‘Subscribe’ to a new Jaguar

A new partnership means Aussies can drive a brand new F-PACE car for under $400 per week.

The new Jaguar F-PACE model. Source: Supplied.

Australian car subscription service Carbar, often dubbed the 'Netflix for cars', has landed a deal with Jaguar, marking the first time a car manufacturer has offered a new vehicle through a subscription service.

As of today customers across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane can gain access to brand new F-PACE all wheel drives from $389 per week, including maintenance, roadside, insurance and registration.

The car is also delivered directly to the customer on sign up.

"Subscription is on everyone in the car industry’s lips, but nobody really understands it. It offers an alternative to traditional car ownership with convenience, flexibility and value that has not existed in the auto category before," Carbar co-founder and CEO Des Hang told The Australian.

"This deal allows us to lend the experience we’ve gained from starting up a car subscription program with Jaguar Australia and help them pioneer this emerging market.

Des Hang is the CEO of car subscription service Carbar. Source: Supplied

"For our customers, it gives them access to a luxurious SUV without carrying the burden of long-term debt and commitment. It's an emerging trend in the auto industry and will play a key role in its future."

Mark Cameron, the managing director of Jaguar Australia, said car subscriptions had long been on the company's radar, particularly given its parent company Jaguar Land Rover has its own subscription service in the UK.

"Australia is a very different market when it comes to auto sales," he said. "Unlike many other countries, Australians have historically been passionate about owning and caring for their cars. But we're observing a shift in this thinking that we couldn’t ignore.

"So we needed to devise an approach unique to this market, and a partnership was deemed to be the best approach. We’ve watched Carbar closely for some time, and have been impressed with the businesses ability to build both a market and a movement towards car subscriptions.

"It's clear they have a strong focus on their customers with a myriad of happy, and longer-term subscribers using their service."

Mr Hang added the car subscription trend is building strong momentum in Australia.

Subscriptions are different to traditional leases in that they can be switched ‘on’ or ‘off’ at any time, and customers can change cars whenever they like.

"We’re heartened by the uptake we’ve had to date and we’ve hit all of our internal growth targets," he said. "We’ve also had people reaching out to us from around Australia asking us when we will launch in their state.

"Perhaps the biggest shift in this space to date is an acknowledgment from car manufacturers that subscription is a key factor for growth this market. We see this partnership with Jaguar Australia as a key milestone both for the subscription trend and our business, as it will help get the word out there about the benefits of car subscriptions.

"We’re not here to up-end the car sales market. We’re here to help it find its next path towards growth."