Mark Matousek

Some Virgin Atlantic pilots are planning to strike from December 22 through December 25, the Professional Pilots Union (PPU) told Business Insider. The strike will involve members of the PPU, which represents around of a third of Virgin Atlantic's pilots, a Virgin Atlantic representative said. Virgin Atlantic does not recognize the PPU.

The planned strike is motivated by Virgin Atlantic's decision to exclude the PPU from discussions about potential changes to pilot benefits, the PPU said. The December 22 through December 25 strike will be followed by strikes from December 30 through January 2 and January 4 through January 7.

Read more: I took a short flight on a Delta Boeing 717 — here's why it's now my favorite plane

A Virgin Atlantic representative told Business Insider that a "small number" of its pilots planned to strike and said the airline did not expect any disruptions to its flight schedule.

"Our absolute priority is to ensure that all of our customers can continue their journeys as planned this Christmas, and we’re working hard to protect all of their trips," the representative said. "We don’t expect any disruption to the flying programme."

"We hope that Virgin acknowledge the mandate our members have given us, and help avoid strike action by recognizing the PPU and halt the benefits review that is so damaging to our members long-term security," a PPU representative said. "Our door is — and has always been — open to Virgin to take the necessary steps to prevent any disruption for Christmas travelers."

Some Twitter users expressed concern over the planned strike.

"Not good news - let's hope they change their minds," one Twitter user <a href="https://twitter.com/katrina_Travel/status/1071063150412357632" id="1a8bbab9-fcff-36e2-a35b-7b4de91a08fa"> wrote </a> .

"Virgin pilots striking on 22/12 to 25/12. Not very happy to say the least, have absolutely no clue where we stand," another <a href="https://twitter.com/ClandyDayz/status/1071066048479289345" id="1a776464-fb07-30a5-ac68-768ef3b7ee4c"> wrote </a> .

Here's what people are saying on Twitter:

NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/paint-lights-up-glow-electric-lumillor-2018-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="b17eae3b-9899-3ffc-a3c6-0f389b37c26d"> This spray paint lights up at the flip of a switch, but it's not glow-in-the-dark </a>

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chevy-bolt-review-best-features-and-charging-challenges-2018-8?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">I drove a $44,000 Chevy Bolt for a weekend and saw just how far electric cars have come — but I also discovered a huge problem</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-executive-departures-list-2018-9?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Tesla's top lawyer has left the company — here are all the key names who have departed this year</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/infiniti-qx50-suv-luxury-review-photos-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">We drove a $50,000 Infiniti QX50 luxury SUV to see if it's ready to rival Audi, Acura, and BMW. Here's the verdict.</a> </li></ul>

SEE ALSO: Here are the best airlines for 2018 according to The Points Guy

Some Virgin Atlantic pilots are planning to strike on Christmas — and customers are freaking out

New York City is the first US city to adopt a minimum wage for drivers working for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.

The city's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) said on Tuesday that it passed rules that will require "high volume" drivers of for-hire vehicles to receive a wage per trip that corresponds to $27.86 per hour, or $17.22 after expenses. The rules will go into effect in mid-January.

"New York City is the first city globally to recognize that the tens of thousands of men and women who are responsible for providing increasingly popular rides that begin with the touch of a screen deserve to make a livable wage and protection against companies from unilaterally reducing it,” TLC chair Meera Joshi said in a statement.

According to the commission, the rules will result in the equivalent of a $10,000 annual raise for 96% of New York City's Uber, Lyft, <a id="a15b20b4-dda3-34a1-a7a7-2ca8f1987749" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/juno?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> Juno </a> , and <a id="dd6237f2-7a66-3277-a470-6765699fd7a0" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/via?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> Via </a> drivers. A report commissioned by the TLC found that median earnings for high-volume drivers of for-hire vehicles decreased by over 10% between 2016 and 2017.

Read more : <a id="8b842765-c0dc-3803-aa08-4d3e16a10beb" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gridwise-helps-uber-lyft-drivers-maximize-earnings-across-apps-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> The company that's empowering ride-hailing drivers already has 20 million miles of data under its belt — and its launch in the US' hottest market should have Uber and Lyft very worried </a>

Representatives for Uber and Lyft told Business Insider that the companies disagreed with the wage floor, saying it would have a negative effect on prices and driver behavior, respectively.

"The TLC’s implementation of the City Council’s legislation to increase driver earnings will lead to higher than necessary fare increases for riders while missing an opportunity to deal with congestion in Manhattan’s central business district," an Uber representative said.

"The TLC’s proposed pay rules will undermine competition by allowing certain companies to pay drivers lower wages, and disincentives drivers from giving rides to and from areas outside Manhattan. These rules would be a step backward for New Yorkers, and we urge the TLC to reconsider them," a Lyft representative said.

A Via representative did not indicate that the company opposed the wage floor.

"As the industry leader in driver earnings in New York City, we are looking forward to working with the TLC on implementing this rule," the representative said in a statement.

