If you could avoid buying or leasing a car, would you subscribe to one instead?
Ford Motor is betting you might. The No. 2 U.S. automaker is among several companies, including Cadillac, Porsche and Volvo, that are dabbling with subscriptions as a way to hold on to customers in the age of Uber and Lyft.
People still want cars; they just don’t want the commitment. A vehicle subscription – with warranty, maintenance and roadside assistance all bundled into one monthly payment – is a flexible middle ground. It can get pricey, though. Book By Cadillac charges $1,800 a month to customers who want to be able to swap their daily drives on a whim. Porsche Passport lets you choose between 22 models for $3,000 a month.
