City's Love Affair with Hybrid Cars also has Insurance Upside

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 26, 2008--Economically and environmentally savvy drivers have set off a wave of hybrid car sales in Chicago and statewide. A recent study from hybridcars.com ranks Chicago as fifth on the list of top cities for hybrid sales. Illinois also occupies the fifth spot among the states ranked in the survey. This segment of car owners has grown significantly as fuel prices remain near all time highs and there continues to be a growing concern for environmental issues.

The top five cities for new hybrids(1) are: 
Rank            Metropolitan Area       New Hybrid Sales
1.              Los Angeles             17,638
2.              San Francisco           11,155
3.              New York                10,419
4.              Washington DC           5,828
5.              Chicago                 4,862

The top five states for new hybrids(1) are:
Rank             State               New Hybrid Sales
1.               California          39,830
2.               Florida             8,810
3.               New York            8,612
4.               Texas               8,255
5.               Illinois            6,107

Recognizing the interest in hybrid vehicles, Travelers made a commitment to provide the right insurance solutions for this growing segment. The company was the first to offer an auto insurance discount of up to 10 percent(2) to hybrid drivers nationally when the trend of driving a hybrid started taking off in early 2006.

"It is clear that there is a growing segment of the population that is considering a hybrid vehicle and Travelers is committed to offering innovative products that meet the needs of today's market trends," said Lorie Kates, regional vice president, Travelers Personal Insurance. "In addition to saving at the pump, Illinois hybrid drivers can also save on their car insurance."

Research also shows that high gas prices are not the only reason consumers are considering hybrid cars. According to the Polk Center for Automotive Studies, 70 percent of hybrid owners bought their cars to take advantage of tax breaks and because of high gas prices, 21 percent cited environmental concerns as the reason for buying a hybrid. The remaining nine percent of those surveyed say they bought hybrids because they are "futurists" - in support of the new technology and design of hybrid vehicles.

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

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading property casualty insurer selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. Travelers understands that life and business are inherently dynamic and that the best way to serve customers is to deliver insurance in-synch with evolving risks. The company's diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage in the auto, home and business settings. Travelers is a Fortune 100 company, with 2007 revenues of approximately $26 billion. The company has more than 33,000 employees. For more information on being in-synch, visit www.travelers.com.

1. Hybridcars.com in partnership with Polk Center for Automotive Studies, Registrations CYTD May 2008
2. A discount of up to 10% applies only to certain coverages. The discount may not be available in all states and is subject to individual eligibility.

CONTACT: The Travelers Companies, Inc.
Sheila Trauernicht, 860.277.7461
Strauern@Travelers.com
or
Matt Bordonaro, 860.277.7014
MBordona@Travelers.com

SOURCE: The Travelers Companies, Inc.