Juno did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

The New York City Council in August <a id="f93b2d42-f9a1-3b7d-a06a-640405076b1c" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-city-council-uber-lyft-drivers-hiring-minimum-wage-2018-8?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> voted in favor </a> of establishing a minimum wage for ride-hailing drivers and preventing ride-hailing services from hiring new drivers for a year. The decision came after a <a id="a2a03be8-e6ee-3c73-ab34-bba88678bb08" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-lyft-creating-traffic-cities-bruce-schaller-2018-7?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> report </a> from transportation analyst Bruce Shaller that said ride-hailing services increased traffic congestion.

In July, the New York Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board <a id="d106b2be-7a1b-3bcb-aab0-496b54aa6f4f" href="http://fortune.com/2018/07/21/uber-drivers-employees-new-york-unemployment/"> issued a ruling </a> that requires Uber to provide unemployment benefits for its drivers.

NOW WATCH: <a id="af86523a-d567-3dd0-ac1a-daa4ed33ff97" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-you-shouldnt-be-afraid-to-fly-2016-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> Why you shouldn't be afraid to fly, according to a pilot with over 20 years of experience </a>

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gridwise-helps-uber-lyft-drivers-maximize-earnings-across-apps-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">The company that's empowering ride-hailing drivers already has 20 million miles of data under its belt — and its launch in the US' hottest market should have Uber and Lyft very worried</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-uber-pay-rates-hurt-earnings-drivers-say-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Uber's new rates are designed to make driver payout more consistent, but some say it has decreased their earnings</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cars-at-la-auto-show-2018-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">The 24 hottest cars at the LA Auto Show</a> </li></ul>

SEE ALSO: Uber's new rates are designed to make driver payout more consistent, but some say it has decreased their earnings

New York City just became the first US city to set a minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers

The electric vehicle startup Faraday Future has put at least 250 employees on furlough, <a id="9e40ea22-32c3-3f9e-ad43-6c0c9f30c56e" href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/4/18123791/faraday-future-furloughs-evergrande-layoffs-money-jobs"> The Verge </a> reports. The automaker has reportedly decreased its US workforce from around 1,000 employees as of October to under 350.

Faraday confirmed in a statement to the press that it had put additional employees on furlough, but the automaker did not disclose the number of employees who had been affected. The statement said the automaker had received interest from investors and hopes to solve its funding problems within three months.

Read more: <a id="8b842765-c0dc-3803-aa08-4d3e16a10beb" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gridwise-helps-uber-lyft-drivers-maximize-earnings-across-apps-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> The company that's empowering ride-hailing drivers already has 20 million miles of data under its belt — and its launch in the US' hottest market should have Uber and Lyft very worried </a>

Faraday has attributed its financial difficulties to one of its investors, Evergrande Health, which the automaker claims has failed to make scheduled payments while preventing Faraday from seeking outside funding. Evergrande <a id="67e94cb9-655f-303e-a862-f09ae23d73d7" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/faraday-future-trying-to-terminate-2-billion-investment-2018-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> said </a> in an October filing on the Hong Kong stock exchange that Faraday had not met the terms necessary to receive the disputed funding.

Evergrande did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

According to The Verge, Evergrande had wanted Faraday CEO Jia Yueting to resign from director positions at other companies affiliated with Faraday and to give up his controlling stake in the automaker. Faraday and Evergrande reportedly failed to reach a resolution over whether the automaker had fulfilled those two requirements, and Faraday is attempting to cancel its $2 billion deal with Evergrande.

The automaker says it is awaiting the results of an arbitration case against Evergrande, though it was allowed in October to seek a maximum of $500 million in outside funding, according to an Evergrande <a id="80cf3196-0fbe-328f-a11a-445b692eaf4b" href="http://www3.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2018/1025/ltn20181025967.pdf"> filing </a> .

This latest round of furloughs follows a round of <a id="e8f06540-ae63-3c00-a3ec-e944db2a7a80" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/faraday-future-laying-off-workers-and-cutting-salaries-by-20-2018-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> layoffs and wage cuts </a> first reported by <a id="341cd7b0-69b0-397f-af05-449c38a23528" href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/22/18009658/faraday-future-layoffs-salary-cut-jia-yt-evergrande"> The Verge </a> in October. Nick Sampson, one of the automaker's founders, reportedly resigned in October, saying Faraday Future is "effectively insolvent" in an email to employees.

Faraday Future was founded in 2014 and has struggled to build its planned FF91 electric SUV amid financial concerns. The automaker has faced lawsuits and liens from suppliers who claim they have not been paid, and the first pre-production version of the FF91 caught fire hours after it was shown to employees and their families, according to <a id="2cd6a182-4da8-312b-ac16-e0a6d6b76639" href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/7/17930524/faraday-future-evergrande-investment-jia-yueting-fire"> The Verge </a> .

Yueting, who is also the founder and chairman of the Chinese tech company LeEco, last year had <a id="ec0c0290-d9ad-3d9d-abaf-dbfc84b78297" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/leeco-jia-yueting-assets-frozen-amid-cash-crunch-2017-7?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> $182 million in assets frozen </a> by the Chinese government because of unfulfilled loan payments.

