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Weatherhead's Sue Helper warns car subscription fees can add up and erode consumer trust

Media | November 04, 2026 | Story by: Editorial Staff

‘Eventually I won’t have a choice’: Car subscriptions for remote start and extra horsepower pile on top of a record $787 average payment

Fortune Magazine: Sue Helper, the Frank Tracy Carlton Professor of Economics at Weatherhead School of Management, said that car subscriptions can add up significantly over time, even when individual monthly fees seem small. She said consumers should consider total ownership costs, warned against charging for hardware already included in a vehicle’s price, and noted that recurring fees can erode customer loyalty.