Spinny experienced a 20% increase in first-time SUV buyers in Q1 2024, with Tata replacing Honda as a top three preferred car brand. The trend shows growing consumer interest in SUVs and demand for features like airbags, sunroofs, and automatic transmissions.
Spinny Sees 20% Surge in First-Time SUV Buyers in Early 2024
Key Highlights
Spinny reports a 20% increase in first-time SUV buyers in Q1 2024.
Tata replaces Honda as a top three preferred car brand.
Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, and Hyderabad lead the demand for used cars.
New Delhi: In the first four months of 2024, Spinny, a leading used car marketplace in India, saw a significant 20% surge in first-time SUV buyers. This marks a considerable rise from 10% in 2023. The data indicates a growing preference for SUVs among Indian consumers, with compact SUVs like the Ford EcoSport, Hyundai Creta, and Tata Nexon emerging as top picks.
Tata Enters Top Three Car Brands
For the first time, Tata has replaced Honda in the top three preferred car brands among Spinny customers. The top three brands are now Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, and Tata. This shift highlights Tata’s increasing popularity in the Indian automotive market.
Top Cities Driving Demand
Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, and Hyderabad have been the top cities generating significant demand for used cars. Spinny reports that 80% of buyers in these regions prefer petrol cars. The trend towards compact SUVs is also noticeable in these cities.
Consumer Preferences Shifting
Spinny’s data reveals an increase in demand for specific features in used cars, including airbags, sunroofs, and automatic transmissions. Manual transmissions still dominate, constituting 70% of purchases, but the demand for automatic cars has risen by 10% compared to last year.
Key Insights from Spinny’s Data (January – April 2024)
Category
Details
First-time car buyers
73%
Home deliveries
25%
Hub deliveries
75%
Online purchases
60%
Women buyers
36% (46% in March alone)
Top three preferred car brands
Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata
Top three preferred car models
Hyundai Grand i10, Tiago, Renault Kwid
Top three preferred colors
White, Grey, Red
Top three SUVs
Ford EcoSport, Hyundai Creta, Tata Nexon
Car finance
54%
Niraj Singh, Founder & CEO of Spinny, commented on the data, stating, “The surge reflects a significant shift in consumer preferences towards versatile and spacious vehicles. We are meeting our customers’ evolving needs by providing a wide array of high-quality cars.”
Rise in Online and Home Deliveries
The first quarter of 2024 saw 60% of Spinny’s sales happening digitally, underlining the growing preference for online transactions. Additionally, 25% of customers chose home delivery, and 50% of all car sales were from dedicated Spinny Parks in cities like Bengaluru, Kochi, Ahmedabad, and Pune.
Increased Car Financing
Over 54% of Spinny’s customers opted for car financing through Spinny loans, a notable increase from 46% last year. This trend is facilitated by easy financing options and a broader move towards digitalization in the car-buying process.
Spinny’s latest data highlights significant shifts in the Indian automotive market, with a growing preference for SUVs, increased demand for specific car features, and a rise in online and home delivery transactions. The inclusion of Tata in the top three car brands further emphasizes changing consumer preferences.
The history of American automobiles is only complete if we mention the ’60s and ’70s when muscle cars were the most common vehicles on the roads. Manufacturers had to develop aggressive designs to complement the powerful engines of these beasts. But sometimes, these vehicles came up with strange designs to stand out in an overcrowded market.
The Bugatti Coupe or the Type 57 Aérolithe
Alf van Beem/Wikimedia
French automaker Bugatti designed and built this concept car in 1935 to showcase their advanced engineering. It had a shortened Type 57S chassis with a magnesium alloy body, also known as Elektron. This feature made it significantly lighter than other cars of its time. Sadly, the Aérolithe only appeared at a few car shows.
Stout Scarab
Greg Gjerdingen/Wikimedia
William Bushnell Stout conceived an idea way ahead of its time when aerodynamics wasn’t a thing. The aeronautical engineer built a car with a smooth, teardrop-shaped profile to minimize wind resistance. He also placed the engine at the rear to improve weight distribution and give the driver more visibility. Scarabs are incredibly rare and valuable collector’s items today.
