Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance invests in drone operator Aeronext

Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance, a member of the MS&AD Insurance Group, has concluded a capital and business alliance agreement with Aeronext, which has core technologies essential for safe drone flight and is deploying a new smart logistics system called “SkyHub”.

Background and Purpose

In the transportation industry, it is said that around 35% of cargo nationwide will become undeliverable by 2030 due to the driver shortage caused by the “2024 Issue” resulting from the revision of the Labor Standards Act in April 2024. Particularly in rural areas with low delivery efficiency, there has been a chronic labor shortage, and improving delivery efficiency in the last mile of final delivery has become an urgent issue.

As one solution to these issues, the “new smart logistics” system, which combines existing ground transportation and drone delivery to streamline and optimize the flow of goods, thereby making last-mile logistics sustainable, has been drawing attention. Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance has also participated in the “Nationwide New Smart Logistics Promotion Council” since fiscal 2023 to study solutions to the issues facing the transportation industry.

With this in mind, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance has now concluded a capital and business alliance agreement with Aeronext, which is deploying “SkyHub” that combines ground transportation and drone delivery to achieve high delivery efficiency and profitability, with the aim of promoting the adoption of “new smart logistics,” among other objectives.

Overview

To promote new smart logistics, a comprehensive insurance scheme covering multiple modes of transportation and service providers, as well as support for the safe operation of drones newly used for logistics purposes, will be required.

Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance aims to contribute to solving regional and social issues by promoting the adoption of new smart logistics through the development and provision of insurance packages for new smart logistics and drone telematics insurance.

Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance will develop an insurance package for new smart logistics that comprehensively covers the construction of primary cargo collection sites, ground transportation, storage, and damage to cargo and drones during drone delivery.

Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance aims to offer reasonable insurance premiums by analyzing data obtained from air traffic control systems and designing premium rates based on actual risk profiles.

With the investment agreement dated April 26, 2024, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance is participating in the investment round raised by Aeronext.

Future Development

Drones used in new smart logistics can also be utilized as emergency delivery drones in times of disaster, enabling the delivery of pharmaceuticals and the assessment of damage conditions.

In addition to developing and providing insurance products and services, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance believes that establishing a system to utilize drones during normal times will lead to a prompt response during disasters, and aims to build an operational model considering disaster response and create new value in new smart logistics.

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