A major insurance company will offer Tesla drivers discounted premiums if they use their self-driving technology.
Swiss-based provider Zurich has claimed cars fitted with full self-driving supervised mode have seven times fewer major or minor collisions compared with regular electrical vehicles, according to data from the Elon Musk-founded automotive company.
The new interior of the Model S includes a rectangular steering wheel with no stalks and a 17-inch high-definition screen in the centre console. Tesla
The insurance company claims the offer is a first for the Australian insurance industry.
Zurich head of general insurance Alex Morgan said the company wanted to offer the insurance option due to the “reduced risk associated with supervised self-driving”.
“As vehicle technology and driver behaviour continues to evolve at an extraordinary pace, it is critical that we continue to innovate alongside this change,” Morgan said.
Zurich product manager David Toma described the change as “an exciting milestone”.
“The data shows that drivers using this technology are involved in far fewer accidents, so it’s important they can access insurance that reflects this lower risk,” Toma said.
Drive director of content James Ward said the self-driving technology was “not a substitute for paying attention”.
“If you have the system in your car and you have it on you’re responsible,” Ward said.
“It’s not self-driving, the car is not you’re not handing over control, its driver assistance technology.
“But you are 100 per cent responsible for anything that happens.
“It’s understanding the systems in the car and knowing you’re still on the hook.”
Ward said drivers should also consider the cost of the full self-driving supervised mode compared with the potential insurance savings.
According to Tesla, a subscription costs $149 per month.
Zurich said the use of the technology has increased “rapidly” since its launch in Australia and New Zealand in October 2025.
The business said customers logged one million kilometres of driving with the feature within two weeks.
According to recent data, Tesla customers have now self-driven more than 132 million kilometres.