State Farm has become the first insurance company to join the Institute of Automated Mobility (IAM), a consortium that is overseen by the Arizona Commerce Authority.

Established by executive order in October 2018 by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, IAM is a collaborative effort involving experts from private industry, government and academia that are working together to “advance research in automated vehicle science, safety and policy.”

“As a leader in automotive insurance, State Farm brings unique perspective and valuable expertise to this effort to advance automated vehicle safety and accelerate the commercialization of this technology,” says Sandra Watson, president & CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority.

“The company joins an excellent group of private sector partners, and we are grateful for their support.”

IAM is made up of the Arizona Department of Transportation; the Arizona Department of Public Safety; Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University; and private industry, as well as private-sector partners Intel Corporation and Exponent.

In the year since its establishment, IAM and its industry partners have developed IAM’s research and development roadmap, and launched the consortium's first on-road project in the Phoenix area. Once fully operational, IAM will include facilities designed for complex research and testing scenarios. It will also include a simulation lab and technology-neutral physical infrastructure that offer several route configurations, intersections, signage and traffic signals.

“Like seatbelts and airbags, automated vehicles have promising safety benefits when it comes to protecting everyone who shares our roadways. Our involvement in IAM will help State Farm better understand this emerging technology and make sure our customers’ needs continue to be met now and in the future,” says Mark Oakley, senior vice president of Labs at State Farm.