Navigating L3, L4 Licensing, and Robotaxi Insurance Challenges

Pete Bigelow, Senior Reporter, Automotive News and Sergey Litvinenko, Co-Founder & CEO of Koop joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discuss the insurance challenges surrounding SAE Level 3 vehicles and how the insurance requirements will change with higher levels of automation.

In this in-depth discussion, Grayson, Pete and Sergey explore the complex landscape of Level 3 semi-autonomous vehicles and their associated liability challenges. The conversation delves into why major automakers such as GM and Ford have retreated from developing full self-driving systems to instead focus on driver assistance systems. In the long-term, this could prove to be a costly mistake.

During the discussion they also spoke about the emerging complexities of insuring robotaxis in Las Vegas and how the “Vegas risk” could impact underwriting.

Episode Chapters

• 0:00 Scaling Level 3
• 6:10 Not All Level 3 Systems are Equal
• 8:43 Underwriting Level 3
• 12:45 In-Cabin Monitoring / Driver Responsibility
• 15:33 Who’s Responsible in the Event of a Crash?
• 17:11 Can Consumers Tell a Level 2 system from a Level 3 system?
• 22:08 Why Would an OEM Invest in Level 3?
• 26:55 Level 4 Licensing Liability
• 30:09 Foldable Wheel
• 33:30 Open Container in Robotaxis
• 41:10 Robotaxi Liability
• 44:33 National Autonomous Vehicle Framework
• 47:44 Autonomy Market Outlook