MIC Global, a specialist in parametric microinsurance for the gig economy, and inDrive, the international mobility and delivery platform, have expanded their partnership to 18 countries. The trip-based insurance policy provides protection for both drivers and passengers against a range of risks, including medical costs resulting from accidents during a journey.

From a Fair-Fare Movement to a Global Platform
The origins of inDrive can be traced to New Year's Eve in 2012, when temperatures in Yakutsk, Siberia, plunged to -45°C. As local taxi operators sharply increased their fares, residents turned to social media to arrange shared rides and negotiate reasonable prices. That grassroots response ultimately gave rise to inDrive.

Today, the company operates in more than 1,200 cities across 48 countries, connecting drivers and passengers while maintaining its focus on fair pricing.

Addressing a Different Kind of Insurance Need
Conventional insurance models are generally designed around relatively stable risks, predictable schedules and defined geographic markets. Those assumptions are difficult to apply to a global mobility marketplace where thousands of drivers undertake billions of journeys each year, often in regions where unexpected medical expenses can create severe financial hardship.

MIC Global's parametric approach is designed for short-term, event-based risks. Its technology supports automated claims processing, while predefined triggers can be verified using data already generated by the platform. This can reduce the need for paperwork and manual claims assessment.

How the Partnership Works
The collaboration began in 2024, initially providing trip-based coverage to inDrive drivers and passengers in three countries. Protection applies only while users are undertaking rides booked through the inDrive platform.

The two companies bring complementary capabilities to the arrangement. inDrive concentrates on its mobility marketplace and connecting drivers with passengers, while MIC Global manages insurance-related functions including underwriting, regulatory compliance and claims administration.

The Complexity of International Expansion
Expanding the programme from three countries to 18 in less than two years has required more than a technology platform. Insurance regulations, actuarial requirements, claims processes and business relationships differ substantially from one market to another.

MIC Global maintains local regulatory compliance while using a consistent underlying insurance framework. The company combines standardized policy structures for each business vertical with market-specific policy wording and actuarial models. Its reinsurance arrangements are designed to support the programme across multiple markets.

Andries Smit, Chief Growth Business Officer at inDrive, said the expansion reflects the company's founding philosophy of putting people at the center of its platform.

According to Smit, extending financial protection to drivers and passengers across international markets demonstrates that principle in practice. For drivers who may complete several trips each day, he noted, an accident in a market with significant medical expenses can potentially threaten the financial stability of an entire family, making the insurance protection an important safety net rather than an optional add-on.

Mike Eksteen, Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer at MIC Global, said the company's approach begins with understanding how a partner operates, where its risks arise and what its customers need.

He explained that MIC Global combines this understanding with AI-supported technology and insurance expertise to develop protection products tailored to each platform. While the underlying policy architecture can be standardized, licensing, actuarial requirements and policy terms are adapted to individual markets, with reinsurance provided through Lloyd's and MIC Re.

Eksteen added that the model enables MIC Global to expand alongside its partners. As inDrive enters additional countries, the insurance infrastructure can be adapted and deployed in those markets, allowing financial protection to grow alongside the platform.

Moving Tech Innovations (MTI), the operator of the world’s largest open infrastructure for shared mobility, has announced its acquisition of the Netherlands-based Automicle Holding BV, marking MTI’s formal expansion into the European market. MTI currently powers leading open mobility platforms such as Namma Yatri, Bharat Taxi, and Chennai One. The collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of locally managed, open mobility systems across Europe.

European cities are increasingly reevaluating their mobility ecosystems, emphasizing transparency, sustainability, multi-modal integration, and long-term control over data and policy decisions. Accessible and inclusive transportation is now central to urban innovation. Automicle was founded to meet these challenges, offering digital parking and public mobility solutions built on European regulatory knowledge and close engagement with local stakeholders.

MTI brings to Europe a mature, population-scale mobility platform that has facilitated over 150 million trips and generated more than €250 million in commission-free earnings for drivers. Designed as digital public infrastructure, the platform offers fully customizable, end-to-end solutions for ride-hailing, micro-mobility, parking, integrated public transport, and specialized services such as ambulance and senior transport. Fully compliant with GDPR, data localization, and local ownership standards, the platform allows European cities to deploy reliable, cost-effective mobility systems with confidence.

Jef Heyse and Mohit Mishra, Automicle co-founders, stated: “This marks a major milestone for Automicle and European mobility. By combining our regional expertise with MTI’s proven infrastructure, we can roll out locally governed systems that create meaningful, scalable impact while upholding European values and governance standards.”

Magizhan and Shan MS, MTI co-founders, added: “Europe and India are aligned around a shared vision: digital infrastructure is most effective when it is open, transparent, and developed collaboratively with cities and communities. Together, we can build mobility systems that are dependable, affordable, and designed to endure.”

Both companies operate on open standards, including the Beckn Protocol and TOMP API, enabling smooth integration across operators while avoiding vendor lock-in. Advanced discussions are already underway in several European countries, as cities seek forward-looking mobility solutions based on open protocols, local ownership, and long-term sustainability.