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Willis  launched global insurance placement system : Willis Group Holdings P.L.C. has launched its global insurance placement system.he system, WillPLACE, uses a proprietary matching algorithm to correlate insurer risk appetites with specific client risks and matches clients with appropriate insurers.

“Willis risk advisers then work with their clients to assign a variety of weightings to their priorities,” Willis said in a Tuesday statement announcing the global launch. “These weightings for ultimate carrier selection may include such factors as price competitiveness, claims service and underwriting focus, among others. The client's requests are then electronically matched with carrier data, resulting in a recommended match between client need and carrier appetite.”

70% of premiums

Willis launched WillPLACE as a pilot program in Italy a year ago. By the first quarter of next year, the placement program is slated to be rolled out in 14 areas, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

The London-based brokerage said once the rollout is complete, more than 70% of the premiums that Willis places will go through WillPLACE.

“In keeping with the Willis commitment to integrity and transparency, the existence of potential insurer remuneration under the WillPLACE system is fully disclosed to all Willis clients prior to the binding of any coverage,” Willis said in its announcement.

Both Marsh Inc. and Aon Corp. have launched placement systems matching insurer risk appetites with client needs in recent years.

Tokyo Motor Show will feature electric vehicles :For car buffs who didn’t get their fill of hot new rides, another show is available before the year draws to a close. The 42nd Tokyo Motor Show 2011 will be open to the public on December 3; it comes after a year of hardships, with production impacted by the earthquake and tsunami as well as recent flooding in Thailand. Currently, however, the major concern for Japanese automobile manufacturers is the strong yen, which has eroded the profitability of domestically produced export cars while shrinking overseas profits when repatriated. Japan’s top three automakers all view the promotion of domestic demand as the key to stimulating domestic production as output for export dwindles. The car makers envision electric vehicles as playing a significant role in attracting demand after the summer of post-quake power-saving made consumers more aware of the emergency power capabilities of electric vehicles in addition to their eco-friendly credentials.

Toyota, Nissan, and Honda hope to entice the public with electric vehicle concept cars at the show. Honda will unveil its Micro Commuter concept car. The small EV carries a mini electric motorcycle called a Motor Compo inside one of its doors. A removable battery installed in the vehicle can be used for the bike and also as an additional power source for vehicle. Nissan, the global leading EV maker, will introduce its PIVO3 EV commuter vehicle. The three-seat compact is equipped with an auto valet parking system. The operator will not have to carefully maneuver into tight parking spaces because the car can automatically park itself into lots fitted with appropriate sensors. The PIVO3, which is powered by four in-wheel motors, can also recharge itself, with excess power available for home use or even for sale to the grid. Toyota plans to unveil its FT-EV III, a basic EV model that the company plans to debut in the U.S. and Japan in 2012. The car maker’s Fun-Vii will also be among the horde of electric concept cars to be showcased at the show.

passenger SUV Sonalika Motors  : After Force Motors, it is now the turn of Sonalika to launch their own SUV in the Indian passenger car segment. Sonalika is credited with having the Toyota Qualis look-alike, the ICML Rhino in the passenger MUV segment. Force Motors have inspired many other niche manufacturers to try their hands at making SUVs for the passenger car segment in India. Pininfarina, the famous Italian design house is rumored to design this new SUV and Sonalika would be developing this car mostly in house with some inputs from suspension tuning specialists, Lotus.

A sum of about Rs 500 crores is set to be invested by the company in the passenger car segment now. After the launch of the SUV somewhere down by 2012, there would also be a passenger car segment which would be launched later on. This sedan would take on the likes of the Honda City, Vento and others and would be priced between Rs 8-10 lakhs. Initially, the company plans to roll out only a diesel engine. It would be the same Rover derived one with a capacity of 2.0 liters and varying power ranges from 120 Bhp to even 140 Bhp. Source www.indiandrives.com

