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2026 Auto Dealer Outlook

AutomotiveTechnology and AILegal System AbuseArticleJanuary 5, 2026

Zurich’s webinar for auto dealership leaders addresses the regulatory environment, tax and tariff implications, litigation reform efforts, where AI technology is headed, and more.
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In working to help our auto dealership customers prepare for a wide range of potential developments, Zurich’s Direct Markets team once again hosted a webinar looking at the year ahead for the industry. 2026 is expected to be an eventful year as dealerships navigate tariffs, regulatory issues, and ongoing efforts to fight legal system abuse and social inflation.

This year, we also put a deeper focus on risks that AI technology poses and how dealerships can best manage this exciting but fast-evolving new tool. David Mork, Assistant Vice President of Federal Affairs, and Tim Lynch, Assistant Vice President of State Affairs, were joined by Chief Data Officer Kristen Bessette for this engaging discussion that can help inform business strategies for dealerships in the year ahead.

This webinar was originally presented live on December 17, 2025.

 

Presenters

Kristen BessetteKristen Bessette is Chief Data Officer for Zurich North America, where she is advancing the company’s data and artificial intelligence initiatives to optimize performance across core insurance functions.

Before joining Zurich North America, she was the Chief Actuary, Data and Analytics Officer at QBE North America and earlier held senior leadership roles at Liberty Mutual Insurance. Bessette, who has become a leading industry voice on AI in insurance, is responsible for all aspects of data management for Zurich North America as well as the development of advanced analytics and AI capabilities and products.

Over her career, Bessette has worked on growing and rehabilitating parts of businesses, using her quantitative expertise to evaluate risk and pricing and more broadly to use data and analytics to achieve better results. Bessette is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.


David MorkDavid Mork is Assistant Vice President, Federal Affairs for Zurich North America’s Government & Regulatory Relations team.

Mork began his career on a congressional campaign and later spent a dozen years working on Capitol Hill. From junior legislative staffer to Chief of Staff, he developed his political and policy acumen by serving in a variety of leadership roles in the U.S. House of Representatives.

After working with a prominent government and public affairs firm in Washington, Mork joined Zurich North America in April 2020, where he advocates before policymakers on behalf of the company and its customers.

 

Tim LynchTim Lynch is Assistant Vice President, State Affairs on the Government & Regulatory Relations team for Zurich North America. He began his career with Zurich in May of 2023.

Prior to joining Zurich, Lynch was the Senior Director of Government Affairs for the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). He led legislative initiatives in approximately 20 states, working in partnership with state and national trade associations. Prior to joining NICB, Lynch led government affairs activities at the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and began his career working on staff with the Illinois House of Representatives.

 

Additional resources

Automotive Resource Hub

Webinar: Social Inflation and Juror Attitudes

 

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