Volvo’s New App Grades Your Driving and Sends the Grade to Your Insurer
Volvo is launching Safety Coach, an optional app that scores braking, acceleration, and cornering, with high scorers offered cheaper usage-based insurance through Volvia. It starts in Sweden and Norway this month, with the United States and other European markets to follow.
Key Takeaways:
- Safety Coach monitors driving behavior over the previous two weeks and provides a safety score.
- Drivers who share their score can benefit from usage-based insurance rates.
- The app is available on most Volvos from model year 2020 with Google-based infotainment systems.
- The scoring algorithm comes from Cambridge Mobile Telematics, a leader in telematics and AI for road safety.
- Insurer partnerships are being established in the Nordics, with Volvia providing the insurance offer.
Consent and Privacy:
The consent design is a key aspect of Safety Coach. Drivers have control over their data, and opting in is voluntary. They can start and stop sharing data with insurers at any time. This approach learns from General Motors’ experience with OnStar data sharing.
The Scoring Model:
Tesla’s scoring model serves as the basis for Safety Coach, which has faced criticism since its launch for punishing drivers for hard braking they didn’t choose. Tesla has since added a dispute feature to address these concerns.
A Growing Trend:
Driver-watching cameras are becoming standard in new European vehicles, with data sharing for insurance purposes already established. However, Volvo hasn’t disclosed specific details about discounts or potential negative impacts on poor scores.