Jaguar Land Rover has told insurers that clinging to traditional underwriting models risks leaving them out in the cold as car manufacturers increasingly look for partners willing to adapt to new ways of working.

The call was made during a panel discussion featuring Samantha Bartlett-Shaw, who spoke on behalf of JLR, with the session moderated by Andy Goldby. The discussion centred on what original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) now expect from insurance partners and how the industry’s approach to underwriting may need to change to keep pace with manufacturers’ evolving priorities.

According to the discussion, JLR’s message to insurers was clear: those that continue to rely solely on conventional, rigid underwriting practices may struggle to secure or maintain partnerships with vehicle manufacturers going forward. Instead, the carmaker is pushing insurers to embrace more flexible approaches that can better align with the way OEMs are reshaping their businesses and customer relationships.

The comments reflect a broader shift being seen across the motor insurance sector, where manufacturers are taking a more active interest in how insurance products are designed and delivered alongside their vehicles. As OEMs look to deepen their involvement in the ownership experience — from financing to aftersales care — insurance has become an area where closer collaboration, rather than arm’s-length underwriting, is increasingly the expectation.

For insurers, the implication is that long-standing underwriting frameworks, often built around standardised risk assessment and pricing models, may not be flexible enough to meet the bespoke needs that OEMs like JLR are now seeking. Firms that can demonstrate adaptability, according to the panel, are likely to be better positioned to win and retain these valuable manufacturer partnerships.

The discussion comes against a backdrop of wider change in the commercial motor space, with other industry data pointing to a notable rise in broker demand for policy flexibility. Separately, product developments in the motor add-on market — such as new offerings being rolled out through established platforms — highlight how insurers and brokers are already responding to calls for more adaptable, tailored solutions.

While full details of the panel discussion remain behind a subscriber paywall, the core message from JLR is unambiguous: insurers hoping to work closely with major vehicle manufacturers will need to rethink entrenched underwriting habits. As OEMs continue to redefine their role in the insurance value chain, those insurers unwilling or unable to modernise their approach risk being left behind by competitors who can better meet manufacturers’ changing demands.

Source: Insurance Times

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