Core Insights - The rise of intelligent assisted driving technology is becoming a core competitive advantage for automotive companies, with BYD's "Tianshen Eye" system set to rival Tesla's FSD, aiming for implementation in all models priced above 100,000 RMB by 2025, indicating a significant market shift towards economic models [1] - The Swiss Re report highlights that while the Chinese auto insurance market has stabilized, emerging risks and claims trends present both challenges and opportunities, particularly with the rise of intelligent assisted driving vehicles potentially reducing accident frequency and reshaping the insurance landscape [1] Market Trends - The Chinese auto insurance market has seen fluctuations in premium growth, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.2% from 2014 to 2019, but a decline of 5.7% in 2021, leading to a combined cost ratio of 101% in the same year, marking the first underwriting loss since 2015 [2] - The market is expected to recover, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 5.5% in premiums from 2022 to 2024, aligning with a vehicle ownership growth rate of 5.2%, and a combined cost ratio improving to 98.1% [2] Emerging Risks - Significant claims trends include natural disasters causing claims to spike, with losses from major events potentially reaching nearly 1% of market premiums, posing profitability challenges for insurers already facing thin margins [3] - The insurance industry is also grappling with stable claims inflation rates for vehicle damage and third-party liability, while the short-term impact of electric vehicles (EVs) on claims costs remains a concern, as EVs currently have higher payout costs compared to traditional vehicles [3] Electric Vehicle Insurance Landscape - China is projected to dominate the global EV market, with EV sales expected to account for 70% of global sales by 2024, and the penetration rate of new EV sales in China reaching 48%, translating to approximately 13 million units sold [4] - The insurance premium for EVs is anticipated to reach 140.9 billion RMB by 2024, representing 15.4% of total auto insurance premiums, with expectations to rise to 37% by 2030 [4] - The average combined cost ratio for EV insurance is projected to be around 107% in 2024, with underwriting losses estimated at 5.7 billion RMB, driven by high claims rates among certain models [4][5] Collaboration and Product Development - The high risk premium for EV insurance is attributed to factors such as the high cost of battery components, the need for driver adaptation to different driving characteristics, and a higher representation of riskier demographics among EV drivers [5] - The emergence of intelligent assisted driving technology offers opportunities for insurers to design new products, such as intelligent driving liability insurance, which will cover losses due to system defects, with expected rapid growth starting in late 2024 [6] - China's automotive export surge, projected to exceed Japan with 6.4 million units and 117 billion USD in export value, necessitates tailored insurance products for exporters, fostering a robust insurance ecosystem to support international trade [6]