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When it comes to automobiles, geography is destiny. What we drive is determined in large part by where we're driving. Sometimes the locational preferences are almost laughably stereotypical, like the prevalence of Subarus in Vermont and pickup trucks in Montana. Electric vehicles are favored in left-leaning enclaves, Jeep Wranglers excel in parts of Arizona, and Sprinter vans rank high in resort towns. The hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai — which is sold only in California — ranks at the top of all vehicles in both Los Angeles and Orange counties. Explore the United States of Automobiles• <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-states-car-models-interactive-guide-politics-color-brand-location-2024-10">See where in America your vehicle is most popular</a>• <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/car-models-owned-by-republicans-democrats-american-politics-jeep-2024-10">What our rides reveal about our politics</a>• <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-car-colors-boring-black-white-gray-cost-cutting-2024-10">Cars used to be really colorful. What happened?</a>• <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/methodology-for-car-database-united-states-of-automobiles-2024-10">How we crunched the numbers</a> But when you delve deeper into <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/methodology-for-car-database-united-states-of-automobiles-2024-10">our database of 1.7 million car listings</a>, all sorts of geographic quirks emerge. Mississippi, for example, is the poorest state in the country. Yet in and around the state capital of Jackson, where per capita income exceeds the national average, five of the 10 most popular cars are Mercedes-Benzes. And up and down the California coast, a wide range of counties that share else little in common — including San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Clara, Alameda, and Marin — feature only foreign-made cars in their top-10 lists.Then there's the question of hometown advantage. For the most part, we found, Americans love the cars they help to build. In Rutherford County, Tennessee, where the nearby Nissan plant cranks out 2,500 vehicles a day, four of the 10 most popular cars are Nissans. In Dearborn, Michigan — the headquarters of Ford — five of the 10 favorite cars are Fords. (And none are foreign.) Sometimes the name alone is enough: In the Michigan county of Wexford, which centers around the town of Cadillac, the Cadillac DeVille ranks No. 6. But there are some exceptions to the company-town rule. Nine of the 10 most popular cars in Spartanburg, South Carolina, are foreign — yet not a single one of them is a BMW, whose nearby plant employs 100,000 people. And in Alameda County, California, whose Fremont plant turns out most of the country's Teslas, not a single one of the 10 favorite vehicles is a Tesla. The top EVs in the county where Elon Musk makes his EVs? The Toyota Prius and the VW eGolf.<h2 id="bc6d131b-7a59-409d-9d9b-d7d0e90b81ec">The cars your neighbors love the most</h2> Text by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/mark-healy">Mark Healy</a>, founder of Flipturn Creative Studios. Data by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/andrew-thompson">Andrew Thompson</a>, creator of <a target="_blank" href="https://components.one/">Components</a>, a cultural research project. Graphics by designer <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/dan-de-lorenzo">Dan DeLorenzo</a> and data graphics fellow <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/kim-nguyen">Kim Nguyen</a>. Photo research by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/isabel-fernandez-pujol">Isabel Fernandez Pujol</a>.

From Subarus in Vermont to Dodge Rams in Montana, what we drive is shaped by where we live

<keyword id="20211589" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dussehra" source="keywords">Dussehra</keyword>, also known as <keyword id="23407130" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vijayadashami" source="keywords">Vijayadashami</keyword>, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated across India, symbolising the triumph of <keyword id="21053098" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="good-over-evil" source="keywords">good over evil</keyword>. The festivities vary by region, reflecting diverse cultural interpretations. Vijayadashami commemorates <keyword id="19897033" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lord-Ram" source="keywords">Lord Ram</keyword>'s victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravan in parts of Northern and Southern India. Meanwhile, in Eastern India, it marks the culmination of Durga Puja, celebrating Goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. When Mahishasura’s tyranny reached its height, Goddess Durga, with her ten arms, battled him for nine days, defeating him on the tenth day. This victory represents the restoration of dharma and cosmic balance. Throughout India, Dussehra is celebrated with vibrant fairs and Ramlila performances, where Ravan’s effigies are set aflame, symbolising the ultimate victory of good over evil. This year, Dussehra will be celebrated across India on October 12, as people come together to exchange greetings and spread joy. To make the occasion even more special, here are wishes, messages, and quotes you can share with your loved ones. <h3>Dussehra Wishes for 2024</h3><ul><li>May the light of Dussehra illuminate your life with joy, prosperity, and success. <keyword id="23513612" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Happy-Dussehra-2024" source="keywords">Happy Dussehra 2024</keyword>!</li><li>Wishing you victory in all aspects of life as we celebrate the triumph of good over evil. Happy Dussehra!</li><li>May this Dussehra burn all the darkness in your life and light up your days with happiness. Have a wonderful Vijayadashami!</li><li>On this auspicious day, may Lord Ram bless you with strength, courage, and wisdom. Happy Dussehra 2024!</li><li>May the victory of good over evil inspire you to conquer all your challenges. Happy Dussehra to you and your family!</li><li>Let’s celebrate Dussehra by spreading love, peace, and positivity. Wishing you a blessed and joyful Dussehra!</li><li>May this Dussehra bring new beginnings, endless prosperity, and the courage to always stand for the truth. Happy Dussehra 2024!</li><li>Sending you warm wishes on this Dussehra! May all your worries burn away with Ravan's effigy, and may you be blessed with happiness.</li><li>Let’s celebrate the victory of good over evil, truth over lies. Wishing you a joyous and prosperous Dussehra!</li><li>May this festival bring you loads of joy and endless opportunities. Happy Dussehra to you and your loved ones!</li><li>May the blessings of Lord Ram fill your life with happiness, success, and fulfillment. Wishing you a victorious Dussehra!</li><li>On this auspicious occasion, may you find peace, strength, and wisdom. Happy Dussehra 2024!</li><li>Wishing you all the strength to defeat evil within and around you. Have a blessed and joyous Dussehra!</li><li>May the divine blessings of Goddess Durga and Lord Ram bring light into your life. Happy Dussehra 2024!</li><li>On this day of victory, may you be victorious in all your endeavours and lead a life filled with happiness. Happy Dussehra!</li><li>May your life be as bright and cheerful as the festival of Dussehra! Sending you my best wishes on this joyous occasion.</li><li>As we celebrate the triumph of good over evil, may this Dussehra bring peace, prosperity, and happiness to your life.</li><li>Wishing you success, happiness, and a lifetime of peace as we celebrate the power of good on this special day. Happy Dussehra 2024!</li><li>May this Dussehra light up your path with joy and success and bring you closer to your goals. Wishing you a victorious day!</li><li>Let’s celebrate Dussehra with a heart full of gratitude, love, and positivity. May Lord Ram bless you with endless happiness. Happy Dussehra!</li></ul><h2><keyword id="23460662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dussehra-messages" source="keywords">Dussehra Messages</keyword> for 2024</h2>This Dussehra, let’s burn away our ego, jealousy, and negativity along with Ravan’s effigy. Wishing you a happy and peaceful Vijayadashami! As the effigies of Ravan are set ablaze, may all your troubles burn away with them. Here’s to a fresh start filled with success and joy. Happy Dussehra! Dussehra reminds us that no matter how strong evil may seem, it will always be vanquished. Wishing you strength and happiness on this auspicious day. On this special day, may you conquer all your fears and embrace success. Wishing you a joyous and blessed Dussehra! As we celebrate Dussehra, let’s fill our hearts with positivity and hope, just as Lord Ram’s victory filled the world with light. Happy Dussehra! This Dussehra, may you find the strength to overcome all challenges and emerge victorious in every aspect of life. Wishing you a blessed festival! On this Vijayadashami, may you be empowered to defeat all the evils within and lead a life of righteousness and joy. Happy Dussehra! May the festival of Dussehra inspire you to always fight for the truth and stand up against injustice. Wishing you and your family a victorious day! As Ravan’s effigy burns, may all your worries, anxieties, and obstacles disappear, and may you be blessed with happiness and success. Happy Dussehra! This Dussehra, let’s embrace the good in ourselves and in others and let the light of Lord Ram’s victory brighten our lives. Wishing you a joyful Dussehra! <h2>Quotes for Dussehra</h2>"Good always triumphs over evil. It's the law of nature that the truth will prevail in the end." "The fire of the spirit must burn within the soul for the victory of good over evil, and that is the essence of Dussehra." "Dussehra reminds us that no matter the challenge, with willpower and determination, we can defeat the greatest of evils." "Every storm in life is followed by a rainbow, and Dussehra symbolises the triumph of light over darkness." "The victory of good over evil inspires every generation to stand for truth, peace, and harmony." SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/india/webstories/dussehra-2024-best-places-in-delhi-ncr-to-experience-ravan-dahan/slidelist/114144765.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Dussehra 2024: Best places in Delhi NCR to experience Ravan dahan</a>

