Overland Park, KS – Zurich, one of the world’s largest property-casualty insurance companies, announced today that its Direct Underwriters business unit in North America is launching Unicover® VI, the newest version of its well-known package policy for auto, motorcycle and truck dealers, and other automotive businesses.

“When it was first introduced in 1968,” said Tom Bradley, president of Direct Underwriters, “Zurich’s Unicover policy was groundbreaking because it was the first single policy to meet the specific property-casualty needs of the automotive industry.  Through subsequent enhancements, Unicover has continued as a unique option that is tailored specifically to meet customers’ needs.  It has been imitated, but never matched.”

Bradley said the new Unicover VI policy offers a number of enhanced coverages for auto inventory, property and garage liability.  Additionally, by incorporating many endorsements into the base policy and more user-friendly language, Unicover VI is now easier to read.

Bradley said Unicover VI is approved in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania, with approvals expected soon in Connecticut, Florida and Wisconsin.  The product will be filed in 19 more states later this year and in the remaining states during 2008.

Unicover VI is offered exclusively through Zurich’s Direct Underwriters account executives. 

About Zurich Financial Services
Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets.  Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.  It employs approximately 58,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries.  In North America, Zurich (www.zurichna.com) is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle market, small business, specialties and programs sectors.

Zurich’s Direct Underwriters business unit (formerly Universal Underwriters Group) was founded in 1922 and specializes in insurance coverage for the auto, truck, equipment and motorcycle dealer industry, and automotive aftermarket industry.  It also offers a full line of finance and insurance products to automobile dealers.