Automobiles as a service: Who needs to own a car anymore?

Imagine no possessions: Car subscription models are being touted as the alternative to investing in a car. — Sixt/dpa

Buying a car is so last century. Just as streaming upended the music and film industries and mobile phones upended traditional telephone plans, some companies are betting that subscription models will disrupt the automobile market.

"A big group of providers are competing on the German market alone," says Jonas Wagner of strategy consultant Berylls. "And more start-ups are constantly being added."