Plymouth Prowler
Alexander Migl/Wikimedia
The design drew inspiration from classic hot rods and muscle cars of the 1930s, particularly roadsters like the Ford Thunderbird and Chevrolet Corvette. Although it was under the Plymouth brand, they borrowed most of its parts from a Chrysler vehicle. Surprisingly, the Prowler was relatively lightweight due to its aluminum chassis and body panels, contrasting its hefty look.
1934 Voisin C-25 Aerodyne
Marty B/Wikimedia
French aviation pioneer and car manufacturer Gabriel Voisin designed the C-25 Aerodyne during the Art Deco. He kept the weight down with lightweight aluminum, contributing to its performance and efficiency. He added uncommon features like a pneumatic retractable roof and a radial engine, similar to those used in aircraft. The interior had luxurious amenities like adjustable shock absorbers and Lalique ashtrays.
Lotus Europa
Lothar Spurzem/Wikimedia
This distinct GT car was built by British automaker Lotus Cars. The engineers placed its engine behind the driver and passenger compartment before the rear axle. Based on the founder Colin Chapman’s philosophy of “simplify, then add lightness,” the Europa was built with a lightweight backbone chassis covered in fiberglass body panels. Also, it was one of the first cars with Renault engines, twin-cam technology, and a four-wheel-drive.
1932 Ford Speedster
Greg Gjerdingen/Wikimedia
The 1932 Speedster is a custom creation commissioned by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford and the company’s president. He reportedly drew inspiration from European sports cars he had seen and wanted a sporty vehicle for personal use. After Edsel passed, Ford House bought the car for $770,000 after restoration at an auction.
1966 Rolls Royce FAB 1
35mmMan/Wikimedia
The FAB 1 isn’t an actual Rolls Royce model! This piece was a fictional car featured in the 1960s British television series “Thunderbirds” and its subsequent film adaptations. When Rolls-Royce brought the concept to life to promote the film and convey the author Gerry Anderson and his wife Sylvia to the premiere, the unique six-wheeled car broke down.
1963 Chevrolet Impala RPO Z11
GPS 56/Wikimedia
The “Lightweight” was a high-performance machine with a monstrous 427 cubic inch (7.0 liter) V8 engine. The Z11 also had a high-performance camshaft, dual four-barrel carburetors, and a high compression ratio to produce a whopping 430 HP. These features made it the most rugged and classy muscle car of the 60s. Estimates suggest Chevrolet built around 57 Z11s, making them highly collectible today.
1955 Chrysler Streamline X Gilda
Brian Snelson/Wikipedia
In 1955, Italian design house Ghia collaborated with Chrysler to build the Streamline X. Since they built it during the “Jet Age,” it had a sleek, low-slung profile with a pointed nose cone and angled lines to reduce wind resistance. However, the “Gilda,” named by Giovanni Savonuzzi after the Rita Hayworth film noir classic, wasn’t intended for production and remained a concept car.
Dodge Coronet Hemi Sedan
Sicnag/Wikimedia
The most surprising aspect of the Coronet Hemi Sedan was its engine. On the outside, it appeared to be a regular family car, lacking the aggressive looks and spoilers of the muscle cars; however, the mighty 426 cubic inch (7.0 liter) Hemi V8 rivaled machines like the Charger and Challenger. Despite its intriguing potential as the fastest four-door in that period, Dodge stopped its production in 1966.
Peel P50
Philip (flip) Kromer/Wikimedia
This fascinating microcar holds the title of the smallest production car ever made, according to the 2010 Guinness World Records. When you ignore safety, function, and practicality so you can squeeze into small parking spaces, you end up designing the Peel P50. This car is only 54 inches (134 centimeters) long and 39 inches (99 centimeters) wide, accommodating only the driver.