Honda Brio upcoming in India October 2011 : Honda Brio: This is the all new small car that Honda displayed at the Thailand Motor Show and it would be coming to India at around October 2011. It has got a 1.2 liter engine which would be good enough for 70 Bhp. Most likely, it would be the Honda Jazz’s unit in a detuned state. There would be enough space in this small car compared to the others in its class. It would be ducked within the 4 meters mark and the 1.2 liter petrol would be the only engine option available. There would be an automatic variant as well.

mahindra korando price in india ; Mahindra Korando: This is one SUV that would be slotted above the Mahindra Scorpio and is part of the dowry that Mahindra received after they annexed Chinese car maker Ssangyong Motors. It would have a more upmarket image than the Scorpio and would feature many luxury features unheard of in an SUV. It would be priced at around Rs 20 lakhs. It would make its debut in the Indian market in November 2011.

New Land Rover Defender DC100 will launch in 2015 : The future of Land Rover’s iconic Defender model – a direct descendent of the original military-inspired models of 1948 – has long been in doubt, but a new concept car set to debut in less than two weeks at the Frankfurt Motor Show should clear things up

Land Rover says that a new Defender will launch in 2015, and while the automaker hasn’t released many details, the next-generation off roader will have to be quite a bit different to meet increasingly stringent global safety and emissions regulations. Land Rover isn’t commenting on North American availability, although the British brand hasn’t officially ruled out such a possibility.

The DC100 is what Land Rover calls a “modern interpretation” of the Defender. Penned under the watch of design chief Gerry McGovern, the DC100 clearly departs from the current Defender in a number of ways – like its much larger wheels and almost vintage Ford Bronco-like side profile.

For now, Land Rover is keeping quiet on just what platform the concept car rides on and the automaker hasn’t made any hints about what’s under its hood. We’d guess it features a shortened version of the LR4 and Range Rover Sport architecture and a 3.0-liter turbodiesel. A hybrid system is also a distinct possibility since Land Rover is likely needing to show off a greener image for the Defender.

As for off road capability, the DC100 concept looks like it will rely more on a sophisticated traction control system than the big rubber and articulating solid axles of the current model. That’s a trick that has worked well for those few LR4s and Range Rovers that venture off the pavement, so it should combine well with the DC100′s approach and departure angles to make a surprisingly adept performer.

Volvo and Siemens electric cars small C30 hatchback ; Volvo, the Swedish carmaker owned by China’s Geely, has formed a partnership with Siemens, the German engineering group, to develop electric cars and ancillary equipment.

The two companies said on Wednesday that an electric version of Volvo’s small C30 hatchback would be available for testing by the end of this year. Volvo will deliver up to 200 vehicles to Siemens for further testing by the end of 2012.

The venture marks the latest in a series of partnerships between carmakers and suppliers to develop various types of electric vehicles.

General Motors and South Korea’s LG Group announced a similar agreement last week. LG already supplies battery cells for GM’s two existing extended-range hybrids, the Chevrolet Volt and its European cousin, the Opel Ampera. The cars have a small internal-combustion engine to extend the range of their electric battery.

Siemens already has deals with BMW and Renault to develop electric-car charging equipment.

Volvo and Siemens said in a statement that they would co-operate in the development of electric drive technology, power electronics and charging technology, as well as the integration of those systems into the C30.

Siegfried Russwurm, a member of Siemens management board, said: “It is our long-term goal to establish Siemens as a global system provider with solutions both inside and outside of electric vehicles. We see ourselves as a comprehensive electric mobility pioneer.”

The companies did not say whether Siemens’ technology would also be made available to Geely. The Chinese government is heavily promoting electric vehicles to help alleviate the country’s environmental and energy dependence problems but electric vehicle sales in large numbers are not expected for several years.

Volvo and Siemens have scheduled a news conference later on Wednesday.

Geely’s purchase of Volvo last year was the biggest acquisition of an overseas brand by a Chinese carmaker. It is viewed as a model of a successful acquisition in the automobile sector by Beijing, which is encouraging other China carmakers to look overseas for targets.

Irene likely to lead to higher insurance premiums ; The $7 billion in estimated losses from Hurricane Irene will compound the vast damage caused by weather in the United States this year. Yet despite billions they’ve paid out for floods, tornadoes and earthquakes, big insurance companies can expect another profitable year.

And their customers can expect higher premiums.

The stocks of major insurers shot up this week as investors celebrated Irene’s less-than-expected damage. The storm didn’t even cause most analysts to adjust their profit estimates for insurers.

In part, that’s because insurance companies have been raising premiums this year, especially for customers in high-risk areas. Homeowner and auto policies cost 5 to 10 percent more than they did a year ago, according to research by Gregory Locraft, an analyst with Morgan Stanley.Read More...

Ford, Zipcar Bring Future of Transportation to Newest Generation of Drivers at U.S. Universities : Ford Motor Company and Zipcar, Inc. - the world's leading car-sharing network - are teaming up to help make transportation more affordable, fun and sustainable for students at more than 250 university campuses throughout the U.S.

The two-year alliance, announced today, establishes Ford as the largest automotive source in Zipcar's University program. Ford vehicles, primarily the fuel-efficient 2012 Ford Focus and the 2012 Ford Escape, start arriving this week on university campuses

The strategic alliance includes offering incentives to join and use car sharing on campus to help accelerate use of Zipcar across the U.S. and introduce a new generation of drivers to Ford vehicles Read More...

best insurance companies in uk ; Only 51% of insurance companies have nominated an executive responsible for complaints according to research for software firm, Charter UK.

The is despite the fact that the Financial Services Authority's incoming regulation requiring regulated firms to nominate an executive to the complaints role comes into force on 1 September 2011.

According to Charter UK, of the 54 large financial services companies in the UK interviewed, just 27 had appointed a nominated executive with responsibility for complaints, 17 had not yet made a nomination, while a further 10 did not know if they had made a nomination or not.

While only 51% of insurance companies had made a nomination it was still ahead of the 41% of banks and 50% of credit card companies surveyed.

Paul Clark, chief executive at Charter UK, commented: "This is a concern for the industry. There are just over two weeks to go before firms must show that they have nominated an executive with overall responsibility for complaints.

"Those companies that have yet to identify the individual within their team, or are unsure if a nomination has been made, need to get moving as soon as possible."

Pace of change

He continued: "Our research showed that compliance and customer services are the business units from which the individual is most likely to be selected.

"Whatever the background of the individual, the key thing is to get to grips with the pace of regulatory change in the complaints landscape post-payment protection insurance, and to have a real grasp of the people, cultural, processes and systems challenges that prevent organisations from dealing with complaints effectively.

He concluded: "What's really worrying is that the companies we've spoken to thus far are top 50 UK financial services providers - it's hard to escape the impression that the figures will look much worse among the smaller players."

best Car Insurance 2011; Despite car insurance being a mandatory requirement for all motorists, not all car insurance companies and policies are created equally. The following are some policy attributes and policyholder benefits to look for when choosing a car insurance policy.

Roadside Response & Repair

Most car accidents and car-related incidents don't involve fatalities or grave injuries. For the most part, they are simply inconveniences that can range from waiting for a tow to awaiting long-term repairs or a claim for a "totaled" car whose repairs would cost more than the value of the car itself. Car insurance companies should offer its policyholders swift response to initial towing needs, as well as car rental options and services while they await repair on their vehicles. The repairs themselves should be facilitated quickly and smoothly, with little to no delay on the part of the insurance company for claim assessment or approval.

Policy Flexibility

Not all motorists drive the latest sports car or can afford full coverage with no deductible. Car insurance companies should offer its policyholders a variety of insurance options that are affordable without leaving the motorist vulnerable.

Benefits and Discounts

Car insurance companies should offer its policyholders a variety of car and driving-related benefits, such as accident forgiveness for first-time offenders, convenient payment options, after-hours services, 24-hour claims assistance and others. Car insurance companies should also offer discounts for multiple-policy holders, drivers with clean records, students with good grades and others.