You can read Faraday Future's full statement below:

FF’s recent financial crisis was brought about by investor Evergrande Health refusing to make its scheduled payments. The investor has further breached its contractual obligations to FF and refused to release its liens over FF’s assets as it was required to do. This has resulted in making it more difficult for FF to achieve short-term financing through asset-backed loans resulting in the current temporary cash flow difficulties. This action has unequivocally harmed FF employees worldwide, our suppliers, our partners and all of our reservation holders. We are filing the new emergency relief application on the main arbitral tribunal soon. Since the ruling may be delayed by two to three months, FF will continue to experience a negative impact on our already very tight cash flow, therefore we unfortunately must take further cost-reduction measures to deal with the current financial situation which includes putting additional employees on furlough beginning this week. We are grateful to all of the one thousand global employees, especially hundreds of employees in the US who are willing to stay and continue to work on the FF 91 production and delivery as well as those who will be on a temporary furlough. This was an extremely tough decision to make, and we recognize the emotional stress and financial strain this puts on people’s personal lives. In addition, we take our relationships with our suppliers seriously, and we hope to receive support and understanding from our global partners as FF overcomes our difficulties. The FF executive team is receiving interest from investors from around the world who see strong value in FF’s seasoned tech and automotive management. We will continue to push forward on the delivery of the hyper-performance FF 91 luxury vehicle and secure our medium- and long-term strategies. We hope to solve the funding issue in 2-3 months.

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/r-audi-to-invest-14-billion-euros-in-e-mobility-self-driving-cars-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Audi plans to spend $15.9 billion on electric and self-driving cars in the next 5 years</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cars-at-la-auto-show-2018-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">The 24 hottest cars at the LA Auto Show</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-production-astonishing-says-porsche-north-america-ceo-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Porsche's North America CEO praises Tesla, says its production volume is 'truly astonishing'</a> </li></ul>

SEE ALSO: 32 electric cars you'll see on the road by 2025

Faraday Future is reportedly putting at least 250 employees on unpaid leave

Cruise ships have a reputation for fostering a party culture among employees fueled by long hours and cheap drinks available at crew-only bars. But social drinking can turn into self-medication, according to Brian David Bruns, who worked as a waiter for Carnival Cruise Lines for 13 months between 2003 and 2004 and wrote a book, "Cruise Confidential," about the experience.

Bruns told Business Insider that the stress and loneliness of working on a cruise ship made alcohol an attractive coping mechanism.

"It's a very stressful job, so you want to release that stress with your friends and your colleagues," he said.

Read more: Working on a cruise ship can be brutal — but 2 lawyers who rep cruise-line workers explain why even terrible cruise-ship jobs can be attractive

Cruise ship employees often work on contracts that run for less than a year, which leads to frequent turnover, Bruns said. Drinking makes it easier to deal with the constant departure of friends while making new ones.

"Drinking makes you connect faster," Bruns said. "It helps ease the pain of people leaving."

Bruns said he worked around 80 hours per week as a waiter, which often meant waking up just a few hours after finishing his final shift. Alcohol would make it easier to fall asleep, but as his tolerance increased, so did the amount he needed to drink to unwind, Bruns said.

"You're in the heat of battle and then, suddenly, it's over and you realize you're going to be back on duty in six hours," he said. "So you do a shot to help you fall asleep. And then it becomes two shots. And then it becomes four shots because you get acclimated."

During his time as a waiter, an outside observer would likely have determined that he developed a drinking problem, Bruns said.

"I'm sure any third party would observe me and say I had a problem," he said. "It can happen very quickly where you go from a social drink to self-medicating because of loneliness."

Have you worked on a cruise ship? Do you have a story to share? Email this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com.

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-production-astonishing-says-porsche-north-america-ceo-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Porsche's North America CEO praises Tesla, says its production volume is 'truly astonishing'</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cars-likely-to-become-collectors-items-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">10 mainstream cars that are likely to become collector's items</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/frontier-plane-engine-cover-falls-off-during-flight-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">A Frontier flight was forced to make a surprise landing after the plane's engine cover fell off after just 30 minutes in the air</a> </li></ul>

SEE ALSO: A lawyer who represents cruise passengers reveals the one thing you need to know before getting on a cruise ship

A former cruise ship waiter describes why the party culture on cruise ships isn’t as fun as it seems

To decrease the number of negative thoughts you have, you first need to recognize when you're in the middle of a negative thought, according to former NASCAR and IndyCar driver Danica Patrick.

"We can’t fix what we don’t see," she said on Mondayat Business Insider's IGNITION 2018 conference.

Once you become aware of your negative thought patterns, you can begin to correct them, Patrick said. When you find yourself having a negative thought, you can replace it with a positive one.

"You end up not having as many negative thoughts. You become a more positive person," she said. "Those negative things that you used to think, they don’t even resonate with you anymore."