Ford Mustang McLaren M81
Classic and Recreation Sportscars/Facebook
The M81 was a fascinating and short-lived collaboration between Ford and McLaren Engines, a subsidiary of the renowned British Formula One team. Unlike most Mustangs that relied on V8 engines, the M81 had a turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four cylinder engine. According to Ford, the lessons learned from the car’s development and performance testing laid the groundwork for their Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division of the early 1980s.
Vanguard-Sebring CitiCar
Michael Barera/Wikimedia
This unique electric car coincided with the 1973 oil crisis, a period of rising fuel costs and growing interest in alternative energy sources. Although it wasn’t the first of its kind, the CitiCar was relatively affordable and practical for consumers who wanted alternatives to gasoline-powered cars. However, sales were low because nobody wanted to ride in a vehicle with minimal safety features.
1953 General Motors Firebird 1 XP-21
Luistxo/Wikimedia
The Firebird 1 ran on a revolutionary gas turbine engine nicknamed “Whirlfire Turbo-Power.” However, fuel efficiency and reliability were major issues as this single-seater expelled exhaust fumes at 1,250 degrees. Today, a miniature version of the car graces the top of the Harley J. Earl Trophy, awarded to the prestigious Daytona 500 stock car race winner.
1970 Ferrari-Pininfarina Modulo
Morio/Wikimedia
Paolo Martin’s striking design for Pininfarina made the Modulo look more like a futuristic spaceship than a car. He kept it low to the ground (only 35 inches tall!) to reduce wind resistance and improve handling. Instead of conventional doors, the driver entered through a forward-tilting canopy, much like an aircraft. The Modulo has won 22 design awards since its first appearance at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show.
Onvo is a brand new Nio sub-brand, and the L60 electric coupe-like crossover is its first model.
Nio wants to challenge the Tesla Model Y’s position as the world’s best-selling vehicle with an all-new vehicle sold under a new, more affordable sub-brand. It’s called the Onvo L60, and it has an optional ultra-long-range battery that should provide up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) on the Chinese CLTC test cycle.
The CLTC test cycle is more optimistic than even WLTP, which is not as accurate as the EPA test cycle in the U.S. For reference, the Tesla Model Y Long Range is rated in China at up to 688 km (427 miles), so, on paper at least, the new Onvo EV should provide over 40% more range from its battery pack, whose capacity has yet to be disclosed.
Nio wants Onvo to be a strong seller globally
Onvo is a brand new Nio sub-brand, and the L60 electric coupe-like crossover is its first model, which has clearly been benchmarked against the Tesla Model Y to compete with it on global markets.
The biggest battery in the L60 should have more than 100 kWh capacity to achieve the claimed range, even with the very impressive claimed efficiency of just 12.1 kWh/100 km, which equates to around 5.2 miles/kWh. The Model Y is rated at 12.5 kWh/100 km in China, or 4.97 miles/kWh. However, these are CLTC measurements, and achieving the same result in real-world driving conditions will be nearly impossible. The Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD has a combined EPA efficiency rating of 3.5 miles/kWh, which is much closer to reality.
With a starting price in China of 219,900 yuan (about $30,500), it is about 12% cheaper than a Model Y, which starts in China at 249,900 yuan (about $34,600). According to Nio CEO William Li, the L60 is aimed at the fully electric Model Y and the Toyota RAV-4, which is sold in hybrid and plug-in hybrid guise.
Buyers in China can also choose an Onvo L60 without the battery pack, for which they will pay a monthly subscription. Car News China says this version with the battery as a service option will be the most affordable and start at just 170,000 yuan, or around $23,500.
The Onvo L60 is slightly longer than the Tesla Model Y, so it should offer more interior room, but it won’t be quite as practical overall since it doesn’t have a frunk. The L60’s design is very Tesla-esque, though, from the shape of the front bumper, which is like that of a Model 3 Performance, to the side profile and shape of the rear flanks, which look like they’re directly inspired by the Model Y.
Even the shape of the dashboard inside the L60 is reminiscent of a new Tesla, as is the style and placement of the infotainment screen. The latter measures 17.2 inches, has a 3K resolution and is the biggest ever fitted to a Nio vehicle.
