Mercedes Gets into the Subscription Car Business

Cadillac, Porsche, and BMW have all launched vehicle subscription services of one form or another. Not to be left out, Mercedes-Benz is jumping into the market, according to a new Automotive News report.

This new program, called Mercedes-Benz Collection, will be quite broad with 30 model variants included. Of course, it will be a program for the well-heeled. Subscription prices will range from a cool $1,095 to $2,995 per month. That’s in the same neighborhood as the other services, because it’s obviously a way for rich people to play with more cars.

And why wouldn’t you want to do that? I wouldn’t mind taking an AMG GT R for a weekend drive, then later get a GLS for a massive Costco run. That kind of flexibility is nice, albeit expensive.

This is just another way automakers are dealing with slow vehicle sales. Some members of society have decided paying $80 for an Uber ride is a good way to spend their money, and others think a few thousand a month to drive whatever car they feel like from day to day is a good deal. This is how free markets work, for better or worse.