As vehicle ownership spreads, the need for roadside aid growing

Allianz recently opened a new operation center in Chengdu for roadside, travel and medical assistance. [Provided to China Daily]

Recent thunderstorms in Beijing reminded people of one of the most serious downpours the city for six decades.

On July 21 last year an unexpectedly heavy storm hit the capital city, paralyzing traffic and flooding some areas up to 4 meters deep.

Many residents and vehicles were left stranded. A young man even drowned as his car plowed into deep water that collected in an underpass.

The disaster also challenged roadside aid company Allianz Global Assistance as it responded to 12,154 cases in two days.

"When the weather was at its worst, we used our network, global assistance technology and teams to mobilize available vehicles in Beijing. An additional 66 emergency vehicles were dispatched from Shandong, Hebei and Shanxi provinces to support the effort," said Yukio Ito, CEO of Allianz Global Assistance China.

"We were pleased to receive gratitude and recognition from customers. But we also realized that the increasing number of vehicles also requires growth in road assistance services," he added.

"In today's China, automobile ownership has reached 125 million and the average number of people who travel abroad is growing on average by as much as 20 percent every year. This makes automobile, travel and medical services increasingly necessary for Chinese consumers," said Roland Rykart, CEO of the Asia Pacific region at Allianz.

Rykart said China now ranks the 11th on the company's list of top markets in the world.

It recently opened a new operation in Chengdu, Sichuan province, for roadside, travel and medical assistance.

The city is hub for logistics and transportation, technology, finance and trade in western China.

"We hope that the Chengdu center will contribute to the overall economic development of Sichuan and surrounding southwestern areas," said Christophe Aniel, CEO of Allianz Global Assistance, North Asia.

Led by Chengdu, China's western region has been recognized as a future engine of growth in the automotive sector. "Over the next decade, China's vehicle production and sales will both turn their focus to western China," said Jia Xinguang, an independent auto analyst based in Beijing.

Ito from Allianz said company will also develop a one-stop service that integrates roadside assistance with car insurance and warranties.