Happy Dussehra 2024 messages, wishes and quotes

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Scarlett and Seth Eskelund spent five years building and converting vans.</li><li>In 2023, they quit their van conversion business to build one final dream van to travel in. </li></ul>Scarlett and Seth Eskelund started their van conversion knowing exactly what they wanted.There was no debate over adding a pop of color; the couple planned to stick to neutrals. When deciding if it was worth spending the money and time <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/van-life-public-bathrooms-least-favorite-part-2024-1">building a shower</a>, the answer was an easy yes. Straight lines and Scandinavian influence were styles the pair had eyed for years, so naturally, they agreed to incorporate those elements in their van.These quick answers — and the conversion for the van altogether — took a mere six months. But <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/scarletandseth/">Scarlett, 26, and Seth, 27,</a> told Business Insider that their van was really five years in the making.Before the build, the couple had spent years converting and selling vans. After a bout of burnout, the pair decided to quit their conversion business and prioritize building <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/expensive-2-week-van-life-trip-worth-every-penny-2024-1">a van to travel in</a>.It's been a year since they completed the build, and they said it's exactly as they dreamed."I wouldn't change — down to centimeters — hardly anything," Seth said."It works really, really well for us," Scarlett added.<div type="image" title="The exterior of the couple's Ram ProMaster." height="1125" width="1500" msid="111712366" hostid="261" sizebytes="285028"></div><h2 id="f5f53b86-0a05-4a54-b94e-a002581ff6ea">After five years of converting and selling vans, the couple was ready to build their dream one</h2>In 2018, Seth and Scarlett felt stuck."We were just in an unhappy place in life," Scarlett said. Scarlett had recently graduated from college and entered a field she wasn't passionate about. Meanwhile, Seth was doing freelance videography.To shake things up, they decided to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/medical-school-student-diy-van-tiny-home-gen-z-california-2024-6">purchase and convert a van</a>.The van would allow the pair to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tried-van-life-2-weeks-cheaper-than-denver-life-2024-3">avoid rent</a>, freelance, and travel to jobs across the country.Scarlett said that while a van suited their needs at the time, the goal of exploring was never their <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/van-life-road-trip-convinced-nomadic-lifestyle-is-for-me-2024-3">driving force for van life</a>.They spent about a year on their first conversion, and during that time, they fell in love with the process.Then COVID-19 hit, and Scarlett and Seth saw an opportunity to capitalize on the wave of interest in van life. RV park conglomerates witnessed stocks surge and camper conversion businesses advertised lengthy waitlists, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/technology/the-vanlife-business-is-booming.html">The New York Times</a> reported in 2020.In response, the pair started their own business converting vans.It was a success. For the next three years, the pair <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rv-van-life-couple-camper-van-conversion-business-covid-pandemic-2021-3">converted and sold vans for an average price of $85,000</a>. Since 2018, Seth and Scarlett converted 11 vans, including three they lived in; their builds typically took three to six months."Eventually, the need to get into a van fell off around 2023 or so," Seth said. "And everything kept getting more and more expensive."Faced with higher vehicle and material costs, Seth and Scarlett decided to shut down their business."We suffered extreme burnout toward the end there, and ultimately, we decided our mental health was worth more than that," Scarlett said.They both agreed they had enough energy for one more project: a dream van in which they'd live and travel indefinitely.<div type="image" title="The interior of the couple's $127,000 van conversion. " height="2000" width="1500" msid="111712572" hostid="261" sizebytes="191452"></div><h2 id="f7c28377-70dd-4366-a78f-fcd21fa3659b">They spent 2,000 hours over six months building out the van</h2>Scarlett said they started this project knowing it would be their last conversion. With that in mind, their goal was to prioritize a space that catered to their needs and comforts.The pair started by outlining what their dream van would house. A shower was a must for both of them, as was creating a stealthy van that didn't scream luxury from the exterior.With a list of amenities, they mapped out the design and got to work.They purchased a new 2023 Ram ProMaster in January 2023 with an MSRP of $60,000.Their previous vans had been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/24-year-old-converted-mercedes-campervan-luxury-tiny-house-2024-5">Mercedes Sprinters</a>, but for their final vehicle, they picked the ProMaster for its width. Seth is 6'2'', and the ProMaster is wide enough to stretch out in their bed fully.Their van had a black exterior and tinted windows, which would help it be more discreet when <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sleeping-in-cracker-barrel-parking-lot-van-life-trip-2024-1">parked in large cities</a>. They also made sure that the van's exterior features were unnoticeable."We kept all of the stuff on our roof really minimal," Seth said. For example, the highest item on top of the vehicle is a fan, which sits just three inches above the roof. Their solar panels are thin, and the couple used boat hatches instead of skylights, which sit flush with the roof. Plus, they flat-mounted a Starlink internet system as well.The pair's exterior must-haves also included plenty of water storage. Their van can hold 48 gallons of fresh water and 30 gallons of gray water in a tank system underneath the van. This allows them to be off the grid for two weeks.As for the interior, the pair prioritized kitchen space, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/van-life-couple-shares-storage-hacks-tiny-home-on-wheels-2023-1">storage</a>, and a litter box for their two cats.The shower is noticeable when you first step inside the van. It's about two feet by four feet and made of lightweight, waterproof materials.<div type="image" title="Side-by-side images of the couple's two cats and the hidden litter box." height="900" width="1200" msid="111712576" hostid="261" sizebytes="81724"></div>Next to the shower is a hidden litter box for the couple's two cats, Lula and Sasha. The litter box also functions as a bench.Near the bench is the kitchen area."I cook at least two or three times a day, so that was important," Seth said.Their kitchen has an oven and a propane stove, as well as a fridge, sink, pantry area, and hidden laundry basket.At the back of the van is their bed, which they convert to a table and seating area during the day.<div type="image" title="Side-by-side images of the couple's interior of their $127,000 van build." height="900" width="1200" msid="111712574" hostid="261" sizebytes="47416"></div>The couple agreed that while they wanted to add smart amenities, the design and feel of the space were equally important."We've always been under the opinion that when you live in this small of a space full-time, clutter is your worst enemy," Scarlett said. "So we wanted to feel very clean all the time and very calming — almost like a sanctuary."They drew influences from Nordic design, which can be seen in the space's simplicity and clean lines. The van has two main elements: gray Roman clay and natural wood.Some of the van's more expensive features include an electrical system that cost $20,000 and the shower, which they estimate they spent close to $10,000 on.Overall, they value the van at $127,000. Thanks to relationships they had built from previous conversions, Scalett and Seth received some discounts and deals throughout the project.But labor isn't factored into that price tag. Seth said they spent more than 2,000 hours working on the van over six months."The most expensive thing you're going to run into is labor," Scarlett said.While the conversion took six months, Scarlett and Seth said five years of experience was required to make the build possible."You could not build this with only six months of knowledge," Scarlett said. For example, Seth has years of electrical experience and certifications that allowed him to build their van's system.They finished the build in June 2023 and were thrilled with the result."This van had to be the thing that could get us as much time as we need — and want — doing this," Scarlett said. "We can confidently say we did that. This van has everything we need to do it forever."<div type="image" title="Scarlett and one of her two cats." height="2000" width="1500" msid="111712573" hostid="261" sizebytes="305546"></div><h2 id="31f5b784-f211-4286-b44c-fc533a9e1b2e">The couple has spent the past year traveling around the continent</h2>"We gave up basically everything — we gave up our business, we were shutting it down, leaving a warehouse we had been in for three years," Scarlett said.Seth said that leaving that behind was both stressful and invigorating.Their first stop was Colorado, a state they hadn't visited yet. There, they spent nights near water, where a mother and baby moose would frequent — a highlight they still talk about a year later.In the past year, they've explored a handful of states and parts of Mexico and Canada.So far, they haven't changed a single element or feature in the van and don't plan on it.And while they accomplished their dream van, Scarlett said, "You couldn't pay us to do it again."Instead, their future goals include owning properties across the country and building tiny homes.But for now, their focus is to continue their van adventures.

