Boston leads state in number of registered hybrid vehicles and sees triple digit gain in hybrid drivers in past year

WORCESTER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 2, 2008--Record-high gas prices across the country are fueling the urge for car owners to identify ways to reduce their gas consumption. As a result, more people in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are considering hybrid vehicles and the number of registered hybrid vehicles has risen dramatically in many cities. The top communities for hybrid cars in Massachusetts are:

Rank   City            Registered Hybrid
                            Vehicles
1.     Boston               1615(a)
2.     Newton                 813
3.     Cambridge              705
4.     Brookline              438
5.     Lexington              386

On the cusp of the July 4th holiday travel season, we're finding that drivers in many cities are embracing hybrid vehicles and their beneficial offerings, said Dick Welch, president of Travelers of Massachusetts. As trends change and needs evolve, Travelers is committed to providing innovative insurance products, like the hybrid auto discount. Every city in the state saw gains in hybrid car registrations, which underscores the growing necessity for the right insurance products to protect these investments.

Travelers, which analyzed spring 2007 and 2008 data supplied by the state Registry of Motor Vehicles, noted that the figures prove motorists in the Commonwealth are increasingly seeking relief from record-high gas prices.

In researching the data, Travelers compared the number of registered hybrid vehicles in these cities in April 2007 to April 2008. Boston saw a 76 percent increase in registered hybrid vehicles, Newton was at 51 percent, Cambridge 43 percent, Brookline 45 percent and Lexington a 51 percent increase in registered hybrid vehicles in the past year.

(a) Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, April 2008

This information suggests that consumers see the inherent value in driving hybrid vehicles that offer fuel-efficiency and environmentally-friendly options, said Welch, Now more than ever, there are various incentives hybrid drivers can take advantage of including up to a 10 percent discount on their auto insurance coverage from Travelers of Massachusetts.

For information about federal and state incentives for hybrid owners and how to take advantage of the hybrid discount, visit www.hybridtravelers.com.

About Travelers

Travelers understands that life and business are inherently dynamic and that the best way to serve agents, brokers and policyholders is to deliver insurance that evolves to stay in-synch with life and business as they change. For more information on being in-synch, visit www.travelers.com.

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading property casualty insurance company selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. The company's diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of insurance coverage in both the personal and commercial settings, including auto, homeowners, construction, small business, oil and gas, ocean marine, surety and management liability, global technology and public sector services. Travelers is a Fortune 100 company, with 2007 revenues of approximately $26 billion. The company has more than 33,000 employees.

Travelers of Massachusetts is the umbrella brand name for all personal insurance policies issued by a Travelers company in Massachusetts. Homeowners policies are written by The Phoenix Insurance Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company, The Standard Fire Insurance Company, and The Travelers Commercial Insurance Company. Auto policies are written by The Premier Insurance Company of Massachusetts, an independent, single-state subsidiary of The Travelers Indemnity Company. For more information, visit www.travelersma.com.

CONTACT: Travelers
Matt Bordonaro, 860-277-7014
or
Sheila Trauernicht, 860-277-7461

SOURCE: Travelers