Mercedes-Benz Collection subscription service launches in the US – three tiers from RM4,348/month

Joining the ranks of Volvo, Porsche and BMW in offering a car subscription service in the United States is Mercedes-Benz. Stuttgart’s product, Mercedes-Benz Collection, claims to provide the broadest selection of its kind in the luxury segment, with three tiers to choose – Signature, Reserve and Premier.

Pay the US$495 (RM1,966) activation fee and you can choose from all the bodystyles from the subscription tier of your choosing, including SUVs, sedans, coupes, cabriolets, roadsters and wagons. Each tier also gives you access to tasty Mercedes-AMG models, just in case you’d want to show Porsches a clean pair of heels.

The service is launching in Nashville, Tennessee (where BMW’s Access by BMW is also playing in) and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with two tiers available in each city. Nashville customers can subscribe to the base US$1,095 (RM4,348) per month Signature tier, which provides access to the C 300 Sedan, Coupe and Cabriolet, AMG CLA 45, GLC 300 SUV and Coupe, and SLC 300.

Not enough? The US$1,595 (RM6,334) Reserve tier offers the E 300 Sedan, E 400 Wagon and Coupe, AMG C 43 Sedan and Coupe, GLE 300, AMG GLC 43 and AMG SLC 43. Philadelphia gets the Reserve tier as well as the Premier, which costs a whopping US$2,995 (RM11,893) but throws in the AMG C 63 S Sedan and Coupe, E 63 S Sedan, S 560, AMG GLE 63 S SUV and Coupe, GLS 550, G 500 and SL 550.

A collaboration between Mercedes-Benz USA, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA and dealers, the service works using both a new Mercedes-Benz Collection app as well as a local concierge. Subscribers can perform various actions through the app, such as exchanging vehicles and contacting the concierge. The latter then ensures that the delivery is consistent with the details and preferences in the customer profile.

Unlike BMW’s and Volvo’s services, Mercedes-Benz Collection has no mileage limitations, and the monthly subscription fee includes insurance, 24/7 roadside assistance and vehicle maintenance. Every time a customer requests an exchange, the new vehicle comes washed with a full tank of petrol, and the previous vehicle is taken away by the concierge.

“We know there is a market opportunity for people who would like the ability to move in and out of vehicles, depending on what they need or want at a particular point in time, or who don’t want to own a vehicle right now. That’s why we are excited to test the waters with Mercedes-Benz Collection,” said MBUSA president and CEO Dietmar Exler.

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA vice president Geoff Robinson added, “Customer’s appetites are changing when it comes to how they access products and services, and our financial and mobility services are evolving to fit those demands. We are working to provide one of the most diverse offerings in the market today and expect to learn a lot from this pilot.”

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