A couple in their 20s converted 11 camper vans before building their dream one. Take a look inside the $127,000 Ram ProMaster. 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Tesla's $10 billion Mexico gigafactory is in doubt after Donald Trump regained the presidency.</li><li>Elon Musk paused the project before the election and warned that higher tariffs could affect it.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-results-trump-harris-presidential-election-2024-11">President-elect Donald Trump</a> has said he wants to crack down on automakers building cars in Mexico — and that could be a problem for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla">Tesla</a>.Trump has floated imposing tariffs higher than 200% on vehicles imported from Mexico, a move analysts told Business Insider could throw the US auto industry into crisis.It's also put a $10 billion new factory proposed by one of his biggest backers in limbo.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-tesla-still-needs-to-build-in-mexico-2024-4">Tesla announced in March 2023</a> that it was planning to build its seventh gigafactory near the industrial hub of Monterrey, Mexico.The project has since been hit by delays and uncertainty, with Elon Musk telling investors earlier this year that it was on pause until the election outcome was clear.<div type="image" title="Elon Musk and Donald Trump" height="1333" width="2000" msid="115178406" hostid="261" sizebytes="55710"></div>"Trump has said that he will put heavy tariffs on vehicles produced in Mexico, so it doesn't make sense to invest a lot in Mexico if that is going to be the case," the Tesla CEO said in July. Musk <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-won-election-what-that-means-for-elon-musk-2024-11">bet big on the former president's election campaign</a> and could be given a role in his administration.Trump's victory has pushed Tesla's project even further into purgatory. Mexico's economy minister told local media last week he planned to set up a meeting with Musk to clarify the factory's status.Trump vowed to clamp down on automakers building cars in Mexico on the campaign trail, and the prospect of new tariffs could force US automakers such as Tesla to make some hard choices about operational or planned factories in Mexico.Investment bank UBS warned that any tariffs on Mexico would be "highly disruptive" to the entire US automotive industry, in an analyst note released after the election. Analysts told BI that the tariffs floated by Trump would deter automakers such as Tesla from investing in Mexico."Everything's up in the air with Tesla's plant," said Sam Fiorani of AutoForecast Solutions. "Depending on the level of the tariffs, it could complicate the investment in Mexico."<h2 id="3ace9d15-1517-423e-b2a0-c7c63a3fcfb9">A looming crisis</h2>Fiorani told BI that factories in Mexico were crucial for US manufacturers — particularly the Detroit "Big Three" of Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis — because it offered cheap parts and labor.General Motors and Stellantis have around a third of their full-size pickup truck production in Mexico, according to Morningstar analyst David Whiston, while Ford builds its Maverick compact pickup there.Mexico is also a crucial production hub for Ford's Mustang Mach-E EV, built at the company's Cuautitlan plant.The country's free trade agreement with the United States, which allows automakers to import vehicles across the border without duties and is up for review in 2026, has attracted other automakers outside the Big Three.<div type="image" title="Mustang Mach-E" height="3648" width="5472" msid="115178404" hostid="261" sizebytes="876960"></div>Toyota, the world's largest carmaker, announced in 2020 it would move production of its Tacoma pick-up from the US to Mexico, while Nissan and Volkswagen also have factories in the country.Mexico has also attracted interest from Chinese automakers, sparking fears from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-ev-companies-byd-mg-plan-factories-mexico-washington-concern-2023-12">some lawmakers that they could use the country as a "backdoor"</a> to the US market.Chinese EV giants BYD and MG have both announced plans to build factories in the country. BYD has denied reports that it put those plans on hold to wait out the election outcome.Other automakers have expanded their presence in Mexico, despite the uncertainty of the election and the prospect of tariffs under a second Trump term.Stellantis brand Jeep is building <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeep-first-ev-electric-wagoneer-s-photos-2024-1">its first electric vehicle, the Wagoneer S</a>, at its Toluca plant in Mexico, according to a breakdown of the company's 2024 manufacturing operations.The CEO of Chrysler, another Stellantis brand, also recently confirmed it was expanding a factory in Mexico as a "relief valve" for US truck production, after The Wall Street Journal reported the company was considering making its bestselling Ram 1500 truck south of the border.German luxury brand BMW, meanwhile, is investing 800 million euros ($861 million) in expanding its factory at San Luis Potosí, Mexico, which is expected to produce the company's next-generation Neue Klasse lineup from 2027."Imposing tariffs would be a deterrent. It would make it difficult if you're planning on exporting to the US," Stephanie Brinley, an automotive analyst at S&amp;P Global, told BI.She added: "It makes building a plant in Mexico more expensive and less attractive.<h2 id="63cc3482-b0ae-4cf4-b3a3-5bb23c5ee379">Costly dilemma</h2>Brinley added that many automakers with a significant US presence had been established in Mexico for decades, meaning it would cost billions and be highly difficult to shift production to the US or other markets in response to tariffs.<div type="image" title="The 2023 Toyota Tacoma" height="2468" width="3290" msid="115178408" hostid="261" sizebytes="731616"></div>"That would be a massive investment issue ... it would probably require a staggering amount of money and would not be something they could do quickly. Changing that manufacturing footprint would take at least five years," she said.Ultimately, Brinley said many US automakers may decide it's in their best interests to stay put, despite the tariffs — something that she said could lead to higher prices for consumers north of the border."That's where the tariff ends up hurting the consumer, because these companies are not going to just eat the tariff. Some, if not all of the cost would be passed on to consumers," Brinley said.Tesla, GM, Ford, and Stellantis did not respond to requests for comment from BI.

Trump's tariffs will make it hard for automakers — including Tesla — to set up shop in Mexico