Read more: The life and career rise of Danica Patrick, the most successful woman in the history of racing

Patrick, who retired from racing in May, said her retirement from the sport was inspired in part by the negative feelings it produced.

"I didn’t like being in that environment. I didn’t like having a bad race and feeling so angry," she said. "I just had to get away from it."

Outside of racing, Patrick has written a <a id="615ca835-d6d4-3f67-a894-1a4b7b17d6d6" href="http://www.prettyintense.com/"> fitness book </a> , designed a <a id="35c370db-e465-3ee7-a3f9-c9baae4c642e" href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=35871X943606&amp;xs=1&amp;isjs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hsn.com%2Fshop%2Fwarrior-by-danica-patrick%2F15984&amp;xguid=6bde1008caccca703c336342ddab3cfb&amp;xuuid=da8020caacf03b9ce92374c8c430a322&amp;xsessid=&amp;xcreo=0&amp;xed=0&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Fdanica-patrick-entrepreneurship-career-changes-ignition-2018-2018-9&amp;pref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Fcategory%2Fdanica-patrick&amp;xtz=300&amp;jv=13.12.1-stackpath&amp;bv=2.5.1?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> clothing line </a> , and opened a <a id="03f94c3f-f828-37d1-a1fe-5adf053e961b" href="https://www.somniumwine.com/"> vineyard </a> .

See who's speaking now — check out the livestream of Business Insider's IGNITION 2018:

NOW WATCH: <a id="bb0ceb62-a90b-3d04-aca5-012425f99653" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-wwe-wrestlers-learn-to-fight-at-ny-wrestling-school-2018-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> Inside an intense training session where aspiring WWE wrestlers learn how to fight </a>

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bi-insider-panel-2016-9?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Share your opinion — become a BI Insider!</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/irs-tax-return-filing-instructions-2018-1?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Tax Day is April 15. Here's what you can expect when filing under the new tax law</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ryan-toysreview-7-year-old-makes-22-million-per-year-youtube-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">A 7-year-old boy is making $22 million a year on YouTube reviewing toys</a> </li></ul>

SEE ALSO: The man who predicted that Amazon would buy Whole Foods now expects the tech giant will soon be the world's fastest-growing healthcare company

Former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick explains how she reduced the number of negative thoughts she has

Porsche North America CEO Klaus Zellmer complimented <a id="53b95b73-efe0-335d-a62a-1a5e9b99688b" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/tsla-stock?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> Tesla </a> in an interview with <a id="2b0ddf85-60fb-34b9-ab5c-c84a4b3fbac3" href="https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hy-auto-show-porsche-taycan-qa-20181130-story.html"> The Los Angeles Times </a> published on Friday, calling the automaker's pricing and production level "astonishing."

"If you look at what Tesla has done, if you look at their volume and look at their price level, it’s truly astonishing," Zellmer told The Times. "If you can do that with one brand and a sales network that is not comprised of dealers and a real sales organization, it’s even more astonishing."

Read more: 5 reasons why Elon Musk should rescue a GM factory in Ohio

Tesla has increased its rate of production since introducing its Model 3 sedan, which is less expensive than the automaker's other vehicles, in 2017. The first year of Model 3 production was subject to significant delays, though the vehicle played a large role in Tesla reaching an all-time high in quarterly production, 80,142 vehicles, during the third quarter of this year. The automaker has said the base version of the Model 3 will at some point cost $35,000, though the vehicle currently starts at $46,000.

Tesla's approach to sales stands apart from the rest of the auto industry's. Rather than licensing the right to sell its vehicles to independent dealerships, the automaker operates company-owned stores. In bypassing traditional dealerships, Tesla has run into trouble in some states, like Texas and Michigan, that forbid auto companies from selling their vehicles directly to customers

Porsche is preparing to begin production of a rival to Tesla's Model S sedan, <a id="c231eadd-d1fb-3c8f-a068-3e3f1bec8f62" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/porsches-tesla-rival-will-be-called-the-taycan-details-2018-6?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> the Taycan </a> , in 2019. The automaker has said the Taycan will be able to <a id="b0df6e10-3723-37e5-ac79-e77ac6ecbf1e" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/porsche-reveals-new-mission-e-new-photos-details-2018-2?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> drive at high speeds </a> for a longer amount of time than the Model S.

Have a Tesla news tip? Contact this reporter at <a id="42e6a41e-9642-3550-a1b1-5465bf2b60d3" href="mailto:mmatousek@businessinsider.com?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> mmatousek@businessinsider.com </a> .

NOW WATCH: <a id="c6234e0d-f950-3720-ae5b-e0986261add8" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bugatti-chiron-drivable-life-size-built-lego-2018-9?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> This LEGO Bugatti Chiron is drivable — here's what it can do </a>

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-says-more-video-games-coming-to-tesla-cars-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Elon Musk says Tesla will bring more video games and other Easter eggs to its cars — but one obvious choice won't be included</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cars-at-la-auto-show-2018-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">The 24 hottest cars at the LA Auto Show</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/r-tesla-achieves-model-3-production-of-1000-cars-per-day-electrek-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Tesla met its goal of making 1,000 Model 3s per day</a> </li></ul>

SEE ALSO: The 24 hottest cars at the LA Auto Show

Porsche's North America CEO praises Tesla, says its production volume is 'truly astonishing' (TSLA)

Each year, the classic car insurance company Hagerty releases the Hagerty Hot List, which includes the 10 mass-production vehicles made by mainstream automakers the company believes are likely to gain value over time and become collector's items.

