Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been undergoing a style evolution, sporting new jewelry and outfits.</li><li>Now, his garage will be updated with two new "his and hers" Porsches for himself and Priscilla Chan.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg">Mark Zuckerberg</a>'s garage just got an update: a Porsche 911 GT3 with a touring package and, for his wife, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-wife-relationship-timeline">Priscilla Chan</a>, a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT … minivan?The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta">Meta</a> CEO showed off the two new cars in an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAzDZ1-RCTB/?img_index=1">Instagram post</a> on Sunday, including the custom Cayenne, normally a $200,000 SUV. The cars appear to have matching light gray finishes in a color that Porsche calls "Crayon.""New side quest. Priscilla wanted a minivan, so I've been designing something I'm pretty sure should exist: a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT Minivan," he wrote. "Threw in a manual GT3 Touring to make it his and hers."In the Instagram video, the custom Cayenne appears to have been retrofitted with power sliding doors, a common fixture in modern minivans. It's unclear what interior customizations may have been made to the vehicle.Zuckerberg said in the post that Porsche and West Coast Customs, a southern California-based auto body shop known for its unique modifications of classic and luxury cars, helped create what's likely the only Porsche minivan on the road. According to West Coast Customs' social media account, the shop's previous clientele includes Justin Bieber and Shaquille O'Neal, among others.In an email, Porsche spokesperson Angus Fitton told Business Insider that the company created a concept minivan called the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://media.porsche.com/mediakit/unseen/en/whats-next/porsche-vision-race-service">Porsche Vision Race Service</a> in 2018 that never reached production.Fitton added that while the company didn't create Zuckerberg's custom Cayenne, Porsche does have "a so-called 'special wishes' department called Sonderwunsch that allows customers to have their cars customized to their precise requirements.""To date we've not yet been asked to create a minivan!" Fitton wrote.Meta and West Coast Customs spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment made over the weekend.Zuckerberg has been going through a personal style evolution of late, sporting new <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-dug-into-new-chain-necklace-look-2024-4">chains</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-mark-zuckerberg-considering-selling-classics-inspired-tshirts-roman-greek-2024-10">boxy t-shirts</a>, so perhaps it's only fitting that he and Chan drive new whips that help lean into their <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-leaning-into-his-version-of-mob-chic-2024-4">"mob chic" era</a>.The Porsche Cayenne's entry-level model costs $90,000. According to Porsche's website, the Turbo GT package, which includes a different engine and more aggressive exterior body, adds at least another $100,000 to the price tag.Zuckerberg's new 911 is a model that recently went out of production, the Porsche spokesperson told BI. Before options, the 911 GT3 Touring cost $164,650, he wrote.Zuckerberg has often been spotted in a more humble line of cars: a black Acura TSX, a Volkswagen Golf GTI hatchback, and a Honda Fit. All of these cars at the time were around $30,000 or less, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-cars-rich-tech-ceos-drive#mark-zuckerberg-1">Business Insider</a> previously reported.BI reported that his most flashy car, which still tops the two new Porsches, is a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-net-worth-priscilla-chan">Pagani Huayra</a>, an Italian sports car that cost more than $1 million.

Mark Zuckerberg just turned Porsche's minivan concept into a reality. Sort of.