Since 2013, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a> has promised that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla">Tesla</a> will have a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/18/business/tesla-self-drive-car/index.html">self-driving car</a>. To get there, the company has leaned on a specialized group of test drivers who are part of what's known internally as "Project Rodeo."Test drivers on Project Rodeo say they push the company's self-driving software to its limit. They work to bridge the gap between driver-assist software and fully autonomous driving. Operating on open streets with other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians, they have tested unreleased software that will be crucial to Tesla's push into autonomous driving.Test drivers said they sometimes navigated perilous scenarios, particularly those drivers on Project Rodeo's "critical intervention" team, who say they're trained to wait as long as possible before taking over the car's controls. Tesla engineers say there's a reason for this: The longer the car continues to drive itself, the more data they have to work with. Experts in self-driving tech and safety say this type of approach could speed up the software's development but risks the safety of the test drivers and people on public roads."The idea is that you're a cowboy on a bull and you're just trying to hang on as long as you can," a former test driver who trained for the critical-intervention team in San Francisco said.Business Insider spoke with nine current and former Project Rodeo test drivers and three Autopilot engineers in states including California, Texas, and Florida. The drivers worked on training Tesla's Full Self-Driving software and its Autopilot software, which, despite the products' names, require a licensed driver at the wheel. Most asked to remain anonymous, citing a fear of professional reprisal, but their identities are known to Business Insider. Eight of the drivers described experiences that occurred over the past year, mostly between November and April.<div type="image" title="tesla cars in a parking lot" height="2827" width="4195" msid="114814069" hostid="261" sizebytes="1645262"></div>None of the test drivers who spoke with BI said they had been involved in a crash.Five who worked for the company in 2024 said they narrowly avoided collisions, including almost hitting a group of pedestrians. One former critical-intervention driver in Texas told BI that they sometimes ventured into their city's bar district late at night to see how Tesla's FSD software reacted to drunk patrons spilling out after last call. The former driver in San Francisco recalled riding around Stanford University during training, testing how close FSD would allow the vehicle to get to people at crosswalks before they had to take over. And a third critical-intervention driver said they allowed the car to speed through yellow lights and drive 35 mph under the speed limit on an expressway to avoid disengaging the system.A former Autopilot engineer told BI that while testing is done on open roads, Tesla runs hundreds of simulations and sometimes tests difficult scenarios on a closed course before rolling out new software to test drivers' vehicles.Tesla did not respond to a detailed list of questions about Project Rodeo and its self-driving technology.The test drivers' experiences highlight the balancing act Tesla and other automakers face as they prepare their self-driving software for widespread consumer use.Experts say public testing is crucial and can help identify safety issues before the technology hits the market. Missy Cummings, a former safety advisor for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said that while practices vary, she believes many autonomous-vehicle companies likely employ tactics similar to Tesla's."In theory, these drivers have gone through training, and eventually these cars do need to be able to operate in the public domain," Cummings said. She added that clearly marked vehicles could help the public better identify test drivers.Safety experts say fragmented and limited autonomous-vehicle regulations, coupled with self-reporting by automakers, create a complex environment where companies balance public safety with getting their products ready for commercial use."There are very few rules around autonomous testing and a lot of dependency on self-reporting," said Mark Rosekind, a former NHTSA administrator and chief safety innovation officer for Zoox, an Amazon-owned autonomous-taxi firm. "If companies aren't reporting, it's hard to know what's going on."In the past decade, authorities have investigated several automakers, including Tesla, Waymo, and Cruise, over crashes involving self-driving or driver-assist software.<div type="image" title="elon musk looks at a tesla" height="3488" width="4868" msid="114814075" hostid="261" sizebytes="1020846"></div>A lot depends on Tesla's promise of autonomous driving; Musk said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-worth-basically-zero-without-self-driving-2022-6">in 2022</a> that self-driving was "really the difference between Tesla being worth a lot of money or worth basically zero." The Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas wrote in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-robotaxi-release-date-elon-musk-stock-price-2024-9">note</a> last month that the company's future valuation was "highly dependent on its ability to develop, manufacture, and commercialize autonomous technologies." Tesla's stock fell by 10% on October 11, the day after the company's robotaxi event. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-stock-price-q3-earnings-elon-musk-profit-margins-guidance-2024-10">It rebounded after Tesla reported earnings on October 23</a>, and it's up by more than 3% overall in the year to date.<h2 id="e24440fb-f024-4003-b2a2-7b4d055c8c7a">Inside the day-to-day of a Project Rodeo driver</h2>Tesla went on a hiring spree this year, bringing on test drivers in at least half a dozen US cities, a review of LinkedIn profiles suggests.A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-job-openings-seasonal-test-drivers-data-capture-2023-7">job listing from 2023</a> said test drivers needed a "clean driving record, safe driving habits, and a minimum of 4 years of licensed driving experiences." Eight drivers told BI that the onboarding process included two to three weeks of hands-on training, including test drives with a trainer in the passenger seat.According to employees and internal documents, one specialty within Project Rodeo works to replicate the job of a ride-hailing driver by picking random points on a map and driving between them. Those working on a different team, known as the "golden manual" team, drive manually, without any assistance, to train FSD software on what by-the-book, error-free driving looks like.Critical-intervention test drivers, who are among Project Rodeo's most experienced, let the software continue driving even after it makes a mistake. They're trained to stage "interventions" — taking manual control of the car — only to prevent a crash, said the three critical-intervention drivers and five other drivers familiar with the team's mission. Drivers on the team and internal documents say that cars rolled through red lights, swerved into other lanes, or failed to follow posted speed limits while FSD was engaged. The drivers said they allowed FSD to remain in control during these incidents because supervisors encouraged them to try to avoid taking over.The critical-intervention drivers recalled multiple instances where they felt unsafe but believed intervening could put their jobs at risk. The former driver in Texas recalled taking over only after FSD nearly rammed the car into the side of a vehicle stopped at an intersection.Non-critical-intervention drivers said they also felt pressure to push the system as far as possible. Five current and former employees said that they were instructed to intervene if they became uncomfortable with the software's behavior but that they sometimes received feedback from their supervisors if they were considered to have disengaged too early.John Bernal, a former test driver and data analyst at Tesla, said test drivers dealt with risky situations as far back as 2022. (Bernal was terminated that year; he said he was fired for sharing videos on his YouTube channel that showed his personal Tesla malfunctioning while using FSD.) He described instances where he broke traffic laws in order to collect data. Bernal said that his supervisors never instructed him to break the law but that he sometimes felt it was the only way to get the data the company wanted.He recalled one test in 2022 that was designed to see how well the system recognized a red light."My training was to wait until the wheels touched the white line before I could slam on the brakes," Bernal said. He said he sometimes ended up in the middle of the intersection if the system didn't work correctly.He also worked to train the autonomous software on "vulnerable road users" — defined by the Department of Transportation as pedestrians, bicyclists, people on scooters or in wheelchairs, or highway workers on foot — when he manually drove the "Ground Truth Machine," a Tesla outfitted with lidar and radar sensors to help the system map and identify objects."I'd drive over double lines to get close to a bike," Bernal said. "I would go obnoxiously slow through an alleyway where drunk people were, and I would be extremely rude and get really close to people."<div type="image" title="tesla showroom with autopilot posters" height="2939" width="4200" msid="114814073" hostid="261" sizebytes="255868"></div>Two years later, test drivers were asked to train the system near pedestrians, test drivers said. Five recalled a bug with FSD that made vehicles brake too early at crosswalks. To improve its performance, they were instructed to interact with pedestrians as frequently as possible.Sometimes, the drivers said, the software would slam on the brakes when no one was at the crosswalk; other times, it wouldn't stop at all. According to Tesla employees and internal documentation, FSD's performance depended heavily on its software version, and the versions appeared to operate at different levels of caution.The former San Francisco driver said that as they drove around Stanford University, their trainer, another test operator with more experience on the team, chastised them for braking too early. They recalled that at one point they came within three feet of hitting a bicyclist at a roundabout."I vividly remember this guy jumping off his bike. He was terrified," the driver told BI. "The car lunged at him, and all I could do was stomp on the brakes." They said the trainer was pleased by the incident. "He told me, 'That was perfect.' That was exactly what they wanted me to do."The driver added that "it felt like the goal was almost to simulate a hit-or-miss accident and then prevent it at the last second."The former Autopilot engineer said it was better for training to see whether the software could correct itself. They also said that not intervening when the car acted abnormally — including veering into another lane or doing something that confuses another driver — was important for training. Human motorists don't always drive rationally, they explained, and the software needs to know how to respond. It's also easier to parse the data if there are fewer driver interventions, they said."At the critical juncture where it's about to make the key decision," they said, it's helpful to see whether the software makes the right or wrong call. "We want the data to know what led the car to that decision," the engineer said. "If you keep intervening too early, we don't really get to the exact moment where we're like, OK, we understand what happened."<h2 id="52098605-f887-4702-a6ab-cf47e173ce28">A 'Wild West' with little regulation</h2>Tesla is one of many automakers attempting to make autonomous vehicles a reality. Waymo, backed by Alphabet, launched the first driverless taxi service in Phoenix in 2020."In many ways, it's like the Wild West out there," said Cummings, the former NHTSA safety advisor. "There is very little regulation around training or informing the public about testing."The stakes of data collection on public roads are high. In 2018, a self-driving Uber with a person behind the wheel struck and killed a pedestrian in Arizona. Cruise paused testing after one of its driverless vehicles hit a pedestrian in October 2023. Another vehicle had already hit the pedestrian when the Cruise car struck her, dragging her 20 feet before stopping. It <a target="_blank" href="https://www.getcruise.com/news/blog/2024/cruise-resumes-manual-driving-as-next-step-in-return-to-driverless-mission/">resumed testing</a> with safety drivers in some cities in May.<div type="image" title="waymo self driving taxi interior with pedestrians outside" height="4000" width="6000" msid="114814077" hostid="261" sizebytes="568560"></div>Two former Waymo employees said that they had a team similar to Tesla's critical-intervention team but that Waymo's version of critical-intervention testing was limited to closed tracks with dummies. Two former Cruise employees said that they had mapping teams and teams that tested on closed courses and public roads but that, unlike at Tesla, those teams were instructed to take over as soon as the software went off track, and they typically tested with at least two people in the car.A Waymo spokesperson said the company's safety framework included rigorous testing in controlled environments and on public roads. A Cruise spokesperson said the company's vehicles were designed as fully autonomous systems and were therefore fundamentally different from Tesla's driver-assistance technologies.Philip Koopman, an autonomous-driving expert at Carnegie Mellon University, said that Tesla's critical-intervention approach, as described to him by BI, was "irresponsible" and that the company should be playing out all "critical scenarios" on a closed course."By allowing the software to continue misbehaving to the point a test driver needs to avoid a crash, Tesla would be imposing a risk on other road users who have not agreed to serve as test subjects," Koopman said.Alex Roy, a general partner at NIVC and a former director of operations at the autonomous-driving startup Argo AI, said companies should be correcting the software as soon as it strays from the course, particularly on public roads."You should play those mistakes out in a simulation, not on an open road," Roy said. "Real-world testing is necessary, but real-world mistakes are not." The former Tesla engineer said they doubted that computer simulations are sophisticated enough to replicate the data generated by real-world driving. The former engineer said that, to help the software improve, it was best for test drivers to avoid intervening whenever possible."If you have a parent that's holding the bike the entire time, it never gets to learn," the engineer said.Test drivers on Project Rodeo felt this keenly."You're pretty much running on adrenaline the entire eight-hour shift," one former test driver in the Southwest said. "There's this feeling that you're on the edge of something going seriously wrong."Do you work for Tesla or have a tip? Reach out to the reporter via a non-work email and device at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:gkay@businessinsider.com">gkay@businessinsider.com</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link">248-894-6012</a>.

