High five: Catch up on the biggest exclusive stories this week

Willis head of specialties Alastair Swift led this week’s exclusives, telling Insurance Times that brokers should see regulatory and market challenges as “excellent opportunities” to stand out. 

• Challenges present ‘most exciting times’ in market for brokers – Alastair Swift

Meanwhile, data reporter George McDade investigated how climate-driven ground shrinkage is impacting UK homes – and insurer loss ratios.

As the south east endures the driest spring since 2000, new electrokinesis stabilisation technology is being piloted to counter rising subsidence claims.

• Cracking foundations: How 2025’s summer drought is sinking UK homes

The rise and pending introduction of robotaxis and driverless buses is also shaking up the future of taxi insurance. As traditional cab drivers face rising premiums and tech-driven competition, experts warn that the industry has yet to grasp the liability risks posed by autonomous vehicles fully.

• From Uber to robotaxi: Rising premiums and the driverless dawn steer taxi cover trends

Secondhand hybrid vehicles are holding their value better than electric, petrol and diesel counterparts – with Tesla leading the decline in EV resale prices.

In a data-led exclusive, McDade analysed more than 800,000 vehicles across three million UK adverts with insurtech Percayso Inform to reveal shifting trends in motor pricing, with implications for underwriting and claims.

• Tesla leads the slide as EV resale values drop

Elsewhere, Tim Evershed explored why a public/private backstop for the cyber insurance market remains elusive, despite repeated calls from insurers and brokers.

Experts argued that a robust safety net – modelled on Pool Re or Flood Re – could unlock market capacity and protect against systemic risk. However, a lack of political alignment continues to stall progress.

• What is stopping the creation of a public backstop for the cyber market?