​From Audi to Lamborghini: Exploring car brands owned by the Volkswagen Group​

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Europe's luxury carmakers once dominated in China, but are now under intense pressure.</li><li>BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche have all reported slumping sales in the world's largest auto market.</li></ul>The days of European carmakers dominating China's luxury vehicle market are over.Germany's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/germany-auto-giants-volkswagen-bmw-mercedes-struggle-sales-china-evs-2024-10">BMW</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mercedes-benz-sliding-ev-sales-and-weak-demand-in-china-2024-10">Mercedes-Benz </a>have suffered a sales slump in the world's largest auto market in recent months amid rising pressure from a wave of Chinese EV upstarts.BMW reported a one-third decline in Chinese sales in the most recent quarter, while deliveries of new Mercedes cars dropped 10% in the first nine months of the year. Its high-end S-Class range was particularly affected as some consumers cut spending amid a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-3q-gdp-growth-stock-market-stimulus-2024-10">faltering economy</a>.Aston Martin, a luxury British brand famous for its association with James Bond, said sales in China had fallen by more than half this year in its third-quarter earnings.Meanwhile, Porsche, owned by Volkswagen, said it would shrink its Chinese dealer network amid plunging profits and a 29% slide in sales in China in the nine months to September 30.The German company has seen stalling demand for its luxury vehicles, with sales of the $100,000 electric Taycan down 47% globally in the same period.<div type="image" title="The 2023 Porsche Taycan." height="3538" width="5750" msid="114850638" hostid="261" sizebytes="544158"></div><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rolls-royce-spectre-ev-interior-tour-photos-review-2023-7">Rolls-Royce</a>, the British marque owned by BMW, has also faced weaker sales in China this year. Its luxury car marker was experiencing "more challenging times," CEO Chris Brownridge told Bloomberg in September.The Chinese market has become increasingly difficult for European brands.Volkswagen was dethroned by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/byd-seal-electric-car-review-test-drive-elon-musk-tesla-2024-3">BYD</a> as China's biggest carmaker last year, and the share of China's car market held by German automakers has dropped from about a quarter before the pandemic to less than 15%, according to Bloomberg data."China is an incredible challenge, not just for Porsche," said finance chief Lutz Meschke in comments reported by Reuters. "In the future, we can no longer assume that China will return to where it was for European players."<h2 id="16591c84-687a-45c6-9996-fcfa8cb9e4a0">High-tech competition</h2>Upmarket European automakers are being squeezed by their Chinese rivals.Many are offering vehicles <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-ev-makers-battle-for-market-dominance-with-smart-features-2024-5">packed full of novel features and intelligent software</a> of them have growing designs on China's high-end auto market, and areLast year Tesla rival BYD launched the Yangwang U8 SUV last year. The $150,000 hybrid has a motor on each wheel that allows it to move <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/byd-chinese-tesla-rival-yangwang-u9-supercar-jump-dance-2023-4">like a crab</a>.The U8 also comes with an onboard drone, and BYD says it can even <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-ev-giants-innovation-ai-auto-show-european-rivals-despair-2024-10">float on water for up to 30 minutes</a>.Other Chinese automakers have gone to even greater lengths to stand out in the country's red-hot auto market, with Zeekr showing off the spacious and luxurious interior of its MIX minivan by having an executive eat a hot pot inside it.<div type="image" title="Zeekr Mix" height="3024" width="4032" msid="114850635" hostid="261" sizebytes="755406"></div>The competitiveness of the Chinese market means consumers don't need to spend a fortune to obtain luxury vehicles.The SU7, an electric sedan built by Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/xiaomi-su7-chinese-ev-features-specs-photos-ford-ceo-2024-10">packed with high-tech features</a> including a 16.1-inch infotainment screen and remote voice control that allows drivers to control household appliances from the car.But it is also relatively affordable, with the base version starting at 215,900 yuan ($30,300) and the high-end SU7 Max priced at 299,900 yuan ($42,100). Xiaomi has just <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-ev-xiaomi-su7-driven-by-fords-ceo-faster-model-2024-10">unveiled a high-performance version of the SU7</a> that costs 814,900 yuan ($114,000).Steve Dyer, managing director at AlixPartners, a London-based consulting firm, told Business Insider that Chinese manufacturers were encroaching on the premium market from the "bottom up," targeting the lower segment before gradually releasing more expensive vehicles aimed at less price-sensitive customers."The Chinese companies are doing what the Korean companies did to get market share outside Korea, and that is to offer a lot of feature content for a good price," he said.Dyer said Chinese buyers often focused on luxurious interiors, as well as intelligent technology such as advanced driver assist systems — an area in which <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-full-self-driving-technology-china-local-competition-2024-4">Chinese automakers excel</a> and their European rivals have struggled to keep up."They've fallen behind in the sense that they're applying an automotive product development mindset to a fast-moving, rapidly changing, technology space," said Dyer.A study by AlixPartners found that Chinese automakers released 40 over-the-air software updates between March 2023 and February this year, compared with just two from legacy automakers."It's a typical software mindset. You're willing to launch a product quickly, even though it may need fixing later because you know you can fix it," said Dyer.<h2 id="a63ec01b-1782-4334-a38c-155f7b0a6f6e">Hard to quit</h2>Despite a challenging environment, Western premium automakers can ill afford to give up on China. It remains Volkswagen's second- biggest global market, behind Western Europe, and Mercedes sold around a third of its cars there last year.<div type="image" title="Xiaomi SU7" height="1663" width="2500" msid="114850641" hostid="261" sizebytes="189460"></div>They're likely to face a bumpy road as they try to recover, however.Because the premium vehicle market is less price-sensitive, Dyer said more Chinese automakers will move into it to diversify away from China's brutally competitive mass market.As well as increased competition, European automakers face a geopolitical headache.Tim Urquhart, principal automotive analyst at S&amp;P Global Mobility, told BI the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-electric-vehicles-european-tariffs-retaliation-vw-bmw-mercedes-tesla-2024-10">European Union's tariffs on Chinese automakers</a> meant Beijing could impose levies on European car imports in retaliation."They could be facing a perfect storm if those tariffs are imposed as well," he said.Even if that does happen, Urquhart said the sheer size of the Chinese market means it's unlikely that major Western automakers will abandon it anytime soon. "They can't afford to make a full-scale retrenchment and retreat from their current position, especially as they've invested so much there."

Luxury European automakers are getting crushed in China

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Investors Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz said Chinese EVs are beating out American and European automakers.</li><li>Chinese automakers, like Xiaomi, are gaining global traction with affordable, quality EVs.</li></ul>It's not just Ford's CEO singing the praises of low-cost Chinese electric cars from buzzy companies like Xiaomi.Andreessen Horowitz founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz said on their <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_ZB7O_9hlQ">podcast</a> that Chinese automakers have developed high-quality and affordable vehicles supported by a robust supply chain ecosystem.With the American auto industry struggling with slowing growth in its EV market, American automakers need to be able to offer a compelling $20,000 EV that also competes on quality if the US doesn't want to "lose the auto industry," Andreessen said."What China has now is not just really good car companies, but they've got this entire constellation of supply chain componentry," Andreessen said.China's government has spent at least $230 billion to support electric vehicle makers such as BYD since 2009, according to a study published in 2024 by the <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.csis.org/blogs/trustee-china-hand/chinese-ev-dilemma-subsidized-yet-striking">Centre for Strategic &amp; International Studies</a> think tank.Andreessen and Horowitz specifically highlighted Chinese tech giant Xiaomi, which is known for making smartphones but has turned heads in the auto sector after <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-xiaomi-launch-electric-car-apple-failed-tesla-2024-3">launching its first line of EVs </a>with the Speed Ultra 7, also known as the SU7, in March. Along with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.mi.com/global/discover/article?id=3263&amp;ref=renatomitra.com">impressive performance</a>, the SU7 is also integrated with Xiaomi smart home devices, which allows for remote voice control of household appliances from inside the car."You watch the reviews, and it's just crystal clear how good the thing is," Andreessen said.The SU7 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/xiaomi-loses-speed-ultra-7-electric-vehicles-9200-per-car-2024-8">sold out</a> after attracting 90,000 pre-orders within a day of its unveiling, and Horowitz said its popularity has spread globally in favor of other American and European brands.The electric sedan is the designated ride of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/xiaomi-su7-chinese-ev-features-specs-photos-ford-ceo-2024-10">Ford CEO Jim Farley</a>, who called Xiaomi an "industry juggernaut." "It's just been all around the world," Horowitz said. "In Mexico and the Middle East, and so forth — they love these Chinese cars. They like them better than their Porsche Cayenne."The VC founders said they had recently met with "one of the most successful guys in Dubai" whose "entire personal fleet of cars has been replaced by Chinese cars, not because they're cheaper but because they're better."The Xiaomi SU7 range is cheaper than much of the competition — starting at 215,900 yuan ($30,000) compared to the lowest Porsche Cayenne model price of $87,400. The SU7 also beats out Tesla's most affordable model, the Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive, which retails for $42,490.Other Chinese carmakers have even lower-priced offerings. Chinese automaker BYD, Tesla's rival as one of the world's top-selling EV companies, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/byd-china-ev-price-war-yuan-plus-tesla-elon-musk-2024-3">released a newer version</a> of its best-selling Yuan Plus for $16,000, which is 12% cheaper than the original model.Andreessen said that Chinese car brands are outperforming American EV automakers in affordability and quality, calling them "super technologically sophisticated.""For example, they've got this feature where you just come in, and you just drop your phone down on the center divider, and basically, the car lights up," he said. "The whole system inside the car comes off your phone — like all your music and your maps and your calendar and all that stuff is just automatically there."The venture capitalist also highlighted other features, such as customized dancing animations in the LED headlights that greet the driver and self-driving capabilities, which are already integrated into several <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-rival-china-xpeng-launches-cheap-ev-self-driving-tech-2024-8">lower-cost</a> Chinese EVs.To keep up, American automakers need to be able to offer a similarly affordable and full-featured car at the $20,000 price point, Andreessen said.The investor said that the American carmaker with the "highest odds" of competing on price was Elon Musk and Tesla.Tesla has said lower-priced vehicles are on the way, including the fully autonomous Cybercab robotaxi, a two-seater without a steering wheel or pedals. Musk has said it will cost around $25,000 to $30,000 and is expected to launch in 2026. Musk has also said <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-building-regular-tesla-pointless-self-driving-earnings-stock-2024-10">there are no plans to offer a traditional version of the Cybercab</a> with a steering wheel and pedals, as the company is all-in on autonomous vehicles being the future. In the US, the cheapest electric vehicle is currently the Nissan Leaf S. The 2025 model carries an MSRP of $28,140.Meanwhile, Xiaomi is also experimenting with targeting the luxury market. On Wednesday, the company <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-ev-xiaomi-su7-driven-by-fords-ceo-faster-model-2024-10">revealed the SU7 Ultra</a>, a high-performance version of the original SU7, priced at 814,900 yuan ($114,000). With a range of 630 km (391 miles), the SU7 Ultra is set to release in China in March 2025.

Marc Andreessen says US carmakers need to make a $20,000 EV if they don't want to 'lose the auto industry' to China

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ford CEO Jim Farley praised the Xiaomi SU7, a new Chinese EV he's driving.</li><li>Chinese electronics maker Xiaomi launched the SU7 in December 2023 with a starting price of $30,000.</li></ul>Ford CEO <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-ceo-cfo-left-shocked-after-chinese-ev-test-drive-2024-9">Jim Farley</a> said during a podcast interview that he's been driving the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-xiaomi-launch-electric-car-apple-failed-tesla-2024-3">Xiaomi Speed Ultra 7</a>, a Chinese EV, for the last six months and he doesn't want to give it up."It's fantastic. They sell 10,000, 20,000 a month. They're sold out for six months," Farley said, calling Xiaomi an "industry juggernaut."This raises some questions.First: What's so compelling about this car? It's pretty rare to hear a chief executive publicly extol their direct competitors. Why is it so impressive?Second: How did Farley get the car to the US anyway? And why can't Americans get a car like that in the US?Let's dig in.<h2 id="e630a4cd-e5b6-4173-8774-51960a9dfac6">What is the Xiaomi SU7?</h2><div type="image" title="The interior of a Xiaomi SU7" height="3120" width="4160" msid="114589580" hostid="261" sizebytes="412218"></div>The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/phonemaker-xiaomi-unveils-first-ev-taking-on-tesla-2023-12">SU7</a> is Xiaomi's first vehicle since the Chinese smartphone and consumer electronics giant announced plans to build an EV in March 2021.The compact <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/xiaomi-loses-speed-ultra-7-electric-vehicles-9200-per-car-2024-8">battery-electric sedan</a> launched in December 2023 to great fanfare. Xiaomi said it's expected to reach 100,000 customer deliveries by November.The SU7 was built in partnership with Beijing Automotive (BAIC), one of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-xi-jinping-crush-tesla-elon-musk-american-ev-industry-2024-2">China's largest carmakers</a>, which also makes Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz vehicles for the Chinese market.<h2 id="042d2e82-343b-4526-9e58-43bb3a4249d2">The Xiaomi SU7's key features</h2><div type="image" title="Xiaomi SU7" height="3648" width="5472" msid="114589578" hostid="261" sizebytes="431232"></div>The SU7 comes in three versions — the SU7, SU7 Pro, and the SU7 Max — that start at 215,900 yuan or about $30,300. Even the most expensive version, the high-performance SU7 Max, won't break the bank with a starting price of 299,900 yuan or about $42,100.By comparison, the base <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-model-3-vs-model-s">Tesla Model 3</a> starts at 231,900 yuan, or roughly $32,600, in China, while the range-topping all-wheel-drive variant starts at 335,900 yuan, or around $47,200.In terms of the styling, the SU7 isn't terribly original but it's attractive, drawing elements of its front end from the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mclaren-720s-review-a-supercar-unlike-anything-else-2022-2">McLaren 750S supercar</a> and its overall shape from Porsche's Panamera sedan.<div type="image" title="Xiaomi su7" height="3090" width="4635" msid="114589584" hostid="261" sizebytes="338994"></div>The SU7 turns up the wow factor in the cabin. Although <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ev-china-electric-vechile-xiaomi-sees-apparent-demand-2024-4">Xiaomi </a>is best known outside China for its smartphones, the company is a consumer electronics conglomerate that makes everything from TVs and smart speakers to connected housewares like lighting and air conditioners.The SU7 is fully integrated into the Xiaomi ecosystem, which allows for remote voice control of household appliances from the vehicle. It has a massive 16.1-inch infotainment screen with smartphone mirroring and offers Xiaomi Pilot, software that Xiaomi said allows for assisted self-driving and self-parking.<div type="image" title="The interior of a Xiaomi SU7" height="3120" width="4160" msid="114589574" hostid="261" sizebytes="568754"></div>The car also features some impressive performance. According to Xiaomi, the range-topping SU7 Max can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in just 2.78 seconds, which bests the rival high-performance Model 3's time of 3.1 seconds.<h2 id="7edfe681-8f93-421a-9b72-8e9bb79f0d6c">Why you can't buy the SU7 in the US</h2><div type="image" title="Xiaomi SU7 at the flagship Mi Home Auto store" height="2178" width="3299" msid="114589582" hostid="261" sizebytes="201362"></div>Xiaomi's EVs aren't available for sale in the US. The US government imposes a 100% import tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles, making it hard for US residents to get their hands on any Chinese EVs.Farley said he flew the car to Chicago from Shanghai. It's possible he got a hold of it through an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/tempinfojuly2016.pdf">NHTSA exemption</a> that allows vehicles not approved for sale in the US to be imported for research and development.So you probably won't see the car on US streets anytime soon — but it sure sounds like elements of it could inspire future Ford EVs.

What you need to know about the Chinese EV loved by Ford's CEO — and why you can't get it in the US 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Welcome back! Watch anything good over the weekend? True-crime shows remain all the rage over at Netflix, but they come with some legal risks. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-netflix-keeps-seeking-true-crime-shows-despite-lawsuits-2024-10">That's not stopping the streaming giant</a>, though.In today's big story, America loves its cars. So what do all the different makes and models <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-states-car-models-interactive-guide-politics-color-brand-location-2024-10">say about the people driving them</a>?What's on deck:<ul><li>Markets: A way to invest that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-invest-election-strategy-trump-harris-stock-market-outlook-2024-10">won't suffer regardless of the election's outcome</a>.</li><li>Tech: Breaking down the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/venture-capital-us-election-data-contributions-2024-10">war of campaign donations between VCs</a>.</li><li>Business: Prepare for a new "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-new-economic-supercycle-growth-inflation-stock-market-global-chaos-2024-10">economic supercycle</a>" that'll mean big changes for everyone.</li></ul>But first, here in my car.If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today">sign up here.</a><h3 id="7fa5f018-5b05-4a37-a8dc-d3f89138bcb3">The big story</h3><h2 id="5fd547b9-ec52-41fc-8e08-4f4b27dd8097">United States of Automobiles</h2><div type="image" title="Cars like American Flag" height="960" width="1920" msid="114431276" hostid="261" sizebytes="137134"></div>A picture says a thousand words, but what about the car you drive?Your choice of automobile offers some interesting insights into the type of person you are, and we've got the data to prove it.Business Insider embarked on a massive project, combing through 1.7 million listings of different makes and models in the US to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-states-car-models-interactive-guide-politics-color-brand-location-2024-10">better understand what the cars we drive say about us</a>.(Here's a full <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/methodology-for-car-database-united-states-of-automobiles-2024-10">breakdown of our methodology</a>.)Part of our analysis included figuring out the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-most-popular-car-models-state-city-county-geography-2024-10">most popular cars in neighborhoods</a> by comparing the vehicle's local popularity to its national average.Some insights weren't surprising. In Palm Beach County, Florida, home to "Wall Street South," Lamborghinis, Porsches, and Bentleys top the list.Others are a bit more unique. Residents of Cadillac, Michigan, take their city's name seriously. The Cadillac DeVille is one of the county's favorite cars. (They also might just be fans of big, luxury cars; the Lincoln Continental ranks high there, too.)Cars also provide a glimpse into <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/car-models-owned-by-republicans-democrats-american-politics-jeep-2024-10">how their drivers might vote next month</a>.Chevy Silverado and Ford F-150 drivers are more likely to back former President Donald Trump, while Toyota Prius and Audi A4 owners will probably vote for Vice President Kamala Harris. (It's not a one-size-fits-all rule, so please don't email me if you're a Harris-loving Silverado owner or you have a MAGA sticker on your Prius.)But if someone drives a Jeep, your guess is as good as mine. That's the purplest carmaker in America, according to the data, as it has the widest range on the red-blue spectrum.Speaking of colors, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-car-colors-boring-black-white-gray-cost-cutting-2024-10">cars have also become noticeably less diverse</a>. Instead of a rainbow, America's fleet is mostly black, white, or some shade in between.<div type="image" title="Cars and roads like GPS" height="1000" width="2000" msid="114431278" hostid="261" sizebytes="114016"></div>America's obsession with cars comes with downsides.For one, we have to put them all somewhere. Parking lots <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-parking-lot-spaces-addiction-economy-housing-costs-inflation-2023-4">take up lots of space and aren't cheap</a>.One builder estimates parking stalls in the US cost $27,900 to build. According to some calculations, the US has about 2 billion parking spots in total, which means there are six spots for every registered car.That's despite many Americans wanting to live where they don't necessarily need a car. Homebuyers are willing to pay a premium — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-priced-out-of-cities-into-suburbs-housing-crisis-2024-1">34% more, according to one study</a> — to live in a walkable neighborhood.And for good reason. Living in an area with pedestrian-friendly streets and easy access to shops, restaurants, and parks was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/loneliness-happiness-cure-coffee-shops-dense-housing-parks-walkable-neighborhoods-2024-2">positively correlated to well-being and happiness</a>. Car-centric neighborhoods lacking public space <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-gen-z-blame-loneliness-on-housing-affordability-crisis-2023-4">can also make people feel lonelier</a>.<h3 id="77f31a4c-8462-4e3d-a71f-838cb79493fb">News brief</h3><h2 id="1fcd294b-3f53-425f-9f20-4093e8623b59">Top headlines</h2><ul><li>Trump cooks fries at McDonald's as he attempts to cast doubt on Harris' <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-harris-mcdonalds-fry-cook-economy-election-2024-10">earlier employment at the chain</a>.</li><li>Social media's favorite fake rich kid opens up about his online persona — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-european-kid-louis-fake-rich-aris-yeager-profile-storytime-2024-10">and his new real-life job</a>.