Customer Service/Claims Timeliness

Car Insurance companies should respond to policyholder claims in a timely fashion, facilitating the necessary steps to return motorists to their vehicles.

Auto Insurance might appear to be no more than an additional tax or fee for a service that is never used. However, as the statistics show, it is one that is necessary to ensure that you--and your vehicle--remain protected against injury, accident or liable damages.

In addition to the side-by-side comparison featured above, in-depth reviews are available for 10 of the best auto insurance companies, including top-rated insurers GEICO, Progressive and eSurance

pay car insurance premium using a zero per cent purchase credit card ; As car insurance premiums rose by 31 per cent in 2010, and with similar rises occurring earlier in 2011, drivers looking to keep car insurance costs manageable may opt for the convenience of monthly instalments.

Running a car isn't cheap, made worse by the rising fuel costs we have seen recently. The cost of car insurance can be a huge strain on your finances so paying for your car cover on a monthly basis is a good way of keeping your initial outlay for car insurance down. However, while this may be a more convenient and manageable way to pay for your cover, it's crucial to make sure you're aware of the additional costs involved. It is also necessary you scour the whole market to ensure you find the most reasonably priced deal. Insurers can also play a part in helping motorists by not charging more than they need.

Motorists could consider other financially-savvy ways to pay for their car insurance premium, such as using a zero per cent purchase credit card,

By putting the cost of the premium on to a zero per cent purchase credit card, drivers can pay for their policy in monthly instalments without paying interest. There are a number of zero per cent purchase cards on the market, so if you are eligible, you'll only pay for the original price of your policy. However, you need to be disciplined if you use a credit card, and aim to pay off the balance before the end of the promotional period, and within 12 months if the promotion is longer otherwise you will still be paying when your insurance is up for renewal

Pakar info - why the cost of insuring high-performance vehicles ; A recent article by GM Authority investigates why the cost of insuring high-performance vehicles is often so much higher than insuring less expensive vehicles.

High-performance vehicles are categorized as such because they are powerful, and the article notes that insurers view these automobiles as being more prone to accidents. National statistics and studies have shown that high-performance cars are more likely to be involved in crashes, whether big or small, which leads to an increase in the number of auto insurance claims.

Another reason auto insurance rates are higher for sports cars is that in the event of a collision, replacement parts for high-performance vehicles are usually very expensive, says GM Authority. It's often difficult to get a hold of parts for high-performance vehicles, particularly for imported models. Even simply repairing a component of a sports car usually costs much more than repairing a similar part on a less expensive vehicle.

The attractiveness of high-performance vehicles to car thieves also plays into higher insurance rates. However, the National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that the most stolen vehicle in the United States in 2010 was the 1994 Honda Accord, followed by the 1995 Honda Civic and 1991 Toyota Camry.

Pakar info black box for monitor policyholder’s young drivers : An insurance company specialising in policies for younger drivers has used the latest in-car technology to help it to cut premiums by 17 per cent.

Young Marmalade uses telematics or “black box” satellite technology to monitor the policyholder’s driving behaviour, such as braking and acceleration, speed and at what time of day the car is driven. This is then used to calculate premiums; the better the car is driven, the lower the premium and vice-versa,

If the insurance underwriter is not happy with the driver’s performance, they can increase the premium or cancel it alltogether.

“We are delighted to be able to be cutting our premiums at a time when the rest of the insurance industry are increasing theirs,” said Nigel Lacy, co founder of Young Marmalade.

“It’s part of our on-going commitment to get more young people driving - and driving safely. Intelligent Marmalade has had a very positive impact on safety - analysis has shown that drivers are far more vigilant and careful.”

In light of skyrocketing premiums at other insurance providers, this latest offering will be good news for young drivers. Earlier this month a report revealed that comprehensive car insurance for young men had soared to £4,000 per annum.

Intelligent Marmalade says young men will pay on average £2,601 for its insurance premiums, and young women £1,642.