Nio wants to take the Onvo brand global by the end of the year, with Europe being the main market of focus outside China. However, we probably won’t see this vehicle or any Nio vehicle reaching the United States, especially since the Biden administration recently quadrupled import tariffs on Chinese cars. The only way around this would be for Nio to manufacture the vehicle in North America.
Whenever families seek my counsel on choosing a new car, my initial recommendation is invariably a minivan. However, the typical response is a reluctance about minivans being perceived as unfashionable. After hearing their concerns, I usually suggest alternatives to minivans that still cater to family needs.
Highlighting the Kia Telluride
The Kia Telluride SX Prestige has emerged as my favored choice for families. This SUV delivers nearly all the functionalities of a minivan, such as substantial cargo space and comfortable seating, but with added capabilities like towing and mild off-roading. It lacks the iconic sliding doors but compensates with its robust features and slightly higher cost compared to top-tier minivans.
Family-Oriented Features of the Telluride
My test drive over 500 miles allowed me to thoroughly evaluate the Telluride’s family-oriented features. For instance, the Passenger Talk feature enables clear communication to the third row without shouting, and Quiet Mode lets you isolate the audio to the front, keeping the cabin serene for sleeping children.
Designed With Families in Mind
The Telluride’s cabin is crafted with families in mind, offering roomy second-row captain’s chairs and easy third-row access with the push of a button. It’s designed to ease the hassle of entering and exiting in crowded family outings.
Climate and Storage Solutions
The SUV also provides independent climate controls for the rear seats, ensuring comfort for all passengers. The cargo capacity is generous, with up to 87 cubic feet available when the rear seats are folded, rivaling the utility of many minivans.
Summing Up the Telluride’s Appeal
Offered at a competitive price of $54,540 as tested, the 2024 Kia Telluride SX Prestige stands out as a formidable alternative to traditional family minivans. It combines the practicality and features suitable for family duties with the aesthetics and performance that might sway those hesitant about minivans.
Surprise! The Ford F-150 isn’t the most stolen truck in American anymore. A close rival is now easier for thieves to take.
We have good news for some truck brands and bad news for others. For years the Ford F-150 was the most stolen truck in America, but now it can step back and relax. One of its rivals has surpassed it as the full-size option most targeted by thieves.
What is the most stolen truck in America?
As of 2023, the most stolen truck in America is the Chevrolet Silverado. It’s the fourth most stolen car overall, behind the Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, and Hyundai Elantra.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), people reported 23,721 Chevy Silverado thefts in 2023. The Hyundai Elantra had 48,445 thefts in the top spot.
The Ford F-150 was the most stolen truck in 2020, 2021, and 2022. So, many people expected the trend to continue.
But in 2023, the Ford F-150 landed in ninth place with only 15,852 reports of theft. On an interesting note, these were the only two trucks to land in the top 10.
2024 Chevy Silverado | Chevrolet
Ford F-150 trucks were a prized target due to part shortages for repairs. Thieves would steal the truck and strip it for valuable parts like the headlights, bumpers, and wheels.
The 2024 Ford F-150 has new theft prevention features. Sensors will send the owner mobile alerts if anyone tries to get in your truck, tow it, or tamper with it. A GPS tracker will detect if the truck moves while the engine is off, as this could mean it’s being towed.
An accelerometer detects if the truck is lifted for towing or to take its wheels. It will also detect if your truck is bumped or disturbed while in park.
The Chevy Silverado 1500 could be targeted for valuable parts such as the catalytic converter. It sells for a high price and is easy to quickly remove.
The debate between motorcycle enthusiasts and sports car aficionados about which is faster has raged for years. Generally, the fastest cars in the world slightly outpace the top motorcycles. However, in many everyday situations, motorcycles often come out on top due to their agility and acceleration capabilities.
