The Zebra Newsroom

Read up on the latest insurance industry news and trends

The Zebra Newsroom

Welcome to The Zebra Newsroom!

Welcome to The Zebra Newsroom, a hub for insurance industry-related news.

The Zebra Newsroom

Biden Administration plans to perform analysis on the use of non-driving factors and big data in setting auto insurance rates

The U.S. government has commissioned a study on insurance companies’ use of non-driving rating factors in pricing...

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Lumber prices slowly recover, still projected to be higher than pre-pandemic prices

Lumber prices are lower than their historic Spring 2021 highs, but price reductions haven’t yet trickled down to...

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Insurance rates remain volatile to reflect fluctuating shopping trends

Car and homeowners insurance rates remain consistently volatile into late 2021, due to fluctuations in driving and...

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Insurance shopping trends fluctuate post-pandemic

Q2 2021 revealed a stall in auto insurance shopping and a steady rise in home insurance shopping.

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Insurance carriers look to boost headcount, alter recruiting strategies

Insurance companies are seeking to grow headcounts in a challenging hiring environment, forcing them to rethink their...

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APCIA releases new set of cyber principles, defends ransomware reimbursements by insurance companies

The APCIA released a new set of principles relating to insurance carriers payment of cyberattack ransoms.

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Insurance M&As and partnerships: June 2021

Read our full recap of insurance industry mergers and acquisitions and partnerships in June 2021.

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Wildfire season sparks collaboration between AI and insurers to support those in high risk states

With wildfires becoming more common, climate change is shaping the way AI is used in the insurance industry.

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The liability of driverless vehicles

Self-driving car liability is a tricky subject, with experts still working to determine where responsibilities lie.

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Are credit scores fizzling out?

Long considered an important determinant of insurance rates, credit score is falling out of favor as a rating factor...

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Insurance companies adapt to the hybrid work environment

Some major insurance carriers have begun phased office reopenings as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides in America.

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How insurance companies are handling ransomware threats

With ransomware and cyberattacks on the upswing in 2021, insurance carriers are taking extra precautions to guard...

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Allstate acquires SafeAuto for $270M

Allstate announced its acquisition of SafeAuto for $270 million, just six months after finalizing its purchase of...

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Insurance M&As and partnerships: May 2021

May 2021 saw Chubb get involved with the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, Metromile and Hippo partner to offer...

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As drivers plan their summer road trips, speeding and distracted driving become a big concern

As drivers return to the road post-pandemic, it’s important to take note of the risky driving behaviors that surged...

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Hurricane-prone states are still recovering from 2020’s record-breaking storms, continue to seek support from insurance carriers as 2021’s hurricane season approaches

Learn more about how insurance carriers are preparing for the 2021 hurricane season.

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Insurance carriers Q1 2021 earnings call round-up

Here’s a quick roundup of key takeaways from major insurance carriers’ Q1 2021 earnings calls.

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The electric vehicle industry ramps up in 2021 despite a sales slump in 2020

Increased public concern about climate change and regulatory efforts stand to increase EV sales to 32% of the market by...

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Insurance M&As and partnerships: April 2021

Read our full recap of insurance mergers and acquisitions in April 2021, including a carrier highlight on Farmers...

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Pet insurance industry sees 2020 spike

The pet insurance industry saw a “tremendous spike in enrollment” in 2020, as many Americans turned to furry friends...

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Insurance carriers fighting against climate change

Some insurance companies have taken strong environmental, social and governance positions in hopes of mitigating their...

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State-by-state breakdown of recreational use of cannabis

Thirty-four U.S. states have taken steps to decriminalize or legalize the medical and recreational use of cannabis.

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How car dealerships stayed successful during 2020

Despite business interruptions and periodic decreases in demand due to the COVID pandemic, auto dealers flourished in...

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The Zebra wraps up Series D Round of funding, raises $150M

The Zebra wrapped up a $150 million fundraise in April, becoming Austin’s newest unicorn company.

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February’s freeze left Texas in disarray, insurers and policyholders look to the state government for support and preventative measures

Insurance companies are still reeling from the winter storms of February 2021 that decimated Texas’s power supply.

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FEMA rolls out first flood insurance update in 50 years

FEMA announced plans to phase in a new NFIP price-setting method called Risk Rating 2.0, effective October 1, 2021.

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The Hartford rejects Chubb's merger offer, Allianz considers a bid

One of Europe’s most prominent insurance companies is weighing its options in the wake of The Hartford’s snub of Chubb.

