BMW's State-of-the-Art Technologies Lower Insurance Rates for BMW Owners in 30 States

Qualified BMW owners in 30 states can now take advantage of dramatically reduced automobile insurance premiums based on a new rate structure that recognizes the safety and security features of BMW automobiles. The new rate structure, pioneered by TIG Insurance Co. and its subsidiaries and affiliates, reduces insurance premiums for eligible owners of BMWs (produced in 1995 or later) by up to 30 percent.

TIG Insurance Co. began offering the lower rates in early 1996 and has been rolling out the program state-by-state since then. Applications have been filed with insurance departments in all fifty states and as each state approves the new rate structure-a requirement for implementation-the lower rates are available to BMW owners. BMW and TIG Insurance Co. anticipate that the lower rates will be available to consumers in all 50 states in 1998, pending regulatory approval.

Where available, eligible BMW owners may receive a variety of discounts for the anti-theft system called Coded-Driveaway Protection. This passive system, which requires no action on the part of the driver, is activated each time the key is turned in the ignition lock.

Further technologies which may also result in discounted insurance premiums include Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) and dual front and side impact airbags. BMW introduced one of the industry's first dual threshold airbag systems in 1994, with a dual-deployment threshold for belted and unbelted occupants.

Last year, BMW introduced the world's first side-impact Head Protection System, featuring an inflatable tubular structure that drops from the headliner within .0025 seconds of impact. The Head Protection System is standard on all 1998 BMW 7 Series and 5 Series models and will be incorporated on other models progressively.

Information about BMW products is available to consumers via the World Wide Web at www.bmwusa.com.

TIG Insurance Company, rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best, a financial rating source for the insurance industry, is the lead company of a property- casualty insurance group offering reinsurance and primary commercial and personal insurance throughout the United States. The company's National Support Center operations are based in Irving, Texas. TIG Insurance company is part of the property-casualty group owned by TIG Holdings, Inc., headquartered in New York.

TIG's special insurance rate for newer BMWs is now available in the following 30 states:

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Maine
Maryland
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin