Creative Ways to Subscribe to Your Car

With slumping sales, many companies are looking at ways to boost revenue by allowing you to subscribe to your car.

The automotive industry has been taking hit after hit since the COVID-19 pandemic began. If these subscription services grow exponentially, there might be a need for regulation and government intervention, but for now, it might be a creative way for some drivers to have more features and others to avoid them.

Subscription Services Aren’t New

Since the invention of the internet and the inclusion of computers and processors in vehicles, automakers have been offering subscription-style services. One of the most famous is the GM OnStar feature which was one of the first of its kind to give members the capability to have a car unlocked remotely, call for help, and ask for directions when needed. More of these services are being developed for each model year of the vehicles we drive.

Upgraded Features May Come as a Subscription

Do you want to enjoy heated seats in your vehicle? Are you going to make use of the adaptive cruise control feature? If not, maybe you don’t want to pay for these items. BMW is exploring the idea of allowing drivers to subscribe to these simple features. Because nearly everything in a vehicle is operated with a computer, programming is available to make this happen.

Some Brands Allow You to Fully Subscribe to Your Car

Do you want to have a car that you pay a certain amount every month that you can trade every few months for another model? If so, the Care by Volvo program is what you’re looking for. This program allows you to pay a set amount every month and enjoy the benefits of all maintenance included in the price you’re paying every month.

As Subscriptions Increase will Regulations be Necessary?

There are going to be more ways for you to subscribe to your car and have one price to pay for all the services you want in the vehicle. The question that allows this conversation to become somewhat political is whether or not state or federal government officials will need to step in and monitor these services while providing some form of regulation for them.

You May Have to Pay for Over-The-Air Updates Going Forward

Tesla might have been the first to use OTA updates for technology in all models it offers, but other automakers are also taking this feature and using it as well. Will you have to pay for updated software, increased capability, and the latest information for your systems? That might be another area where automakers are going to find a way to recoup some lost revenue.

Because automotive subscription services are relatively new, we don’t yet know whether or not government intervention will be needed. If you’re interested in the different ways to subscribe to your car, you’ll have to see some of the dealers in your area. You may find some good programs and also find others that make you wonder why the automaker thought it would be something customers would desire.