</li><li>Why a hedge fund <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elliott-podcast-southwest-airlines-activism-communication-reach-retail-investors-directors-2024-10">made a podcast</a> about a shake-up it's pushing for at Southwest Airlines.</li><li>Elon Musk is flexing his wealth and political power<a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-trump-superpac-donations-politics-2024-10"> unlike any of the richest men before him</a>.</li><li>Netflix keeps getting sued over true-crime shows. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-netflix-keeps-seeking-true-crime-shows-despite-lawsuits-2024-10">It's thirsty for more</a>.</li></ul><h2 id="8120060b-ae66-48dc-b149-f0489a30ffa2">3 things in markets</h2><div type="image" title="Silhouette of Donald Trump" height="3813" width="5720" msid="114431274" hostid="261" sizebytes="158652"></div><ol><li>The curious case of the presidential betting markets. Most polls have the race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris as a dead heat. But the prediction markets have moved decisively in the former president's favor since the start of the month. Some have speculated a series of bets totaling $30 million <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-election-odds-polymarket-whale-kamala-harris-polls-betting-markets-2024-10">was meant to tip the scales in Trump's favor</a>.</li><li>Building an election-proof portfolio. With just over two weeks away from the big day, investors are covering all the angles. National debt, economic growth, and immigration reform are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-investing-prepare-your-portfolio-top-concerns-risks-trump-harris-2024-10">among the top concerns of money managers</a>. And a technical strategist shared <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-invest-election-strategy-trump-harris-stock-market-outlook-2024-10">how to set up your portfolio for success</a> regardless of who wins.</li><li>Wall Street remains unimpressed with China's stimulus. The latest measure is focused on the country's struggling property market, including quicker access to credit for developers and renovations in run-down urban areas. But, experts said the plan <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-housing-property-stimulus-economic-growth-goldman-sachs-2024-10">lacks details and doesn't address broad market issues</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="f4b54806-7f81-450c-ba32-92560d4fae9b">3 things in tech</h2><div type="image" title="Keith Rabois, Vinod Khosla, Marc Andreessen, Reid Hoffman" height="1500" width="2000" msid="114431280" hostid="261" sizebytes="441370"></div><ol><li>Venture Capital is going to war over the election. VCs have plowed tens of millions of dollars into this election cycle, according to FEC data. We broke down <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/venture-capital-us-election-data-contributions-2024-10">who is donating and where it's headed</a>.</li><li>Constant job cuts are Big Tech's new normal. After major layoffs in 2022 and 2023, Meta reorganized some of its biggest businesses last week, cutting staff in the process. It's a move that signals <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-job-cuts-indicate-tech-companies-like-recurring-layoffs-2024-10">Big Tech companies are more willing to make recurring cutbacks</a> — and one that could hurt worker morale in the long run.</li><li>America can't get free from subscriptions. Companies are good at trapping customers on the treadmill of recurring charges as things have gotten more digitized. A new rule from the FTC is meant to address the issue, but it might not be enough. The result is Americans <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-subscriptions-nightmare-recurring-payments-cancellation-company-tricks-trap-customers-2024-10">paying more for products and services they don't use</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="9260fa45-d397-4b3c-b4f8-4bb193976216">3 things in business</h2><div type="image" title="Quarter that is spinning" height="960" width="1920" msid="114431282" hostid="261" sizebytes="124792"></div><ol><li>Welcome to a new economic era. The staples of the past 15 years were weak demand and low interest rates. But going forward the new "economic supercycle" will keep <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-new-economic-supercycle-growth-inflation-stock-market-global-chaos-2024-10">growth, inflation, and geopolitical instability high</a>. In the chaotic new environment, investors, lenders, and entrepreneurs must adapt or risk falling behind.</li><li>A networking group for executive women just cut some staff. Chief, which was valued at $1.1 billion in 2022, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chief-layoffs-networking-organization-executive-women-restructuring-2024-10">cut staff across the company</a> amid a restructuring. A spokesperson for Chief told BI the layoffs will give the company "more agility" moving forward.</li><li>Pharmacies are disappearing. Last week, Walgreens announced it'd be shuttering 1,200 stores over the next three years, making it the latest pharmacy to cut down on retail locations. External factors, like the rise of e-commerce and the convoluted way American pay for healthcare, are forcing them to close shop — and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pharmacy-cvs-walgreens-problems-desert-7-eleven-convenience-store-2024-10">turning the country into a shopping wasteland</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="9f5d80ac-3466-429f-a50a-2ffbb70c65ff">What's happening today</h2><ul><li>Trial begins with jury selection for Daniel Penny, who was charged with manslaughter for fatally choking New York subway rider Jordan Neely.</li><li>Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks at Microsoft UK AI Tour London event.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London.