The list's goal isn't to promote the obvious contenders — like supercars made by the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini — but, rather, to highlight more affordable cars, some of which might not immediately come to mind for classic car enthusiasts.

Read more: The 20 best cars you can buy that cost less than $65,000

To qualify for the list, a vehicle must have a suggested retail price from its manufacturer of less than $100,000 and be available for the model year in which the list is released.

The <a id="e49149c2-f575-32ad-a2bc-5dede8da15a2" href="https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2018/04/11/hagerty-hot-list-of-future-collectibles-2018"> 2018 list </a> includes entries that surprised Hagerty CEO McKeel Hagerty, like the Kia Stinger GT and Honda Civic Type R.

"I never would have envisioned a Kia Stinger as a collectible car," he said in an interview with Business Insider.

Hagerty said he was also surprised to see two Jeeps,the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and Wrangler, on the list. While the auto industry is shifting to meet increasing consumer demand for SUVs, crossovers, and trucks, Hagerty said they tend to be less enjoyable to drive than smaller vehicles.

"SUVs are the hot type of car, but they're not often that fun," he said.

According to Hagerty, SUVs tend to feel like they were conceived by focus groups rather than designers with a sense of aesthetics.

"Focus groups design bad cars," he said."There's just a fear in corporate America. People are afraid to take risk."

If there's a trend that runs through the cars on the 2018 Hagerty Hot List, it's the tendency to appeal to a niche in the auto market, like the Audi RS 3, which Hagerty said is geared toward a "tech-forward, European buyer," and the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, which favors "performance capability over practicality."

While the auto industry may make the bulk of its money from vehicles that appeal to a wide range of consumers, the cars that will age best could be the ones that fit the specific needs of a specialized customer.

Here are the vehicles that made the 2018 Hagerty Hot List and the explanations the company gave for their inclusion.

<a id="78e9ee41-6e2f-3b67-a121-fbc261cb068d" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cars-likely-to-become-collectors-items-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest#/#audi-rs-3-1"> See the rest of the story at Business Insider </a>

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-says-more-video-games-coming-to-tesla-cars-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Elon Musk says Tesla will bring more video games and other Easter eggs to its cars — but one obvious choice won't be included</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-one-thing-you-need-to-know-before-getting-on-a-cruise-ship-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">A lawyer who represents cruise passengers reveals the one thing you need to know before getting on a cruise ship</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/audi-e-tron-gt-concept-photos-specs-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Audi just revealed a new electric concept car and its stunning design rivals Tesla's Model S</a> </li></ul>

SEE ALSO: The glorious history of the Ford F-Series truck, America's best selling vehicle for 36 years

10 mainstream cars that are likely to become collector's items

The Los Angeles Auto Show begins on Friday and runs through December 9 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Major automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, as well as startups like Rivian and Byton, will show off production and concept vehicles. This year's lineup includes vehicles that represent the auto industry's present and future, from gas-powered SUVs and pickup trucks like the 2020 Lincoln Aviator and 2020 Jeep Gladiator to electric vehicles like the BMW Vision iNext and Rivian 1T. Some vehicles will be available before the end of 2018, while others won't be ready until 2021.

Read more: The glorious history of the Ford F-Series truck, America's best selling vehicle for 36 years

The LA Auto Show marks the beginning of a six-month period in which automakers will show consumers what they can expect to see in showrooms over the next few years. Following the LA Auto Show will be the Consumer Electronics Show and Detroit Auto Show in January, the Chicago Auto Show in February, and the New York International Auto Show in April.

These are the 24 hottest vehicles you can see at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.

<a id="0e8c808b-82c5-3f80-aa8d-3c3262fd8322" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cars-at-la-auto-show-2018-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest#/#2020-hyundai-palisade-1"> See the rest of the story at Business Insider </a>

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hyundai-unveils-palisade-family-suv-to-take-on-honda-toyota-and-ford-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Hyundai just introduced an all-new family SUV to do battle with Honda, Toyota, and Ford</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mazda-mazda3-sedan-hatchback-debut-la-auto-show-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Mazda just rolled out the stunning and innovative new Mazda3 right as Ford and GM bails on small cars</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/audi-e-tron-gt-concept-photos-specs-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Audi just revealed a new electric concept car and its stunning design rivals Tesla's Model S</a> </li></ul>

SEE ALSO: The Kia Stinger is Business Insider's 2018 Car of the Year

The 24 hottest cars at the LA Auto Show

<a id="a22ee6d6-c27c-3b59-a7a6-45cffb90332e" href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/AAPL-Quote?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> Apple </a> has been the gold standard for retail since it ignored conventional wisdom and opened its first store in 2001. Since then, other companies have tried to match its first-class customer service and design instincts.