Speed Records and Real-World Performance
The highest official motorcycle speed recorded is 376 mph, achieved in 2010. Despite this impressive feat, motorcycles face challenges at extreme speeds, such as maintaining stability and keeping the rider securely on the bike. In contrast, the ultimate land speed record for any vehicle stands at 763 mph, achieved by a jet-powered car, while the fastest wheel-driven car reached speeds of 458 mph. When comparing high-end production models, the Kawasaki Ninja H2R holds the motorcycle record at 249 mph, yet it’s outstripped by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport’s 304 mph as the fastest street-legal production car.
Practical Speed: Everyday Riding vs. Racing
While Formula 1 cars can outperform MotoGP bikes on racetracks due to superior downforce allowing faster cornering, the situation reverses on public roads. An entry-level sport bike can navigate corners quicker than nearly all standard cars, offering a thrilling ride for a fraction of the price. Additionally, motorcycles can navigate through traffic more efficiently via lane splitting and filtering, often making them quicker in urban settings than even the fastest cars.
The Verdict: It’s About More Than Just Speed
Historically, motorcycles have enjoyed a better power-to-weight ratio than cars, making them faster off the line. This advantage is a key reason why many police forces initially used motorcycle units. When choosing between a motorcycle and a car, the decision often boils down to personal preference and the specific needs of the driver. Both vehicles serve different purposes and excel in different scenarios, making them unique tools for different automotive jobs.
Last year, EV automakers couldn’t get anything wrong, but that success hasn’t transitioned to 2024. Automakers focused solely on electric vehicles had a rough first quarter, meaning four top names, Tesla, Lucid, Fisker, and Rivian, have to address challenges to turn things around. How are these EV startups addressing serious challenges? Let’s find out.
Let’s start with Tesla
It seems that Tesla sets the tone for the electric vehicle world, which makes this brand a good place to start. Tesla is the oldest of these EV startups and chose to lay off workers to address the first quarter losses. Unfortunately, firing the entire charging team wasn’t the smartest move, and Tesla has since begun rehiring them. The layoffs impacted other areas of Tesla, including engineering, service, and software groups. Cutting staff can be a double-edged sword, but it’s the direction Tesla CEO Elon Musk chose.
Lucid Air Sapphire | Lucid
How is Lucid addressing its losses?
Lucid is a boutique-style EV startup, producing vehicles in small numbers. Lucid’s goal to build 9,000 cars this year might be in jeopardy after losing $685 million during the first quarter. This figure is better than the Q1 2023 losses of $780 million, and revenue is up to $173 million. Lucid intends to throw money at the problem and has $2.2 billion in cash to offset losses and continue forward.
Fisker Ocean | Fisker
Is Fisker done?
Fisker needs the EV market to be strong to survive. Currently, they only build the Ocean SUV, which might mean Fisker’s end. As one of the newest EV startups, this company was only just getting started when things slammed shut. The company could suffer $75 million in losses, which might be enough to cancel the contract with Magna International of Australia, which currently produces the Fisker Ocean. No more Ocean SUVs will be built, and Fisker doesn’t have another location to build them. Without a fiscal shot in the arm, Fisker may need to declare bankruptcy.
2024 Rivian R1T | Rivian
Rivian throws money at the problem
Rivian faced challenges last year and could be in a good position this year. Revenue is up $661 million, and deliveries are up 71% during the first quarter to 13,588 vehicles. With the new Rivian R2 on the horizon and potential partnerships with commercial companies, Rivian might be in a good position if its cash reserves remain. This company lost $5.4 billion in 2023 and another $1.45 billion during Q1 2024. The cash burn continues but might turn around for Rivian soon.
Will all four of these EV startups survive into the future? It doesn’t look like it, but three of them should remain for at least another year.
In the competitive arena of midsize SUVs, both the 2024 Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder offer robust capabilities. However, the Ford Explorer edges out with superior power and agility. It boasts a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine delivering 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Enhanced by a 10-speed transmission and available in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, the Explorer is designed for dynamic driving experiences. On the other hand, the Pathfinder’s 3.5-liter V6 engine, while respectable, produces 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque, coupled with a nine-speed transmission available in front-wheel and 4WD configurations.
