Autonomy is taking its stab at cracking the decade-long conundrum of generating notable momentum for used-car leasing.

As the company highlighted that it more than doubled its subscription reservations in third quarter versus the previous quarter, Autonomy also announced on Monday that it has launched a new automaker partnership program.

The partnership can enable OEMs to generate additional revenue from off-lease vehicles by offering them to consumers through Autonomy’s subscription service.

“For consumers, the new program offers a more flexible alternative to a long-term loan or lease. Customers can access gently used vehicles without committing to a traditional multiyear lease, providing an option for people whose transportation needs may change,” Autonomy said in a news release.

“The program also addresses a longstanding challenge for automakers and their financing divisions about what to do with vehicles returned at the end of their original leases,” Autonomy continued. “These vehicles are often sold through wholesale auctions, where prices are influenced by the number of similar vehicles available for sale. When large volumes of off-lease vehicles enter the used-car market at once, the increased supply can put downward pressure on resale prices.

“By making these vehicles available through Autonomy, automakers can reduce the number of vehicles entering the resale market immediately and continue earning revenue from them. This approach can help preserve vehicle resale values, also known as residual values,” Autonomy went on to say. “Autonomy’s new program also allows automakers and their financing divisions to reach a new group of customers through the flexible subscriptions and helps extend the lifecycle of the vehicle.”

Furthermore, the program also can create opportunities for franchised dealerships.

Vehicles offered through Autonomy can continue to receive maintenance and service through authorized dealerships, creating additional service revenue opportunities.

When vehicles eventually exit the program, they can still be sold through existing used-vehicle sales channels.

The launch builds on Autonomy’s broader mission to make vehicle access more flexible while creating new business opportunities for the automotive industry.

The program arrived as demand for Autonomy’s subscriptions is accelerating.

Subscription reservations rose 109% in Q3 from Q2, with each month of the quarter exceeding the one before.

Approved subscribers grew even faster, rising 146% over the same period as more applicants qualified to subscribe.

The number of subscribers taking delivery rose 77% in Q3, and October deliveries have already passed September’s total.

Autonomy highlighted consumer interest is also building online, too.

Visits to autonomy.com rose 97% from Q2 to Q3, and September traffic was nearly triple June’s numbers.

Clicks on Autonomy from searches such as “car subscription,” which do not mention the company by name, increased 3.6-fold from June to September, while visits referred by AI assistants such as ChatGPT grew 13-fold.

“Demand for flexible car access is growing faster than ever, and our reservations more than doubling this quarter shows that more consumers want an alternative to the traditional lease or loan,” Autonomy CEO Fred Weick said in the news release. “Our new automaker program helps us meet that demand. Rather than sending off-lease vehicles straight to auction, automakers can keep them on the road through Autonomy and continue earning revenue from them, while consumers get access to high-quality vehicles without a long-term commitment.”