Inside 'Project Rodeo,' the Tesla effort pushing the limits of self-driving technology

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares is under pressure.</li><li>Tavares is being criticized for cutting too deep as he reshapes the global automaker.</li></ul>Jeep-owner <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stellantis-ceo-slow-ev-transition-big-trap-automakers-2024-10">Stellantis</a> is in turmoil.In the past year, the global automaker has seen falling sales, shrinking profit margins, and a slew of executive departures. Frustrated dealers, investors, and union workers all appear united on one issue: CEO Carlos Tavares is a problem.Tavares, well-known in the automotive industry for his corporate frugality, is being criticized for cutting too deep as he reshapes the car company created by a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stellantis-chrysler-stla-executives-fiat-chrysler-psa-group-merger-fca-2021-2">mega-merger</a> of the former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and France's PSA Groupe in 2021.Wall Street is disappointed by the global automaker's lackluster financial performance, dealers are frustrated with shrinking lineups, and the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uaw-auto-union-strike-could-change-industry-forever-2023-9">United Auto Workers</a> union is on the verge of a strike over lost product commitments.Criticism of Tavares only got louder after <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/stellantis-revises-guidance-downward-citing-performance-issues-industry-dynamics-2024-09-30/">Stellantis issued a profit warning</a> at the end of September, signaling that margins would be smaller than expected this year and that extensive restructuring in North America would result in negative free cash flow.After months of that mounting pressure — plus an investor lawsuit — Stellantis <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stellantis-ceo-carlos-tavares-to-retire-in-early-2026-names-doug-ostermann-cfo-1033837036">confirmed that Tavares would retire</a> after his contract expires in early 2026.Until then, the Portuguese businessman will have to find a way to steer the company through one of the most turbulent moments in its relatively short history.A Stellantis spokesperson said the investor lawsuit is without merit, and the company plans to "vigorously defend itself." Stellantis is also taking legal action against the UAW, the spokesperson said.<h2 id="b058f3f9-3fab-4ede-ad5b-364f7bb12c76">Stellantis dealers are fed up</h2>Dealers for years had privately expressed concerns over the loss of more affordable models at <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeep-sales-falling-iconic-brand-inventory-piling-up-2023-8">Jeep</a>, Chrysler, and Dodge — cost-cutting moves that helped deliver record profits for Stellantis in 2023.In September, Tavares publicly lost the support of the US dealer council, which <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/chrysler/2024/09/12/stellantis-dealers-ceo-carlos-tavares-open-letter/75191788007/">published an open letter</a> accusing him of degrading the value of their brands by discontinuing so many models.In the letter, signed by dealer council chairman Kevin Farrish, retailers accused Tavares of "reckless short-term decision-making" that has had "devastating, yet entirely predictable, consequences in the US market."Dave Kelleher, a Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram dealer in Pennsylvania, told Business Insider that the cuts to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/car-models-owned-by-republicans-democrats-american-politics-jeep-2024-10">Jeep</a>, which lost the affordable Cherokee and Renegade for the 2024 model year, have been especially detrimental.He's glad that both models are set to return for the 2026 model year but says he's losing customers in the meantime."Some bean counters made bad mistakes," Kelleher said, referring to corporate employees. "I just question why we would stop building Cherokees before a new one is prepared?"<h2 id="d491638a-e351-42d6-9896-1f0e71300d87">Short-term gain, long-term pain</h2>The numbers support Kelleher's gripe.Stellantis's US sales were down 17% through September compared to a year ago, weighed down by big volume losses at profit-generators Ram and Jeep. Once a market leader, Jeep has ceded the more affordable SUV segments to competitors like Hyundai, sending market share down below 10%.Jeep, Chrysler, and Dodge also have an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/port-strike-car-companies-automakers-have-plenty-inventory-2024-10">oversupply problem</a>, with well over 100 days' supply for each brand at the end of the summer, according to Cox Automotive. That's compared to an industry average of 77 days' supply.This signals that Stellantis's offerings are out of step with consumer demand. Ivan Drury, an automotive analyst for car-shopping website Edmunds, pointed to price as a barrier for would-be returning customers — once a strength for Jeep in particular.The average Stellantis vehicle sold for over $56,000 in the second quarter, compared to an industry average of around $45,000 this year, according to industry data."If a customer has an older Stellantis product, the odds of buying a new one are very, very diminished, especially compared to the rest of the industry," Drury said. "A lot of that is because the ATP creep is so aggressive."The discontinuation of more affordable vehicles appears to have broad implications for the company. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/auto-industry-facing-deflationary-spiral-as-people-delay-buying-2024-6">Vehicle affordability</a> is more important now than it has been for the past several years, as customers tighten purse strings amid inflation and rising interest rates.And the factories left without products have become a battleground for the UAW.<h2 id="a5304e7b-8c97-488c-b6f3-df9f794a3bfd">The UAW threatens a strike</h2>The Illinois factory where Stellantis builds the discontinued Jeep Cherokee is at the center of the UAW's clash with Tavares.The union has said it is ready to strike if Stellantis doesn't reinstate product commitments for the plant, arguing that backing off investments violates its <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uaw-strike-contract-raises-pay-details-ford-gm-stellantis-2023-10">2023 contract</a>. Stellantis, in return, has filed a lawsuit accusing the union of violating the contract with its strike authorization votes.After <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-gm-stellantis-uaw-workers-indefinite-strike-2023-9">a historic strike</a> at all three Detroit car companies last fall, the UAW won the right to strike over product commitments. However, Stellantis argues that these commitments are always subject to change with market conditions.While dealers and investors have taken their chances to question Tavares's leadership, on a sunny October afternoon, a more direct and profane chant rang out in the parking lot of a Stellantis UAW local: "S***-can Carlos."At a rally organized to pressure Stellantis to maintain job commitments at the Illinois factory where it previously built the Cherokee, UAW President Shawn Fain said it was "once again up to the UAW members to save this company from itself."

How things went from bad to worse for Jeep-owner Stellantis

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Happy Saturday! Gen Z is redefining yet another term, and this time, it's "lavender marriage." A phrase once reserved for the LGBTQ+ community is now being used to describe <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/genz-tired-dating-applications-lavender-marriages-open-tiktok-romance-love-2024-10">young people who are sick of being broke</a> and living alone.On the agenda:<ul><li>Step inside Jackson Hole, Wyoming, <a target="_blank" href="https://businessinsider.com/jackson-hole-wyoming-where-billionaires-live-vacation-2024-10">America's billionaire hub</a>.</li><li>Taylor Swift is entering <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-disrupt-publishing-industry-eras-tour-book-2024-10">her book-publishing era</a>.</li><li>Uber's new $18 airport shuttle in New York City is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-shuttle-nyc-airport-review-photos-2024-10">a game changer</a>.</li><li>The hottest new longevity treatment? <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-plasma-exchange-therapy-why-is-it-longevity-treatment-2024-10">A plasma exchange</a>.</li></ul>But first: Siri, play "Greased Lightnin'."If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today-sunday-edition">sign up here</a>. Download Insider's app <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.insider.com/app">here.</a><h3 id="2d2d81c1-e984-4ab1-b11e-26ada0d3da0b">This week's dispatch</h3><h2 id="6f9c5ac5-ec11-4a68-8ad6-75cb4bde030f">On the road</h2><div type="image" title="BYD Yangwang U8" height="1663" width="2500" msid="114375761" hostid="261" sizebytes="447414"></div>Imagine this: You're sitting in traffic, unsure of who or what is holding you up. So you deploy your car's drone to see what's on the road ahead. If this sounds like a scene from a futuristic James Bond-style movie, think again.Business Insider's Tom Carter, a London-based business reporter, got a chance to see Chinese automaker BYD's latest fleet of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-ev-giants-innovation-ai-auto-show-european-rivals-despair-2024-10">technologically advanced cars</a> at the Paris Motor Show earlier this week.The seven cars they showed off included the Yangwang U8, a hybrid luxury SUV that comes with a drone and, according to the company, can turn around like a tank and float on water.It's only available in China right now, but made its European debut at the show even as the European Union is set to impose harsh tariffs on electric vehicles from China.European manufacturers are trying to claw back some of the market share of electric vehicles from their Chinese competitors. Aside from tariffs, another way to do that is through partnerships.That's what Stellantis — the parent company of Jeep, Ram, and Fiat — did when it <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bmw-stellantis-renault-auto-giants-on-chinese-ev-competition-2024-10">teamed up with Leapmotor</a> to sell EVs outside of China. "For us, the best way to compete immediately with the Chinese was to hop on their train, rather than letting it run us over," Carlos Tavares, who spoke at a nearby automotive summit, said Tuesday.<h2 id="cc30e20d-acf4-4a4e-ad8f-02c3a04a9dbb">Inside a billionaire enclave</h2><div type="image" title="A view out a plane window with the wing on the left and mountains and lakes on the right" height="2560" width="3840" msid="114375752" hostid="261" sizebytes="341218"></div>Nestled at the base of the Teton Range, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, comprises one of the wealthiest counties in the country. With mountain views and lower taxes, the area has lured in millennial DINKs and A-listers alike.It's also the most economically unequal place in the US: According to the Economic Policy Institute, the top 1% of residents in the metro area earn 132 times the income of the bottom 99% of residents. BI's Joey Hadden visited Jackson Hole to see what makes it so coveted.<a target="_blank" href="https://businessinsider.com/jackson-hole-wyoming-where-billionaires-live-vacation-2024-10">Here's what she found</a>.Also read:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kemo-sabe-cowboy-hats-jackson-wyoming-2024-10">Behind the scenes of Kemo Sabe, where celebrities pay up to $900 for custom cowboy hats</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-luxury-jackson-hole-vacation-home-2024-10">I spent 2 hours in a Jackson Hole vacation home that costs over $10 million. Check out the ultra-luxury details</a>.</li></ul><h2 id="f3efdf5d-fcfc-4813-9e6c-8e3b9040c25d">The Book of Taylor</h2><div type="image" title="A photo illustration showing Taylor Swift, a dollar bill, and a second image of Swift in an open book all against a light background." height="1000" width="1334" msid="114375766" hostid="261" sizebytes="185714"></div>Taylor Swift is publishing "The Eras Tour Book" and releasing it exclusively through Target. She shook off traditional publishers and distributors in favor of self-publishing.In doing so, Swift ensured she'll get a larger share of the revenue earned from sales. It's a tried-and-true strategy that capitalizes on her fans' loyalty — and their wallets.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-disrupt-publishing-industry-eras-tour-book-2024-10">How Taylor Swift could disrupt publishing</a>.<h2 id="4e812ecf-a060-401e-9848-be206a63cddb">A new way to the airport</h2><div type="image" title="Uber shuttle on blue" height="1000" width="1334" msid="114375763" hostid="261" sizebytes="80432"></div>New York City just got another transit option. On October 8, Uber launched an $18 shuttle between three Manhattan locations and LaGuardia airport. That could help ease the high costs or complicated subway transfers that previously came with getting to LGA.Not everyone's happy with the move, though. Some people accused the ridesharing app of rebranding traditional bus service for a markup. But plenty of others — including BI's Priyanka Rajput, who took it for a spin — are thrilled to have a cheaper alternative.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-shuttle-nyc-airport-review-photos-2024-10">Uber everywhere</a>.<h2 id="483172dd-9e06-415f-8357-1bdb6f813f7b">There's a new longevity treatment in town</h2><div type="image" title="A container of blood plasma is being extracted from a centrifuge for a medical procedure" height="3744" width="5616" msid="114375759" hostid="261" sizebytes="157208"></div>Plasma exchange therapy is the latest wellness trend among CEOs, aging athletes, and longevity seekers. Typically used for patients with chronic conditions, the procedure involves replacing plasma with another fluid to remove toxins.Former NFL star Troy Aikman, who has received the treatment, likened it to "a human oil change" — but there's limited evidence that it can actually boost longevity or benefit otherwise healthy people.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-plasma-exchange-therapy-why-is-it-longevity-treatment-2024-10">More on the $10K procedure</a>.<h2 id="5fef756b-4b6b-4037-8f33-9635854b9d8b">What we're watching this weekend</h2><div type="image" title="Cate Blanchett in &quot;Disclaimer&quot;" height="1500" width="2000" msid="114375765" hostid="261" sizebytes="400430"></div><ul><li>"Woman of the Hour": <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/anna-kendrick-movie-roles-twilight-pitch-perfect-a-simple-favor-2024-10">Anna Kendrick</a> makes her directorial debut with this Netflix thriller based on the true story of a woman who crossed paths with a serial killer on "The Dating Game."</li><li>"Shrinking": The acclaimed Apple TV+ series starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford returned for its second season this week.</li><li>"Anatomy of Lies": Peacock has a new documentary about Elisabeth Finch, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elisabeth-finch-greys-anatomy-writer-fake-cancer-claims-2022-5">"Grey's Anatomy" writer who faked cancer</a>.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-shows-movies-streaming-netflix-max-apple-october-18-24">See the full list</a><div type="image" title="A red shopping bag surrounded by $100 bills." height="1500" width="2000" msid="114375754" hostid="261" sizebytes="244828"></div><h2 id="a09a70ef-5e7e-4bf4-80b2-3731f70bdc6e">Deals we love</h2><ul><li>Cheap skincare can still be good: Especially when it comes to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/beauty/affordable-skin-care-brands-companies">these affordable skincare brands</a>. We're here to help you moisturize, exfoliate, and glow — without breaking the bank.</li><li>Testing viral TikTok cleaning tools: Those satisfying spinning scrub brush videos got to us, too. We've got the low-down on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/home/best-electric-spin-scrubber">the best electric spin scrubbers</a> for tackling any mess, from caked-on grease to stained grout.</li><li>Is Patagonia worth it?: The short answer is "yes." The outdoor gear brand has so many iconic styles it's hard to keep track, so <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/style/patagonia-outdoor-clothing-review">we rounded up our favorites</a>, including jackets, bags, pants, and more.</li></ul><h2 id="3a2e4b99-8063-4f80-8653-d1ec4a2af89a">More of this week's top reads:</h2><ul><li>RTO mandates are on the rise. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/upgrade-your-fall-work-wardrobe-brands-embrace-corporate-fashion-trends-2024-10">Here's what to wear to work this fall</a>.</li><li>How Hilary Swank spends her 5 to 9 — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hilary-swanks-daily-routine-how-she-eats-relaxes-works-out-2024-10">from meditating to eating every hour and a half</a>.</li><li>A family of six visited Disney and Universal. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-family-spends-disneyland-vs-universal-studios-one-day-cheaper-2024-10">The latter was better in some huge ways</a>.</li><li>House-sitting lets this couple <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/couple-save-housing-costs-housesits-for-strangers-2024-10">travel the world without housing costs</a>.</li><li>How a "micro-retirement" <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/micro-retirement-improved-quality-of-life-burnout-2024-10">reversed one woman's burnout</a>.</li><li>A man who started doing CrossFit in his 80s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/man-started-crossfit-81-does-100-push-ups-daily-2024-10/">now does 100 push-ups a day</a>.</li><li>What people with wildly different incomes <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/alices-ultra-rich-what-people-across-tax-brackets-discuss-therapy-2024-10">discuss in therapy</a>.</li><li>Retired sisters share what it's like to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-retirees-live-on-cruises-full-time-sold-houses-2024-10">live on cruise ships full-time</a>.</li><li>Victoria Secret could be the next brand <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/victorias-secret-using-gen-z-nostalgia-to-become-relevant-2024-10">Gen Z brings back from the dead</a>.</li><li>Hotel companies are getting into <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vidantaworld-elegant-luxury-cruise-ship-four-seasons-ritz-carlton-2024-10">the luxury cruise game</a>.</li><li>Bartenders share the drinks <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cocktails-you-should-order-more-often-at-the-bar-2024-10">you should order more often</a>.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/dan-defrancesco">Dan DeFrancesco</a>, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/jordan-parker-erb">Jordan Parker Erb</a>, editor, in New York. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/lisa-ryan">Lisa Ryan</a>, executive editor, in New York. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/amanda-yen">Amanda Yen</a>, fellow, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago.

Insider Today: America's billionaire hub

<ul class="summary-list"><li>China's EV giants left their European rivals in the dust at the continent's biggest auto show.</li><li>BYD, Xpeng, and Leapmotor unveiled new models at the Paris Motor Show despite looming tariffs.</li></ul>Automakers flocked to Paris for Europe's largest motor show this week — and China's EV giants were the star attraction.BYD, Xpeng, and Leapmotor showcased new vehicles at the Paris Motor Show, even as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-electric-vehicles-european-tariffs-retaliation-vw-bmw-mercedes-tesla-2024-10">the European Union prepares to impose punishing tariffs</a> on Chinese electric vehicles.BYD unveiled the Sealion 7, a stylish electric SUV that the company says can charge from 10% to 80% in just 24 minutes. The company plans to launch the EV in Europe later this year.The automaker, which aims to become Europe's largest electric carmaker by 2030, showed off seven vehicles at its booth in Paris.Crowds quickly formed around the high-tech Yangwang U8, an imposing hybrid SUV that BYD says is capable of floating on water for up to 30 minutes and turning on the spot like a tank.The U8, which was making its European debut but is currently only sold in China, also comes with a drone that allows passengers to scout the road ahead.The Chinese focus on technologically advanced features and smart cars was also apparent elsewhere at the motor show. The booth of Chinese EV firm Xpeng was dominated by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/xpeng-tesla-rival-flying-car-prototype-drone-evtol-2022-11">the company's flying car prototype</a>, which hung from the ceiling.<div type="image" title="Xpeng flying car at the Paris auto show" height="1875" width="2500" msid="114288549" hostid="261" sizebytes="398130"></div>CEO He Xiaopeng and co-president Brian Gu revealed the P7+ with camera-powered partially autonomous driving.Executives also discussed the company's investments in humanoid robots, flying cars, and AI hardware.Speaking to reporters, Gu said that although the tariffs, which could see <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bmw-stellantis-renault-auto-giants-on-chinese-ev-competition-2024-10">manufacturers face extra levies as high as 35%</a>, would put pressure on Xpeng's business model, the company was not backing down from its European expansion plans."We have a long-term and strong commitment to Europe, which is a region that we think is a core to our business. We will do whatever is necessary to be competitive," he said.<h2 id="995c4927-3f48-4827-9f84-774f4931eb8f">European automakers despair</h2>Among the local automakers at the event, the atmosphere was less positive.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ev-sales-europe-slumping-warning-sign-us-2024-9">Stuttering EV sales across the continent</a> have meant some European manufacturers have scaled back their EV plans and are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bmw-ceo-2035-gasoline-vehicle-ban-eu-more-reliant-china-2024-10">lobbying the EU to rethink emissions targets</a> they say will cost them billions in fines.Speaking at a summit on the sidelines of the motor show, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said the mood in Europe's auto industry was "trending toward pessimism."He warned that a planned 2035 ban on gasoline vehicles in Europe could "threaten the European automotive industry in its heart," while the CEO of French automaker Renault said that it was clear that Chinese automakers had accelerated beyond their Western rivals."Europe is not the leader anymore. No one can put heads in the sand anymore — the center of gravity is now in China," said Renault boss Luca de Meo, speaking at the same event.Nowhere was that more apparent than at the booth occupied by Chinese EV maker Leapmotor.<div type="image" title="Zhu Jiangming founder of Leapmotor and Carlos Tavares CEO of Stellantis at Paris Motor Show" height="4016" width="6016" msid="114288547" hostid="261" sizebytes="2561190"></div>After launching <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.stellantis.com/en/news/press-releases/2024/september/leapmotor-international-opens-orders-in-europe-for-affordable-high-tech-t03-city-car-and-c10-suv-electric-vehicles">two new models in Europe</a> last month, the EV startup <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.media.stellantis.com/em-en/leapmotor/press/leapmotor-b10-makes-global-debut-at-the-paris-motor-show">unveiled the B10</a>, an electric vehicle it is planning to sell globally from next year and which could cost 100,000 RMB ($14,000) in China.While unveiling the new model, Leapmotor CEO Zhu Jiangming was joined by Carlos Tavares, the CEO of Jeep, Ram, and Fiat maker Stellantis.The European automaker <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.stellantis.com/en/news/press-releases/2024/may/leapmotor-international-begins-operations-to-expand-global-electric-vehicle-sales-starting-september-2024-in-nine-european-countries-followed-by-other-key-growth-regions">struck a deal with Leapmotor</a> earlier this year to invest in the company and gained exclusive rights to sell its affordable EVs outside China.Speaking at the automotive summit on Tuesday, Tavares said European automakers needed to accept the "harsh reality" that Chinese companies were now capable of making EVs for far cheaper than their European rivals.He added that the Leapmotor partnership had been necessary for Stellantis to compete with the country's electric vehicle giants."For us, the best way to compete immediately with the Chinese was to hop on their train, rather than letting it run us over," Tavares said.

China's EV giants shine at Europe's largest auto show while local rivals despair

<ul class="summary-list"><li>European car CEOs criticize EU tariffs on Chinese EVs, urging learning from rivals.</li><li>EU plans tariffs up to 35% on Chinese EVs, fearing market disruption by cheap imports.</li></ul>European car bosses have a solution to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-car-companies-europe-expansion-threatens-mercedes-volkswagen-2023-9">the Chinese EV invasion</a> — if you can't beat them, at least learn from them. Speaking at the Paris Motor Show on Tuesday, the bosses of European auto giants such as BMW and Stellantis attacked the EU's proposed tariffs on Chinese EVs, and urged struggling European automakers to learn from the success of their Chinese rivals to kick-start the continent's sluggish EV sales.The European Union <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-electric-vehicles-european-tariffs-retaliation-vw-bmw-mercedes-tesla-2024-10">voted to impose tariffs of up to 35% on Chinese EV makers this month</a> amid fears that a wave of cheap, subsidized Chinese electric vehicles could upend the European auto market.The CEOs of BMW and Stellantis attacked the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-electric-vehicles-european-tariffs-retaliation-vw-bmw-mercedes-tesla-2024-10">proposed tariffs</a>, saying they would be ineffective and might backfire on consumers."We should not be so afraid of everything. It is not so easy to sell non-European cars in Europe," BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said at the motor show.He said that the tariffs would "inflict" damage on BMW, which imports cars from China, and harm its European consumers as a result."We shouldn't give up before the race has even started. We don't need protection, we need fair trade rules," he added.The decision to impose tariffs was not unanimous. Several nations are believed to have voted against the move, including Germany, which had been lobbied by automakers such as BMW and Mercedes, fearful that China might retaliate and target their businesses there.It comes as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ev-sales-europe-slumping-warning-sign-us-2024-9">EV sales in Europe plunge</a>, with registrations falling by 44% in August compared to last year. Stagnating demand has led some automakers to pump the brakes on their EV plans, and others to push for the EU to reconsider looming emissions targets that could leave them facing billions in fines.Meanwhile, their Chinese rivals continue to make inroads into the continent despite trade barriers.<h2 id="e971d3c0-847b-41b4-a2d0-29d9cd3054c7">Europe's EV dilemma</h2>Tesla rivals BYD and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-tesla-rival-xpeng-welcomes-competition-from-elon-musk-2024-10">Xpeng</a> both unveiled new models this week at the Paris Motor Show, one of Europe's biggest auto events.Luca de Meo, the CEO of French automaker Renault, said European automakers had a golden opportunity to learn from their Chinese counterparts, who he said were now developing new cars in as little as two years."There is an opportunity that we have no right to miss, and that is to learn from our competitors," de Meo said, speaking at the summit in Paris."This is what Europeans like Fiat, Citroen, and Renault did a century ago in the United States when Henry Ford revolutionized manufacturing, and it's what the Chinese automakers did with us," he added.In an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2024-10-14/bloomberg-talks-renault-ceo-luca-de-meo-podcast">interview with Bloomberg</a> on Monday, de Meo declined to comment on the EU's prospective tariffs on Chinese automakers. However, he said that ramping up "electrification" in Europe would be difficult "without good cooperation" with China, given its dominant role in the EV battery and materials market. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said it was "a dream" to believe that tariffs would effectively protect Western auto industries."These short-term actions will have negative mid and long-term implications. The only way to protect ourselves is to compete with the newcomers and raise ourselves to their game," said the boss of the Jeep and Ram maker.Stellantis has partnered with Chinese EV firm Leapmotor, which has given it exclusive rights to sell Leapmotor's EVs outside of China.Tavares said the company had decided that the best way to compete with China was to partner with one of their automakers, and "hop on their train instead of letting it run us over.""We need to understand where the Chinese automakers are strong, and through our investment in Leapmotor we have a perfect transparent understanding of what makes the difference. That is very helpful," said Tavares.BMW, Stellantis, and Renault did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, sent outside normal working hours.

We should be learning from Chinese EV players, not shutting them out of Europe — auto bosses say

