Waymo agrees insurance partnership in US for driverless cars

Waymo is partnering with on-demand insurance provider Trov to cover self-driving vehicles in its rollout in Arizona commercial ride service which launches early this year.

Forbes reports that the trip-based coverage for users includes lost items, problems related to interrupted rides and potential medical expenses.

The report says this is the first US project for insurance broker Trov, which is backed by reinsurance giant Munich Re, and its first mobility-related undertaking.

'Waymo is making personal transportation more effortless, and so it follows that all associated aspects of a journey - including insurance - should be equally painless, with passengers' safety and peace of mind paramount,' Trov CEO Scott Walcheck, said in a statement.

Created last year to commercialise Google's many years of self-driving car R&D, Waymo announced last November its commercial service in Phoenix where it's done extensive testing of Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans outfitted with its sensors and software. Forbes says that, although details of the programme, the number of vehicles involved and number of people who will be able to access the robotic service haven't been disclosed, the start will mark a milestone when it launches.

'Innovative technology needs innovative partners," Shaun Stewart, Waymo's director of operations, said in a statement. "Trov is pioneering a cutting-edge approach to insurance that's ideal for ride-sharing because it's customised for every trip."