Young, urban people are increasingly foregoing their own car. On the one hand, this is due to ecological reasons, which are by no means only relevant for climate-conscious young people. On the other hand, the car is no longer a status symbol for many of them. And finally, by foregoing a car, save a lot of money. Nevertheless, the need for unlimited flexibility and independence in terms of mobility remains. How can you reconcile the two?

  • Are subscriptions the new leasing?
  • Multimodal models show where the journey is going
  • Car subscriptions contribute to the spread of electromobility

According to Professor Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, founder and director of the CAR Institute in Duisburg, the solution lies in car subscriptions: "If you buy online once, you'll stick with it. And if you subscribe once, you'll do it again." While car sharing is already quite common, car subscriptions are still relatively unknown. But as soon as their advantages are recognized, subscription models seem to be attracting a lot of interest. According to a study by the CAR Institute, 72 percent of over a thousand respondents could imagine subscribing to a car. The survey was conducted among drivers who want to buy a car in the next three years.

Are subscriptions the new leasing?

Compared to leasing with the same mileage, rates for a 24-month subscription are only six to seven percent higher. However, a subscription is easier to take out and easier to manage than a leasing contract. In return, you get an all-round, worry-free package in which taxes, insurance and maintenance are already included in the monthly rent. This allows you to calculate and avoid unexpected cost traps.

Multimodal models show where the journey is going

Solutions that offer a door-to-door service thanks to a combination of modes of transport are also interesting. The Swiss Federal Railways SBB had already launched a pilot project in 2016 to test the demand for such models. To this end, the SBB put together a comprehensive package that was handed over to the car subscription partner Carvolution in 2022. In addition to a rental electric car, where even tire changes are included in the basic package, it includes a general subscription for free travel on trains and most public transport throughout Switzerland. Also included are a parking space at the train station, car sharing, bike sharing and credit for charging the car on the go.

Car subscriptions contribute to the spread of electromobility

Flat rates are an easy way to get into electromobility. This way, electric cars can be tested without obligation and reservations can be reduced. "Risks such as battery life, repair costs, long contract commitments and uncertain resale value are excluded with a car subscription. It is therefore not surprising that 46 percent of people in our study said that a car subscription makes it easier to get into electric cars," Dudenhöffer is quoted as saying on Next Mobility . "If you want to get electric cars on the road quickly, you have to remove the risks. And subscriptions are one way to do that."

Sources:
https://www.next-mobility.de/studie-sicht-auto-abos-und-e-autos-als-win-win-koalition-a-1095800/
https://www.sbb.ch/de/abos-billette/abonnemente/greenclass.html