One monthly fee, a catalog of Porsches

Americans lease cars more than people in any other country.

Perhaps it’s a fear of commitment, at least as it pertains to a vehicle. As Joni Mitchell put it, “We love our lovin’, but not like we love our freedom.”

Our fondness for mixing and matching has created space for automotive freedom beyond the lease as well, in the form of car subscription services.

You pay a fee over a period of time and have access to a menu of cars in a certain fleet. MercedesBenz Collection, Book by Cadillac, Care by Volvo and Access by BMW all provide these services without the entanglements of ownership, but Porsche’s Passport program (recently renamed Porsche Drive) hits the subscription model a bit differently.

Porsche had already taken note over the last couple years that younger generations were less willing to commit to big-ticket purchases. Even among the affluent, buyers in a highpriced segment or even those who might lease, a growing number seemed unwilling to commit.

“If they follow this pattern,” said Klaus Zellmer, chief executive of Porsche Cars North America, “then those folks are left out and won’t consider ownership. By working around this, we can create easier access to our cars. This is how we came up with the onemonth commitment.”

With Porsche’s Drive subscription program, even for those who fear commitment, the barrier is relatively low. It’s also flexible.

Two subscription programs offer slightly different fleets. And as with all things in 2020, Drive is app-based: The chief interface with the customer is a menu and calendar from which to select the cars and the dates. There’s no real paperwork. And in those locations where Porsche offers the program, a dealer fulfills it but uses a dedicated staff for Drive customers.

Perhaps the biggest bummer is that programs are up and running only in

Toronto, Atlanta, Phoenix, San Diego and Las Vegas. Others are planned.

To join, drivers must be at least 27 year old.

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI/AP