Tokio Marine to offer insurance for accidents involving self-driving vehicles

Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co. will extend automobile insurance coverage to accidents involving automated driving cars for all policyholders without costs from April 2017. The core unit of Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. will be the first to give such insurance coverage in Japan, officials said Tuesday. Tokio Marine will attach a special provision to cover self-driving car accidents to all contracts renewed or newly concluded in and after April 2017. The move is aimed at preventing victims of automated driving car accidents from being left without relief for a long time. In Japan, existing car insurance products do not cover self-driving car accidents unless the driver's fault is confirmed. This makes it necessary for accident victims to lodge damages claims against automakers and others on their own.