As nationwide protests by doctors continue over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee case at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, <keyword id="19934441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="patients" source="keywords">patients</keyword> at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital are experiencing delays in treatment. On Thursday, long queues formed, as the hospital struggled with reduced staffing due to the ongoing strike. Dr Ajay Shukla, Medical Superintendent at RML Hospital, said that they faced issues due to the influx of patients from distant locations. "Our faculty are doing their best to attend to patients in the OPD, but due to the shortage of doctors, it's taking more time. Our elective operation theatres (OTs) are functioning, but compared to before the strike, there has been a decline. Emergency OTs are operating normally, but there is a 40% reduction in elective OTs," he said. Dr Shukla expressed hope that the doctors would end their strike soon, noting that the <keyword id="19900449" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government" source="keywords">government</keyword> has addressed all their demands."I appealed to the doctors yesterday to call off their strike. I hope it will be called off today, as the government has met all their demands. The matter is also being heard in the Supreme Court, and the Chief Justice of India has also made an appeal," he added. A patient at the hospital told that his operation had been delayed for a long time. "Every time I come here, they delay the operation with some excuse. I have no place to stay and have to sleep on the street," he said. Another patient, Rakesh Verma, who came for his 32-year-old son's treatment, said he had visited many <keyword id="19910449" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hospitals" source="keywords">hospitals</keyword>, including private ones, without success. "My son's hands and feet have swollen in the last 2-3 days. We have been going to government hospitals, but they are on strike. I even went to a private hospital, but there was no help. Where should I go now?" he asked. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry issued an Office Memorandum on Wednesday regarding the National Task Force, formed by the Supreme Court to ensure the safety of <keyword id="20551393" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="medical-professionals" source="keywords">medical professionals</keyword>. The panel will be headed by Cabinet Secretary, Government of India as its Chairperson, and has been constituted following the Supreme Court's direction on August 20. Due to the ongoing strike by resident doctors, services at AIIMS, Delhi, are severely impacted. OPD services are down by 65%, admissions by 40%, operation theatres reduced by 90%, laboratory services by 30%, radiological investigations by 55%, and nuclear medicine by 20%, as of 4:30 pm yesterday. On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, sparking nationwide strikes and protests by the medical community. <h2>Commute also disrupted </h2>Not just patients, commuters in Delhi-NCR also faced a tough time, as taxi and autorickshaw drivers began their two-day strike on Thursday, demanding better compensation from cab aggregator services. Taxi and auto unions said inadequate compensation, coupled with aggergators launching bike taxi services has hit their livelihood. 80% of autorickshaws and taxis are off the road in the national capital, Delhi Auto Taxi Transport Congress Union (DATTCU) president Kishan Verma claimed, and announced that a protest will be held at the Jantar Mantar. Anil Pradhan, a cab driver, demanded a ban on bike taxis that offer services using non-commercial numberplates. "The government should step in and ban the commercial plying of vehicles with non-commercial numberplates. It is becoming difficult to make ends meet," he said. Adarsh Tiwari, another cab driver, said, "The companies offer us very less rate for our services. Due to this, we are unable to pay the installments of our vehicles and meet other expenses. We are unable to ensure good education for our children and sufficient food for our families." People took to social media to complaint about delay in getting cabs and cancellations. "Spent the last 35 mins trying to get a cab in Noida for Delhi. What's wrong with @Olacabs @Uber_India @rapidobikeapp," X user Prashhush posted. Another X user, Kshitiz Agarwal said,"Is it only me or uber doesn't work anymore now? Couldn't find a uber cab for 30 mins nowadays even at posh localities like south extension, new delhi #uber #ola." DATTCU president Verma said that "we will also be holding a protest at Jantar Mantar to demand a ban on plying of private vehicles by cab aggregator companies. Why are we made to take permits and pay taxes when private vehicles are allowed to ply? We demand that the government impose a ban on them."

Doctor protests disrupt services, patients face long delays, auto and cab drivers on strike as well

Most <keyword id="21473307" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP-allies" source="keywords">BJP allies</keyword> have kept their cards close to chest on the issue of <keyword id="19934070" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uniform-Civil-Code" source="keywords">Uniform Civil Code</keyword>, which Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> strongly backed in his Independence Day speech, with the party's largest partner <keyword id="19910625" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telugu-Desam-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Telugu Desam Party" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Telugu Desam Party">Telugu Desam Party</keyword> (TDP) saying that it will wait for details to emerge before finalising its stand. The JD(U), the BJP's second biggest ally, said the party supports any such reform but its spokesperson K C Tyagi added that it must be pushed only after evolving a consensus by speaking to all stake-holders, including religious groups and states. Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu, the head of TDP Parliamentary Party, told PTI that his party will wait for the details of any proposal related to the UCC before finalising its stand. Another party ally <keyword id="20280818" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Janshakti-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Lok Janshakti Party" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Lok Janshakti Party">Lok Janshakti Party</keyword> (<keyword id="20354493" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ram-Vilas" source="keywords">Ram Vilas</keyword>) has also been non-committal, with its president and Union Minister Chirag Paswan recently highlighting cultural, linguistic and regional diversities across the country to wonder how everyone can be brought under one umbrella. Last month, he said that his party will wait for a draft on the UCC before taking a stand. Tyagi cited JD(U) president and Bihar Chief Minister <keyword id="19907431" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nitish-Kumar" source="keywords">Nitish Kumar</keyword>'s submission in 2017 to the Law Commission to make his point. Kumar had said, "Any attempt to impose a UCC without obtaining through substantive consultations the concurrence of various religious groups, especially the minorities, could lead to social friction and an erosion of faith in the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion." However, the proposal for simultaneous elections, which was also staunchly advocated by Modi on Thursday, generally enjoys support among the BJP's allies. Tyagi said his party is in complete agreement with the BJP on the issue. Both JD(U) and the LJP(Ram Vilas) had extended their support to the concept 'one nation one election' in their submission to the high-level committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind. Another important BJP ally <keyword id="19905334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shiv-Sena" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Shiv Sena" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Shiv Sena">Shiv Sena</keyword>, which is headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has been supportive of both UCC and simultaneous elections. Modi had on Thursday made an unequivocal pitch for a uniform civil code in the country, asserting that a "secular civil code" in place of the existing "communal" one is the need of the hour. He also pushed forcefully for 'one nation one election'. Frequent elections are an "obstacle" in the country's growth, and every scheme is seen as a consequence of one poll or another happening every few months, he said in his speech on India's 78th Independence Day. The UCC has been a key ideological plank of the BJP, while the party has also taken a strong stand in favour of <keyword id="20033454" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="simultaneous-polls" source="keywords">simultaneous polls</keyword>, promising both measures on its successive manifestos.

Most BJP allies keep away from supporting Uniform Civil Code, positive to idea of simultaneous polls

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Orcas just want to have fun.</li><li>Orcas have been ramming boats off Spain, Portugal, and Morocco since 2020.</li></ul>Orcas have been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/portugal-orcas-sink-a-sailboat-and-ram-another-in-atlantic-2022-8">causing mayhem</a> off the coasts of Spain, Portugal, and Morocco for the past several years, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-people-are-trying-to-prevent-orca-attacks-boats-2023-11">driving local sailors nuts</a> by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/orcas-sink-another-yacht-off-gibraltar-2024-5">ramming and bumping their boats</a>.But scientists now believe the orcas actually <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stop-calling-killer-whale-encounters-with-boats-attacks-2023-6">don't have malicious intent</a> — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-killer-whales-orcas-attack-sink-boats-2023-6">they're just being silly</a>.A group of over a dozen scientists and orca experts who've been studying the region's orcas for years <a target="_blank" href="https://archive.iwc.int/pages/download.php?direct=1&amp;noattach=true&amp;ref=22172&amp;ext=pdf&amp;k=">explained their findings in a report</a> from the International Whaling Commission published Friday.The Portuguese and Spanish governments commissioned the report in response to a spate of incidents of a small group of orcas around the Iberian Peninsula ramming into — and sometimes sinking — at least 673 boats since 2020.Despite the damage the orcas have done, scientists believe the orcas are not trying to be aggressive or destructive. Really, they're just bored teenagers looking for a bit of fun."The sea is a very boring place for an animal," Renaud de Stephanis, president of marine life preservation organization CIRCE, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/05/24/killer-whales-attacking-sinking-boats-are-bored-scientists-say/73558157007/">told USA Today</a>. "Imagine if you're a dog or some other mammal, you can interact with objects around you. But in the sea there's not much for the orcas to interact with, so they play with the rudders."Scientists believe young juvenile orcas, who tend to be more curious and exploratory, started the trend, which then spread through the population, according to the report.And orcas, like humans, love following trends.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/orca-killer-whales-are-giant-dolphins-2023-5">highly intelligent and social mammals</a> are known to experience <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/killer-whale-rams-yacht-assumed-first-orca-attack-north-sea-2023-6">fads among their pods</a>. For example, past orca populations have even gone around <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/orcas-hunting-killing-porpoises-not-eating-scientists-confused-2023-10">wearing dead salmon as hats</a>, for no other apparent reason than everyone else was doing it.This long series of boat-ramming incidents could be no different."The orcas don't know that the interactions with the boats causes problems to humans," IWC Scientific Committee Chair Alex Zerbini, who worked on the report, told Business Insider. "For them this is like a game.""The key message is that there is not evidence that this behavior is aggressive or that the whales are 'attacking' the boats," Zerbini added. "This appears to be a fad, which plays a role in the orcas cultural development."But why now? Scientists believe it's likely because the tuna population, the Iberian killer whales' primary food source, has dramatically increased in recent years, giving the orcas more time away from hunting, according to the report.And with all that free time, the apex predators have chosen to have a little fun. But don't worry. Even if an orca does ram and sink your ship, you're <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/orcas-dont-pose-threat-to-humans-boat-encounters-have-risks-2023-6">probably not in danger</a>. No one has been injured in any of the incidents so far.

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