Your car reflects your personality, and data proves it. But America's auto obsession brings hidden downsides.

See the new Chinese EV that wants to take on Tesla and Porsche

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Mazda has made over 1.2 million MX-5 Miata cars since it debuted in 1989.</li><li>It has become the world's best-selling roadster and remains more affordable than some rivals.</li></ul>The Mazda Miata, or the MX-5 as it's known outside the US, first hit the road in 1989 and has often been named as the world's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/this-is-what-its-like-to-drive-a-mazda-miata-in-the-middle-of-winter-with-the-top-down-2016-3">best-selling roadster in the decades since</a>. About 1.2 million have been produced at the Japanese company's Hiroshima plant. It's not hard to see why: compared with many soft tops, it's very competitively priced — and a lot of fun to drive.To mark its 35th anniversary, Mazda has updated the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mazda-mx-5-miata-club-manual-specs-horsepower-sports-car-2020-7">Miata range</a> for the first time since the current version was introduced almost a decade ago, with tweaks to both the interior and exterior. It was also named convertible of the year at the most recent Auto Express New Car Awards.First things first: the Miata is stunning to look at. The current iteration may lack the pop-up headlights of yesteryear but is curvier and even a touch mean-looking. I rather like it.<div type="image" title="Mazda MX-5 Miata in a car park under a blue sky" height="1702" width="2269" msid="114216811" hostid="261" sizebytes="382786"></div>The second thing to know about the Mazda is that it's close to the ground. Very close. Getting into the Miata involves an act of contortion that will not please some (although I did belatedly realize that a side-saddle maneuver was far easier — if you have enough space to open the door fully.)Once you're in, the driving position is reasonably comfortable, and the tachometer dominates the instrument panel, perhaps somewhat fitting for a sports car — though I never got it anywhere close to the red zone that started at 7,000 RPM.My review car came in "Exclusive" trim (the middle of three options and called "Club" in the US), which starts at about £30,000 in the UK or $32,500 in the US. It boasts leather seats, a Bose sound system, and many clever features most drivers will probably never use, but it's nice to know they're there.<div type="image" title="Mazda MX-5 Miata parked by the seaside" height="1922" width="2563" msid="114216824" hostid="261" sizebytes="540616"></div>Press the start button, and the Miata roars to life with a very pleasing throaty note from the 1.5-liter petrol engine, which has solid, if not stunning, acceleration. I found the six-speed manual gearbox to be a delight, although it wasn't until escaping inner London's 20-mile-an-hour speed limit that I got to put it in fifth, let alone sixth gear. (And never fear, an automatic box is also available.)On a surprisingly sunny October Saturday, we put the roof down and set off for the now-trendy seaside town of Margate in Kent, about 80 miles east of London. While the roof is manual rather than electric, it's an absolute breeze to put down: unclip, push, and click. Job done.You don't have to park the car with the handbrake on and engine off to do so. Putting the roof down whenever it's not actually raining is, to me, the whole point of having a convertible.<div type="image" title="Mazda MX-5 Miata with the roof down" height="3024" width="4032" msid="114216821" hostid="261" sizebytes="1311836"></div>Driving with the roof down is a lot of fun, and with the windows up, the cabin was not blustery at all. The heating and heated seats should make having the roof down for much of the year an option if you're of hardy stock.Of course, the compromise with a convertible is a slightly noisier cabin, even with the roof up. And with it down on the freeway, either be prepared to crank the sound system up or just turn it off.The other compromise is space. Given the roof housing, there is zero room behind the seats. The glove compartment comes in the form of a small box between the seats, and the trunk can take a couple of carry-on bags but not a lot more.<div type="image" title="Mazda MX-5 Miata cabin" height="5760" width="8640" msid="114216813" hostid="261" sizebytes="1193244"></div>Then again, if you're buying a sports car, luggage capacity is probably not too high on your list of priorities. Many Miata buyers will consider it a "fun" car rather than a practical means of transport. It may also cost a bomb for some drivers to insure.Next to its more premium competitors, the Miata is a steal, starting at less than $30,000. By comparison, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bmw-z4-review-photos-features-details-impressions-2019-6">BMW Z4</a> starts at about $54,000, and the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/porsche-718-boxster-is-here-2016-1">Porsche Boxster 718</a> is about $75,000 and up.Mazda may only have a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mazda-has-1-big-problem-and-1-huge-advantage-2016-3">sliver of the US auto market</a> (3.1% in the first quarter of the year), but it's models such as the Miata that make it kind of quirky and cool.

I drove Mazda's MX-5 Miata and totally get why it's the world's best-selling roadster

