Included service and insurance as well as available contact person most important criteria / Every third AutoScout24 user finds new service interesting
Munich, March 9, 2020. The fascination with cars is unbroken in Germany, at the same time new solutions are being developed that promote an alternative to classic car ownership. What is new is the auto subscription, a flat rate for car use, in which all costs are covered with a monthly amount - except for refueling. According to a recent survey by AutoScout24, one in three users of Europe's largest online car market rates the service as interesting. What is important to potential customers is above all an included service and an included insurance as well as available contacts. AutoScout24 opened its platform in September for providers of auto subscription models.
AutoScout24 surveyed around 700 users for the study in February this year *. 32 percent say that they find a car subscription "very interesting" or "interesting". For 29 percent, it is "less interesting" and 38 percent rate it as "not interesting at all". Jochen Kurz, Director Product at AutoScout24: "The auto subscription will not replace traditional vehicle purchases, but it can be an alternative for a third of drivers." At the same time, the auto subscription opens up new opportunities for retailers. In short: "It creates access to new customers who can be tied in the long term and thus creates new sales channels for dealers."
Auto subscription customers want service and more
What points are particularly interesting for AutoScout24 users when it comes to auto subscriptions? For 69 percent it is important that maintenance and inspections are part of the subscription package, 51 percent find it important that the insurance is included and 39 percent value an available contact person. Also important: a package with free kilometers, which 36 percent would like, a tire change service that is exciting for 34 percent, and the option of taking another person authorized to drive - 33 percent value this (for a complete list, see the appendix). "Dealers and car subscription providers should pay attention to these issues if they want to get into the business," says Kurz.
The survey also shows signs of why a car subscription can be a good alternative to buying. For example, 73 percent of those surveyed complain about the time it takes to buy a classic car. 69 percent fear unexpected costs for visits to the workshop and 59 percent find it difficult to make a reliable calculation of the running costs. "These are all topics that are no longer necessary for auto subscription customers," says Kurz. "The only problem is that many for whom the new service would be suitable do not even know it." The study also shows that every second participant states that he had never heard of car subscriptions before the survey . And at most 28 percent the name is known. At least 23 percent are familiar with the car subscription or know it partially. "It is therefore one of the current challenges for us and our partners to make the new service better known."
AutoScout24: Further development according to customer needs
In any case, Kurz is convinced of the subscription model and sees growth potential for his own company. “For us as a platform, the auto subscription is an exciting area to further develop AutoScout24 according to customer needs. Initial customer feedback shows us that subscription and purchase do not have to be a contradiction in terms. For example, some customers initially use the subscription model for electric drives. They want to find out whether they can cope with the requirements of an electric car in the long term. In this case, the car subscription is nothing more than a long test drive. For others, the subscription model is exactly what they have been looking for. In this way, every phase of life generates its needs and we at AutoScout24 provide an answer together with our cooperation partners. "
*Source: AutoScout24; Base: 702 users of AutoScout24; Survey period: February 2020