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Farmers Insurance Group’s announcement Monday that it is offering a discount to hybrid drivers is based on green thinking, analysts said, but it’s about the color of money.

A total of 54,164 people drive hybrids, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Analysts said it’s not unusual to offer better rates to good drivers. Hybrid buyers tend to be “concerned people” who don’t take many driving risks, said Eric Noble, president of CarLab, an auto research and design company based in Orange.
“It takes a stretch of the imagination to think an insurance company is going to be motivated by anything other than actuarials and money,” Noble said.

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