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Jennison Grigsby is an American mom living in Spain</li><li>She regularly visits the US with her 8-year-old son, Luca.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennison Grigsby, an American mom and yoga teacher who lives in Valencia, Spain. It's been edited for length and clarity.My son Luca is almost 9. He's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/raising-kids-is-hard-when-you-live-far-away-2023-9">lived in Spain his whole life</a>, but we've always traveled back to the States. His first trip was at 5 weeks old, and he's been going back and forth ever since.He has 10 cousins there, along with lots of aunts, uncles, and my parents, so we visit at least once a year, sometimes twice. We spend a lot of family time together every other Christmas or during the summer. He has a strong connection with his family in the US, and he loves <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-dual-citizenship-requirements-2017-10">being both American and Spanish</a>, though he definitely feels more connected to the Spanish culture.Luca always remembers our previous trips. He <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/brain-scientist-explains-improve-memories-technology-science-biology-tim-bliss-2017-8">has a great memory,</a> but I think it's also because these trips are so impactful for him — he gets to travel and spend time with his cousins, which is really special since he doesn't have any in Spain. We talk about our family a lot and FaceTime with them often, so he never hesitates to dive right back into family time when we visit.As he gets older, he notices <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-to-spain-biggest-cultural-differences-surprised-me-2023-8">different things</a> each time we go back — things that catch his attention. He's always picking up on something new.<h2 id="5414e1ec-3f6a-4022-8a7c-deb4562aaa73">Luca is fascinated by the variety of 'fancy' cars in the US</h2>I remember when Luca was about 2 or 3, we were <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/los-angeles-california-car-culture-interstate-10-fire-infrastructure-policy-2023-11">driving on the freeway in Los Angeles</a>, and he was really confused by all the traffic — he kept asking, "Why aren't we going faster?" He was also surprised by how many big trucks were on the road, sharing the highway with us. He even asked, "Where are the buses?" since public transportation was almost nonexistent where we were in California.Living in Spain, he's used to seeing buses in front of our house every day, and we often take the bus together. So, it was interesting for him to see how much driving we had to do in the US. He also wondered why <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-from-florida-to-seattle-started-running-for-commute-2024-9">we never walked anywhere</a>.Now that he's older, his interests have shifted. He's really into the cars themselves, especially the big SUVs and the fancy cars like Ford Mustangs, Porsches, and Ferraris, which are rare in Spain. He gets excited, noticing how many nice cars there are in the neighborhoods and on the freeway.<h2 id="f343a279-452f-4f06-90ca-d8c6ea9ea461">He's surprised by how much junk food and sugary breakfast options there are</h2>When we're in the US, Luca is always surprised by how much junk food and sugary breakfast options there are. He noticed that almost every day, we'd have things like pizza, burgers, quesadillas, or sandwiches, which is very different from our meals in Spain. He also loves that he can have pancakes, French toast, and donuts for breakfast there — things we don't have as much access to in Spain. But he doesn't feel as well eating like that for weeks at a time.Luca's usual breakfast in Spain is fruit and sometimes cereal, but not the sugary kinds I had growing up in the US. He's always excited about donuts as soon as we arrive in the US, often wanting to find some as soon as we get to the airport.In Spain, meals are more balanced, with three-course lunches at school and healthier snacks throughout the day. There's almuerzo, a mid-morning snack, and merienda, an afternoon snack that often includes something sweet or savory. In California, it's usually just three main meals a day, with dessert being something sweet like ice cream or cookies. Luca's more accustomed to having yogurt or fruit after dinner in Spain.<h2 id="f3a0c357-ec17-45fc-8817-c2f044d96372">He also notices that everything in the US happens much earlier</h2>In the US, everything happens much earlier than what we're used to in Spain. On weekends in Spain, we might start with breakfast around 8 a.m., have a snack around 11 a.m., lunch at 2 or 3 p.m., another snack around 6 p.m., and dinner as late as 9 p.m. But in California, the day starts much earlier — breakfast can be as early as 7 a.m., lunch at noon, and dinner by 6 p.m., with everyone going to bed around 8 p.m.Luca definitely notices how different the routine is. In Spain, our schedule is more relaxed and flexible, especially with dinner and bedtime, which often depend on our social plans. In California, his cousins have a more structured day, with set meal times and early bedtimes, which is a big change for him. He's usually staying up later than his cousins, but because he's jet lagged, he's still in bed earlier than in Spain.<h2 id="96094f01-9015-41c6-b0cb-d90bd8c8c37e">California's cold water is a big change</h2>During our last trip to California, my brother and father got stung by a stingray while we were at the beach. Luca had been having a great time in the ocean until that happened, but after that, he didn't want to go back into the water. It's so different from what he's used to with the Mediterranean Sea, where the water is warm, calm, and clear in the summer, making it feel very safe. We do have jellyfish in Spain, but they're easy to spot since they float on the surface.In California, the water is much colder, and the waves are bigger, which is already a big change for him. But finding out there were stingrays hiding in the sand really shook him. Now, he's pretty much decided he never wants to go back into that ocean again.We all felt a bit uneasy after the stingray incident, especially since you can't see them. The kids there even do what they call the 'stingray shuffle' to avoid stepping on them, but it's not exactly fun. Plus, getting out of that cold water and feeling freezing isn't something he's used to, especially compared to the warm, inviting beaches in Spain.

You Searched For "porsche" and got 10 results

Mark Zuckerberg just turned Porsche's minivan concept into a reality. Sort of.

Lloyd Lee

From Audi to Lamborghini: Exploring car brands owned by the Volkswagen Group

BI India Bureau

Luxury European automakers are getting crushed in China

Tom Carter

Marc Andreessen says US carmakers need to make a $20,000 EV if they don't want to 'lose the auto industry' to China

Jaures Yip

What you need to know about the Chinese EV loved by Ford's CEO — and why you can't get it in the US

Benjamin Zhang

Your car reflects your personality, and data proves it. But America's auto obsession brings hidden downsides.

Dan DeFrancesco

See the new Chinese EV that wants to take on Tesla and Porsche

Nora Naughton

I drove Mazda's MX-5 Miata and totally get why it's the world's best-selling roadster

Chris Johnston

I'm an American mom living in Spain. When we visit the US, my son is surprised by the 'fancy' cars and how sugary breakfast is.

Jennifer Fernández Solano

Luxury EV new entrant – After Mercedes and Audi, India has the Porsche Macan

Sourabh Jain

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides

You Searched For "porsche" and got 10 results

Mark Zuckerberg just turned Porsche's minivan concept into a reality. Sort of.

Lloyd Lee

​From Audi to Lamborghini: Exploring car brands owned by the Volkswagen Group​

BI India Bureau

Luxury European automakers are getting crushed in China

Tom Carter

Marc Andreessen says US carmakers need to make a $20,000 EV if they don't want to 'lose the auto industry' to China

Jaures Yip

What you need to know about the Chinese EV loved by Ford's CEO — and why you can't get it in the US

Benjamin Zhang

Your car reflects your personality, and data proves it. But America's auto obsession brings hidden downsides.

Dan DeFrancesco

See the new Chinese EV that wants to take on Tesla and Porsche

Nora Naughton

I drove Mazda's MX-5 Miata and totally get why it's the world's best-selling roadster

Chris Johnston

I'm an American mom living in Spain. When we visit the US, my son is surprised by the 'fancy' cars and how sugary breakfast is.

Jennifer Fernández Solano

Luxury EV new entrant – After Mercedes and Audi, India has the Porsche Macan

Sourabh Jain

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides

From Audi to Lamborghini: Exploring car brands owned by the Volkswagen Group