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Insurance M&As and partnerships: March 2021

Read our full recap of insurance mergers and acquisitions in March 2021, including the Amazon-Next business insurance...

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As the housing market faces a divide in affordability, middle-income households are being priced out

With housing prices on the rise across America, first-time homebuyers and middle-income households are facing...

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California alleges insurance companies overcharged consumers

California’s Insurance Commissioner is pushing for refunds after alleging insurance companies overcharged consumers in...

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Insurtech Spring 2021 Conference

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Insuring the rapidly growing gig economy amid a global pandemic

Legacy car insurance carriers are developing a variety of strategies to cover “gig workers” and their insurance rates...

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Insurance carriers Q4 2020 earnings call round-up

2020 was a volatile year for the insurance industry; here’s a round-up of key findings from insurance carriers’...

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Insurance M&As and partnerships: February 2021

Insurance industry M&A round-up: February 2021 | The Zebra Newsroom

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The global chip shortage hits car companies hard, manufacturers look for ways to work around the bottleneck

How a global chip shortage is hurting automakers | The Zebra Newsroom

The Zebra Newsroom

Insurance companies enter the home telemaintenance industry

Major home insurance companies, including Nationwide, Allstate and Hippo, are entering the home improvement space with...

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Why reckless driving increased during the COVID-19 pandemic

With fewer vehicles on the road due to COVID-related shutdowns, 2020 saw a growth in unsafe driving behavior and an...

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Insurance industry M&A round-up: January 2021

January 2021 included insurance industry M&A transactions from companies such as State Farm, USAA and American Family.

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Technology companies investing in the autonomous vehicle industry

The Zebra Newsroom

Lack of lumber delays homebuilding and increases prices

The Zebra Newsroom

State driving law developments roundup

Six states rolled out adjustments to their driving and car insurance laws. Read our legislation roundup for the latest.

The Zebra Newsroom

Ford partners with car insurance companies to provide direct driver UBI data

Ford has been teaming up with insurers to offer car buyers discounted insurance based on driving behavior; here’s a...

The Zebra Newsroom

The Zebra Newsroom

Read up on the latest insurance industry news and trends

Welcome to The Zebra Newsroom!

Biden Administration plans to perform analysis on the use of non-driving factors and big data in setting auto insurance rates

Lumber prices slowly recover, still projected to be higher than pre-pandemic prices

Insurance rates remain volatile to reflect fluctuating shopping trends

Insurance shopping trends fluctuate post-pandemic

Insurance carriers look to boost headcount, alter recruiting strategies

APCIA releases new set of cyber principles, defends ransomware reimbursements by insurance companies

Insurance M&As and partnerships: June 2021

Wildfire season sparks collaboration between AI and insurers to support those in high risk states

The liability of driverless vehicles

Are credit scores fizzling out?

Insurance companies adapt to the hybrid work environment

How insurance companies are handling ransomware threats

Allstate acquires SafeAuto for $270M

Insurance M&As and partnerships: May 2021

As drivers plan their summer road trips, speeding and distracted driving become a big concern

Hurricane-prone states are still recovering from 2020’s record-breaking storms, continue to seek support from insurance carriers as 2021’s hurricane season approaches

Insurance carriers Q1 2021 earnings call round-up

The electric vehicle industry ramps up in 2021 despite a sales slump in 2020

Insurance M&As and partnerships: April 2021

Pet insurance industry sees 2020 spike

Insurance carriers fighting against climate change

State-by-state breakdown of recreational use of cannabis

How car dealerships stayed successful during 2020

The Zebra wraps up Series D Round of funding, raises $150M

February’s freeze left Texas in disarray, insurers and policyholders look to the state government for support and preventative measures

FEMA rolls out first flood insurance update in 50 years

The Hartford rejects Chubb's merger offer, Allianz considers a bid

Insurance M&As and partnerships: March 2021

As the housing market faces a divide in affordability, middle-income households are being priced out

California alleges insurance companies overcharged consumers

Insurtech Spring 2021 Conference

Insuring the rapidly growing gig economy amid a global pandemic

Insurance carriers Q4 2020 earnings call round-up

Insurance M&As and partnerships: February 2021

The global chip shortage hits car companies hard, manufacturers look for ways to work around the bottleneck

Insurance companies enter the home telemaintenance industry

Why reckless driving increased during the COVID-19 pandemic

Insurance industry M&A round-up: January 2021

Technology companies investing in the autonomous vehicle industry

Lack of lumber delays homebuilding and increases prices

State driving law developments roundup

Ford partners with car insurance companies to provide direct driver UBI data

State Farm acquires GAINSCO