While <a id="b0efeede-0d1d-376d-a919-8ca007b690bf" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/MSFT-Quote?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> Microsoft </a> made its fortune on software, including Windows and Office, its expansion into hardware products like the Xbox and Surface tablets and laptops made the idea of a retail store a more realistic possibility. The company opened its first in 2009.

In January, I visited each company's flagship store on New York City's Fifth Avenue to see which offered the better retail experience.

The usual location, beneath its signature <a id="dcb6318e-dc99-3d3c-ab5b-596d0e38a064" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-will-rebuild-iconic-glass-cube-store-5th-ave-new-york-city-2017-9?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> glass cube </a> , was being renovated, so the store had been temporarily moved to a building next to the construction area.

<h1> While the stores exterior looked different, the companys design principles and retail philosophy were intact inside. </h1>

While Apple has tweaked the stores since their debut in 2001, they continue to emphasize minimalism, encourage interaction with Apple products, and feature personable employees.

<h1> The stores layout was even clearer from above. </h1>

<h1> Apple Stores encourage customers to interact with products by eliminating distractions. </h1>

The Fifth Avenue store prevented clutter by displaying a limited inventory and doing away with signs and price stickers. As a result, my focus was immediately directed toward trying the products.

<h1> Apples display strategy is similar to a luxury clothing or jewelry store. </h1>

It's no coincidence Apple put its flagship New York City store near luxury brands like Cartier, Bergdorf Goodman, and Louis Vuitton. The store even had an employee dusting off its products.

<h1> The second floor showed off some recent tweaks. </h1>

When <a id="750eeb1a-f1df-3a9c-aaab-dbb6005f1fbc" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/angela-ahrendts-values-key-to-success-2018-1?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> Angela Ahrendts </a> became Apple's senior vice president of retail and online stores in 2014, one of her priorities was <a id="ea427c59-93d0-3a4a-a952-2a42e0b771e3" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-stores-get-biggest-makeover-in-15-years-2016-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> improving the displays </a> for complementary products like phone cases.

The cases caught my attention as soon as I arrived on the second floor. That the brightest cases were above eye level — so they would be visible even if people were standing in front of them — spoke to Apple's attention to detail.

<h1> The store also did a good job of creating opportunities for customers to interact with complementary products. </h1>

On both floors, multiple people occupied many of the display tables.

<h1> It was difficult to find tables empty enough to get a clear view of the products. </h1>

<h1> Ahrendts also wanted Apple Stores to host classes where customers could learn how to use their products. </h1>

During my time at the store, I saw an Apple employee teaching a class about taking photos with iPhones. He used conversational language, an interactive display, and simple examples to make the lesson accessible for customers of all skill levels.

<h1> In my experience, Apples retail employees have always been exceptional. </h1>

I had an excellent experience at this store in 2017 while having my laptop fixed, and over the years I've been impressed by how personable and attentive Apple employees tend to be — even when the store is packed.

<h1> I went to the Microsoft Store next. </h1>

Microsoft's Fifth Avenue location opened in 2015. It's just a five-minute walk from the Apple Store.

<h1> Its clear Microsoft took inspiration from Apple. </h1>

While the product spacing and focus on interactivity reminded me of the Apple Store, there was a little too much sensory stimulation on the first floor. In addition to three large screens in the middle and on the sides of the room, I heard two songs playing at once. (This was most likely the result of a DJ program customers could demo.)

<h1> The store also took a similar approach to customer service. </h1>

On the second floor, customers could either seek help at a communal table that resembled Apple's Genius Bar or sit at individual tables for more personalized service.

<h1> The first-floor displays were a little busier than Apples, but still clean enough to make the products inviting and accessible. </h1>

<h1> But the variety of products the store sold was a double-edged sword. </h1>

While the store was clean and organized, it could have benefitted from placing more inventory in back rooms and making the products stand out more. This display divided my attention among several items.

<h1> The upside was that the Microsoft Store was more likely to show you something you havent seen before. </h1>

For example, each of the three floors had a virtual-reality section. I tried two of them and came away excited about the idea of owning a VR headset.

<h1> In general, the store reflected Microsofts strategy to appeal to a customer base more focused on processing power ... </h1>

Apple, meanwhile, positions its products as luxury items that are aesthetically pleasing and easy to use.

<h1> While Microsofts store wasnt as coherent as Apples, it gave customers more opportunities to be surprised by items they might not already own. </h1>

Apple wants customers to buy into a network of products that look and feel similar. The advantage is that if you own an iPhone, for example, it's pretty easy to figure out how to use an iPad. There's less overlap between Microsoft Office and an Xbox; they provide more differentiated experiences and higher learning curves.

Apple's product strategy and aesthetic brilliance gave its store an edge over Microsoft's. Each of the items in Apple's Fifth Avenue store was intuitive, and the minimalist design never made me feel overwhelmed.

Microsoft's store had a more difficult task in trying to sell a range of products that don't necessarily look like one another or operate in similar ways. While you're more likely to come across a product that's completely different from something you own, you probably don't want to spend the time necessary to get a grasp on a video-game console or DJ software when you're in a crowded retail environment.

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dunkin-donuts-original-vs-dunkin-store-future-photos-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">We compared Dunkin's first store to its brand-new 'store of the future' — and it showed how far the coffee giant has come</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-cyber-monday-best-sellers-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Amazon reveals the best-selling items that it says helped Cyber Monday become its biggest shopping day in history</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/target-best-buy-black-friday-empty-photos-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">I visited Target and Best Buy on Black Friday — and I couldn't believe how empty they were</a> </li></ul>

SEE ALSO: Amazon's emphasis on 'the Turkey 5' reveals Black Friday and Cyber Monday as we know them are dying

We compared Apple's and Microsoft's flagship stores in New York City — and the winner was obvious (AAPL, MSFT)

Shopping for a car can be overwhelming.

Even if you know what kind of vehicle you're looking for, you have to decide on the brand, model, and model year you'd like, as well as the dealership you want to use, whether you'd like to buy new or used, and whether you want to buy or lease.

Where do you start your research? Which sources can you trust? What's a reasonable price?

The <a id="836240b5-5eeb-3323-a6ab-e2dd590827bd" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-car-buying-program-explained-2018-3?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> Costco Auto Program </a> attempts to eliminate some of that uncertainty.

Read more: How to use your Costco membership to rent a car

In the past five years, <a id="4797676a-ca03-38ce-acd6-72ee7ac3d0e8" href="https://www.costcoauto.com/aboutus.aspx"> over 1 million Costco members </a> have purchased a vehicle through the program, which allows members to research and compare vehicles, calculate monthly payments, and get a discount at participating dealerships through the <a id="818fb135-12d9-3722-addb-bba380d13272" href="https://www.costcoauto.com/"> program's website </a> or call center.

While the size of the discount varies based on the vehicle's class, brand, and model, a Costco Auto Program representative told Business Insider in March that the average discount was over $1,000 off a vehicle's average transaction price.

And since the program is available only to its members, Costco has plenty of reasons to vet dealers and salespeople so their customers don't end up feeling tricked and blame Costco.

"We're not just providing leads to dealers — we're creating a referral," Rick Borg, a Costco Auto Program senior executive, told Business Insider in March.

Here's how using the Costco Auto Program is different from the average car shopping process.

<h1> 1. You have to be a Costco member to use the program. </h1>

This may sound obvious, but while nonmembers can use some of the program's <a id="495e9d99-1441-3f85-abc0-36153f6095c3" href="https://www.costcoauto.com/research/tools.aspx"> research tools </a> , only Costco members are eligible to get the discounted price.

<h1> 2. Multiple strands of research are condensed into one place. </h1>

One of the most difficult parts of shopping for a car is figuring out where to start and end your research, especially if you don't read car reviews for fun.

The Costco Auto Program brings reviews, safety ratings, a financial calculator, and a vehicle-comparison tool under one roof.

While it never hurts to compare research from multiple sources, the program's website provides a good place to start.

<h1> 3. Your choice of dealerships and salespeople is limited. </h1>

Borg said Costco works with one dealership per brand in a defined geographic area around a Costco warehouse — and at each participating dealership, only a handful of salespeople are authorized to work with customers shopping through the program.

He said Costco picks dealerships based on prices, customer satisfaction index scores, and reputations on social media. Authorized salespeople are also evaluated based on their customer satisfaction scores and must work at their dealership for at least six months before they are eligible to work with the program.

But the limited number of dealerships and salespeople makes things a little more difficult for customers who don't end up satisfied with the first dealership Costco recommends. While Borg said Costco can point customers to other participating dealerships, they may not be geographically convenient.

<h1> 4. Costco has already negotiated the price. </h1>

Negotiating the price of a car can be intimidating. While the dealership has much of the information — inventory, the dealership or salesperson's proximity to their sales goals, the average discount customers receive — you want to get the lowest possible price.

Borg said Costco takes a holistic approach when negotiating prices with participating dealerships, looking at national and local prices for a model as well as what customers can find through other discount programs.

And since it has a large membership base it can funnel to selected dealers, it has more leverage than any individual shopper.

<h1> 5. You have a multibillion-dollar company behind you that can help resolve disputes. </h1>

If Costco's <a id="45b322d6-15e0-3081-a9c5-d4db34df7073" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/costco-trader-joes-ikea-best-return-policy-2018-3?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> incredibly generous return policy </a> is any indication, it will bend over backward to retain its members.

Buying a car is a much bigger investment than a grocery trip, and the company doesn't want its members to associate it with a $40,000 purchase they regret.

Borg said that while the company is "fairly selective" about which dealers it works with, it also provides customer support before and after a purchase.

If, for example, a customer finds a scratch on a car immediately after buying it and it falls outside the warranty, Costco can at least serve as a mediator between the customer and dealership.