Interior Space and Technology Features
When it comes to interior amenities and space, the Ford Explorer also surpasses the Nissan Pathfinder. The Explorer not only offers advanced technology with its optional 10.1-inch vertical touchscreen but also prioritizes passenger comfort with more generous rear seating space. In contrast, the Pathfinder features an 8-inch touchscreen standard, with an upgrade option to a 9-inch on higher trims. While the Pathfinder provides ample space upfront, it falls short in rear passenger and cargo space compared to the Explorer, which offers up to 87.8 cubic feet of cargo space, against the Pathfinder’s 80.5 cubic feet.
Towing Capacity and Overall Value
Although the Nissan Pathfinder leads slightly in towing capacity, allowing up to 6,000 pounds compared to the Explorer’s 5,600 pounds, this advantage might not compensate for its performance and space limitations for many buyers. Both vehicles are competitively priced, with the Explorer starting at $36,860 and the Pathfinder closely behind at $36,650. This pricing, coupled with the Explorer’s performance and space advantages, might sway buyers towards the Ford model, especially those prioritizing a more robust driving experience and greater utility.
Aston Martin is reportedly considering an addition to its lineup that could shake up the luxury SUV market. Drawing inspiration from Lamborghini’s iconic LM002, the proposed SUV, internally named ‘Project Rambo,’ aims to blend brute strength with the opulence synonymous with the British brand. Positioned as a rugged counterpart to the successful DBX, this new model would offer a high-end alternative to stalwarts like the Land Rover Defender and the Mercedes G-Class.
Design and Performance Prospects
The concept behind ‘Project Rambo’ is to infuse Aston Martin’s design ethos into a vehicle with formidable off-road capabilities matched by on-road performance reminiscent of a supercar. Plans suggest it might utilize the DBX chassis, maintaining aesthetic coherence with the brand’s current design language while introducing unique rugged features. Speculations point towards a possible V12 engine option, aligning it with Ferrari’s Purosangue in terms of power, aiming to create a distinct niche within the luxury SUV segment.
Market Positioning and Production Speculations
While the DBX continues to impress with a streamlined offering, notably the powerful 707 model, ‘Project Rambo’ would potentially take the brand into new territory. With a limited production run envisioned, possibly capped at 2,500 units, exclusivity is a key part of its appeal. This strategy would not only elevate the model’s prestige but also serve to justify a premium price point, potentially incorporating Aston Martin’s formidable V12 engine to solidify its high-performance credentials and distinguish it from the more mainstream luxury SUVs.
Nio Debuts the L60 SUV, Aiming to Undercut Tesla’s Model Y
Nio has unveiled the L60 SUV through its new economically priced Onvo brand, strategically positioning it against Tesla’s well-received Model Y. Revealed in Shanghai, the L60 is priced competitively at 219,900 yuan ($30,465), presenting a 10% cost advantage compared to the Model Y’s 249,900 yuan ($34,500). By commencing orders for the L60 with planned deliveries in September, Nio aims to make significant inroads into the electric vehicle market with this budget-friendly option.
Nio’s Strategy for Expansion and Market Dynamics
At the launch event, Nio CEO William Li underscored the shifting dynamics in smart electric vehicle technology and consumer insights that are shaping new standards for family vehicles. Li pointed out the L60’s designed competitiveness against stalwarts like the Tesla Model Y and the Toyota RAV4. With China’s electric vehicle sector hosting over a hundred manufacturers, Li remarked on the significant consolidation already underway, forecasting a winnowing to 20-30 key players, though he anticipates minimal disruption from this trend.
Infrastructure Development and Future Plans by Nio
Nio’s future plans involve rolling out a new model each year under the Onvo label, targeting primarily families needing more space. This strategy is part of Nio’s broader goal to boost sales significantly, aiming for 20,000 monthly sales. The company has robustly invested in essential EV infrastructure, including pioneering battery-swapping stations and expansive charging networks. These efforts are bolstered by strategic alliances with major Chinese car manufacturers, enhancing Nio’s position in the market and improving user accessibility to EV technology.
