Skip to main content

Millennials are incredibly generous gift givers, says eBay Motors study

ebay motors iphone app car sales
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Gift-giving season is fast approaching, and while you may be deciding between a gift card and a spatula for some of your friends and family members, it looks like Americans as a whole tend to be a bit more, well, extravagant in their presents. According to a new study from eBay Motors, nearly a third of American adults have either gifted a vehicle to themselves or to someone else. As per the Holiday Automotive Gifting Survey, cars are a rather popular gift for a celebration, recognition of a major life milestone, or just the holidays as a whole. And it would appear that eBay Motors is a major marketplace for those looking to make a purchase on someone else’s behalf.

“At eBay, consumer choice and selection are among our top priorities,” said Jay Hanson, eBay’s vice president of North America, merchandising of hard goods. “Having insight into consumers’ preferences and shopping behaviors, including what type of vehicle they’d like to gift themselves or someone else during the holidays, is important for us to leverage as we continue to evolve the online automotive retail experience.”

Recommended Videos

As the generation that is arguably the most comfortable with online shopping, eBay’s study found that millennials are actually the most generous when it comes to vehicle gifting. But don’t worry — we don’t have a ton of teenagers buying cars for one another. Rather, eBay noted, 75 percent of millennial car-gifters are in their late 20’s or early 30’s. And the most generous of all? That would appear to be doting wives, a quarter of whom have gifted cars to their husbands either for the holidays or in celebration of a milestone.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

What kind of cars are we gifting? According to eBay, Ford is the most considered brand among millennials (particularly the Mustang, which is the most wanted “dream car” across generations), whereas Nissan is the most considered brand among Gen-Xers, and Toyota is the most considered brand among Baby Boomers.

So start making your wish lists, friends. And dream big. You never know what generous soul may be looking on eBay Motors on your behalf.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Find Ford gifts for everyone on your holiday list, no really
Ford Accessories used while camping for holiday gifts

When you're shopping for holiday gifts, auto and Ford accessories probably don't cross your mind, at least not initially. Unless, of course, you're planning some gift ideas for the car enthusiast you know. But actually, Ford has a lot of different gift options even for those who aren't big into cars and vehicles. I know, it's an odd proposal but hear me out. From electronics and exterior accessories to truck bed augments, interior gear, and even outdoor-friendly gear -- like for camping -- Ford has a ton of options. Just to provide some examples, first aid safety kits, truck bed camping tents, portable fridges, pet-friendly seat mats, even dashcams, keyless entry systems, and beyond.

You never know, you could find the perfect gift in Ford's accessories lineup.
Shop Now

Read more
Costco, Electrify America add EV-charging stations in three states
costco electrify america add 50 ev charging stations in three states ea chargers 1280

Costco, which had abandoned offering EV charging 12 years ago, is getting serious about resuming the service.

Over a month ago, the big-box retailer once again put its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington, that was made by Electric Era .

Read more
Mini’s infotainment system is very charming, but still needs work
Main screen of the Mini infotainment system

When you think Mini, you probably don’t think of infotainment. Personally, I think of the British flag taillights, the distinct exterior, and the surprising room on the inside. But after driving the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman over the past week, infotainment might well be something I think of more often when it comes to Mini. It’s charming.

It also, however, suffers from all the traps that other legacy automakers fall into when it comes to software design. Mini has something on its hands here — but it still needs some work.
Bringing the charm
The first thing that stood out to me about the system when I got in the car was how fun it was. That all starts with the display. It’s round! No, it’s not curved — the screen is a big, round display sits in at 9.4 inches, and I found it plenty large enough for day-to-day use.

Read more