturers, software developers and remote supervisors. “Allianz’s position is clear: the protection of damaged persons in road accidents must remain a central element for autonomous vehicle insurance. Responsibility must remain to the owner of the vehicle, regardless of whether a human driver or a car has control. And automotive insurers must remain the first contact point. We are committed to supporting damaged persons through ongoing objective liability insurance, so that they are not left alone to manage complex disputes of responsibility and that they receive damages from their insurer quickly and easily,” said Roehler.
– Allianz press office photos –
(ITALPRESS).
