The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents 12 automakers including Volvo and General Motors, wants to ensure its members can offer varying business models including subscriptions. Automakers are seeking to end the subscription ban in Indiana.
"The alliance supports the ability of consumers to access as many transportation mobility options as possible and encourages innovative policies that offer the most affordable options to consumers," Bryan Goodman, a spokesmanfor the alliance, said in a statement.
GM deferred comment to the alliance. It offers Book by Cadillac, an $1,800-a-month vehicle subscription service operating in New York City, Los Angeles and Dallas that allows 18 vehicle flips within a year of signing up.
Global Automakers, a trade association representing international nameplate carmakers, did not respond to requests for comment.
In New Jersey, dealers also have been lobbying the past few months about creating a different classification for subscription vehicles, said Jim Appleton, president of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers. A bill could be introduced in the fall, he said.
Jeremy Paolone, who runs Flexdrive subscription operations for Holman Automotive Group in New Jersey, said he would like to see a different license plate for subscription vehicles. Appleton said the unique plate could help law enforcement track the vehicle.
Paolone said he's not "scared of competing" with automaker subscription plans but is more concerned about trying to simplify the regulatory processes around the vehicles so he can grow the Flexdrive model for Holman, which ranks No. 18 on Automotive News' list of the top 150 dealership groups based in the U.S. He now is following rental car rules and has to pay taxes associated with that.
"We want to cut out the extra cost, cut out these extra taxes and costs and fees and work flows that are slowing us down and costing us more money," he said. "We want to have a competitive product for the customer. We want to make it as advantageous as possible to have a nice, flexible experience. Frictionless mobility is what we're striving for."
Jackie Charniga contributed to this report.