Volvo wants you to treat your car just like your smartphone

Volvo is hoping that drivers will be ready to upgrade their cars just like they do their phones: on an annual schedule.

The Swedish automaker will now offer a 12-month subscription for its new XC40, which it's calling the "Care by Volvo" service. The concept is specifically designed to mimic the yearly refresh schedule consumers have grown accustomed to from smartphone makers.

Volvo is offering drivers more than just the option to switch out their SUV on a yearly basis. The package also offers payment options on a national, flat-rate monthly fee, eschewing the typical dealership structure included in most leases (the rate hasn't been settled yet).

"Care by Volvo customers will be able to drive away in a new Volvo without having to worry about the traditional extras such as down payments, maintenance and insurance," the company said in a statement.

The automaker will announce more details about the service, like pricing, at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show in December.

The Care by Volvo service won't entirely replace OG auto lease and purchase structures — the XC40 will still be available through traditional means.

Other vehicles will likely be added to the Care by Volvo roster, according to the company, which aims to expand the program to include digital concierge services in the future.

Leasing is nothing new for the auto industry, but these short-term subscriptions with an eye on the next model are definitely pulled directly from the tech world. Volvo Car USA President & CEO Lex Kerssemakers said the new deal will include "everything but fuel," which sounds like an oversimplification of what it means to lease a car — but likely appeals directly to consumers who live in a grey area about who actually owns their precious smartphones.