"Are we going to advocate for members? Absolutely," Borg said.

He added that if a dealership were concerned about who would be responsible for cosmetic damage like that, Costco is "certainly going to step in and have a conversation with the dealer and ask them to do the right thing."

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-top-sellers-walmart-target-best-buy-costco-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Black Friday spending soared to record highs — here were the top sellers at Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, and more</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-showroom-and-mercedes-dealership-comparison-pictures-2018-4?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">We visited a Tesla store and a Mercedes-Benz dealership — these are the most striking differences between the two</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/old-navy-sales-growth-2018-8?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">We visited Old Navy and saw why it's Gap's biggest asset</a> </li></ul>

SEE ALSO: I visited Target and Best Buy on Black Friday — and I couldn't believe how empty they were

People are obsessed with buying cars through Costco instead of just going to a dealership — these are the biggest differences between the two (COST)

Tesla vehicles will receive new video games and other Easter eggs before the end of this year, CEO Elon Musk said on Thursday via Twitter.

"Super fun software Easter eggs coming to all Tesla S/3/X cars before the holidays! Romance mode, toilet humor &amp; more video games," he said.

Tesla declined a request for comment on what "romance mode" and "toilet humor" referred to or what additional games it will include in its vehicles.

Read more: Tesla's cars are full of hidden Easter eggs — here the coolest ones

When a Twitter user asked Musk if a version of the Nintendo racing game "Mario Kart" would be included in Tesla vehicles, Musk said Nintendo didn't give Tesla permission to license the game.

"We tried. Nintendo won’t license it to us," Musk said of Tesla's effort to include the game in its vehicles.

In October, Tesla said it included <a id="c8add892-6576-3b78-a508-43781d9ed01b" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-releases-new-software-update-features-2018-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> classic Atari video games </a> as hidden Easter eggs in its latest software update, but didn't specify which games were available. Musk <a id="24e75349-4ee6-3393-af10-ae90aa2bc536" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-video-games-tesla-apply-2018-8?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> said </a> in August that he had hoped to include "Pole Position," "Tempest," and "Missile Command" in the software update.

Four games were available as of early October, according to a <a id="7e2cf09b-079c-36ed-a866-efce52f20acf" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgN_60ljQKM"> video </a> from the YouTube channel, "What's Inside? Family," three of which Musk had not mentioned in his August tweet.

These are the games that were available in Tesla vehicles as of October, as well as the ones Musk has said he wants to include.

<a id="cb67ae97-6442-3c1d-a3eb-59af24001856" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-says-more-video-games-coming-to-tesla-cars-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest#/#asteroids-1"> See the rest of the story at Business Insider </a>

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/audi-e-tron-gt-concept-photos-specs-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Audi just revealed a new electric concept car and its stunning design rivals Tesla's Model S</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/r-daimler-to-start-making-electric-cars-in-china-in-2019-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Daimler will take on Tesla by starting electric car production in China next year</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-autopilot-1-billion-miles-driven-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Tesla vehicles have racked up one billion miles driven on Autopilot</a> </li></ul>

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk said 'nobody ever changed the world on 40 hours a week' — and he couldn't be more wrong

Elon Musk says Tesla will bring more video games and other Easter eggs to its cars — but one obvious choice won't be included (TSLA)

The Canadian musician and producer Grimes released a new song, "We Appreciate Power," on Wednesday.

Grimes's record label, 4AD, said in a press release that the song is written from the perspective of a pro-artificial intelligence propaganda group.

Mark Matousek

Articles written by the author

Some Virgin Atlantic pilots are planning to strike on Christmas — and customers are freaking out

New York City just became the first US city to set a minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers

Faraday Future is reportedly putting at least 250 employees on unpaid leave

A former cruise ship waiter describes why the party culture on cruise ships isn’t as fun as it seems

Former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick explains how she reduced the number of negative thoughts she has

Porsche's North America CEO praises Tesla, says its production volume is 'truly astonishing' (TSLA)

10 mainstream cars that are likely to become collector's items

The 24 hottest cars at the LA Auto Show

We compared Apple's and Microsoft's flagship stores in New York City — and the winner was obvious (AAPL, MSFT)

People are obsessed with buying cars through Costco instead of just going to a dealership — these are the biggest differences between the two (COST)

Elon Musk says Tesla will bring more video games and other Easter eggs to its cars — but one obvious choice won't be included (TSLA)

Grimes — the indie musician dating Elon Musk — has a new song her label says will make AI overlords 'less likely to delete your offspring'

Elon Musk said Tesla owners will be able to use their phones to summon their vehicles from 'across the continent' in a few years (TSLA)

A Southwest Airlines plane suffered a cracked windshield while trying to land in Kansas City (LUV)

BMW is showing off a new SUV to compete with the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS

Audi just revealed a new electric concept car that puts Tesla's Model S to shame

Working on a cruise ship can be brutal — but 2 lawyers who represent cruise-line employees explain why even terrible cruise-ship jobs can be attractive

Elon Musk says people need to work around 80 hours per week to change the world (TSLA)