Porsche, hugs and a long drive: How rides with strangers in luxury cars are healing broken hearts
A new trend called 'city ride' is becoming popular among young women in Chinese cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou and Xiamen. For 99 yuan (around ₹ 1,200), women can enjoy evening car rides with fit, attractive young men in luxury cars.
These men, nicknamed 'man bodhisattvas', are usually university students from wealthy families. They drive cars like Ferraris, Porsches and Rolls-Royces in their free time.
One such man, known online as 'Past as the Wind', is a tall postgraduate student who offers rides in his Porsche for 88 yuan ( ₹ 1,050). He even acts like a friend, boyfriend, or butler during the ride. His booking group has nearly 400 members, according to the South China Morning Post.
Women enjoy the smooth ride, the car's pleasant smell and his friendly nature. The trend is seen as a mix of relaxation and luxury after a long workday. It offers a unique and social way to unwind within city limits.
In Wuhan, a 24-year-old man nicknamed 'Lemon Can' offers Ferrari rides for just 99 yuan for 30 minutes. A racing enthusiast, he says people can enjoy the thrill of the car and also share their feelings about stress or relationships during the ride.
Wang, a graduate from Fujian, is relatively new to this. He has served six women so far, mostly for peaceful evening drives by the sea.
One woman cried for half an hour after a breakup and thanked him with a hug.
'I believe a lot of people need this kind of support from strangers. A car can be a comforting space,' SCMP quoted Wang as saying.
While some worry about safety, as drivers might learn women's addresses, Wang assures that bookings are made through a ride-hailing app, which tracks every journey.
He plans to join his family business soon but is using this time to practise driving and connect with others. For him, the car is not just for speed, but also a place for comfort and support.
One of Wang's clients has told the publication that she now looks forward to finishing work to have fun new city ride with a friendly driver in a luxury car.
Around the world, there have been growing trends that allow people to spend emotional moments with strangers in private.
Professional cuddling, popular in other countries, is slowly gaining attention in India after COVID-19. Many lonely people in big cities find comfort in cuddles.
Global sites like Cuddlist lead this trend, but India has few such services, like CuddleBuddy and Jaadu Ki Jhappi. A 2024 survey shows that 53% of urban Indians face daily stress, and 25% feel low for weeks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Motor racing-Ferrari F1 boss slams disrespectful and damaging rumours
* Attention language in para eight MONTREAL, June 13 (Reuters) - Ferrari Formula One boss Fred Vasseur slammed media reports in Italy that he said were disrespectful and distracting for employees and damaging the team. Speaking a day after seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton defended his boss as the man to lead the team back to the top, Vasseur showed he was hurting as he gave his own personal response. Ferrari are second to McLaren in the constructors' standings, but 197 points behind, and have not won a Formula One championship since 2008. Some media reports in Italy have suggested Vasseur's position is at risk, along with other senior employees, and that driver Charles Leclerc could be looking for a move elsewhere. Hamilton's future has also been questioned. "It's not about myself, I believe, because this I can manage," said Vasseur, who started out saying he would have to remain calm. "It's more about the people of the team. To throw their names like this, I think it's just disrespectful for them, for the family. "Perhaps it's to give shit to the team, but in this case, I don't see the point," he said of the speculation, a comment that could put him in hot water with the governing FIA for using bad language. He suggested it might be the only way some reporters existed. "This is probably more the reason, but it's really hurting the team... when you are fighting for the championship, every single detail makes a difference. From the beginning of the weekend, we are just thinking about this. "If it's their target to put the team in this situation, they reached their goal, but I think it's not like this that we'll be able to win a championship -- and at least not with this kind of journalists around us." The Frenchman said he knew what he was taking on when he became principal in 2023, and could handle it, but it was hard for employees with families to read that their positions might be at risk. He pointed out that Leclerc had a long-term contract and repeatedly said that he wanted to stay. "Each single interview from the beginning of the season, he's telling that he wants to stay with Ferrari, he wants to win with Ferrari, his future is with Ferrari," said the team boss. "But every single Monday, we have articles telling that Charles will go next year. At one stage, I don't know what we have to do." (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Verstappen on top in opening Canadian GP practice after Leclerc crashes
Defending four-time champion Max Verstappen topped the times for Red Bull ahead of both Williams cars in Friday's crash-hit opening practice at the Canadian Grand Prix. The 27-year-old Dutchman, who has won the last three Canadian races, clocked a fastest lap time in one minute and 13.193 seconds to outpace Alex Albon by 0.039 seconds -- after Charles Leclerc crashed in his Ferrari. The session was red-flagged and delayed following Leclerc's accident, in which he was unhurt, but it was a grim early blow for the under-scrutiny Ferrari team following a disappointing start to the season. It was the first time this year that Verstappen has topped a practice session. As the championship-leading McLarens worked on progression with an update package, Carlos Sainz was third in the second Williams, ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Ferrari. Isack Hadjar was sixth for Racing Bulls ahead of Lando Norris in his McLaren, Liam Lawson in the second Racing Bull and Pierre Gasly of Alpine. Leclerc was 10th fastest before his crash. The session was run in mild conditions on a 'green' and dirty track with Haas marking their 200th race weekend by returning to their original livery and Yuki Tsunoda hoping for a boost in form for his 100th race. McLaren were one of the few teams to bring upgrades -- front wing and suspension -- to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where a packed Friday crowd generated plenty of atmosphere. After an early yellow flag when Franco Colapinto spun on his first flying lap, Hamilton briefly topped the times before Verstappen took control, grumbling as he did so that "my steering wheel feels heavy". Ten minutes later, Ferrari suffered a serious early blow when Leclerc, who had gone top, went off at Turn Four, his car sliding into the barriers. "Sorry," said the Monegasque driver. "I'm in the wall. I should have gone straight on." He was unhurt, but his Ferrari suffered serious front end damage. Amid all the speculation about the team's loss of form and the future of team boss Fred Vasseur, this was not the start they needed. After an eight-minute red flag break, Russell re-started the action which continued to provide unexpected thrills as drivers grappled with the conditions -- caused mainly by the circuit's lack of use for the rest of the year. In this period, Russell, Norris and then Hamilton all had twitchy moments or spins before Verstappen, chasing an unprecedented fourth consecutive Canadian win, clocked 1:13.863 to regain the initiative ahead of Leclerc and Russell. Gradually, the track conditions improved permitting Russell to go top in 1:13.535 while Nico Hulkenberg 'kissed' the 'wall of champions' so faintly it was indiscernible before Sainz and then Verstappen trimmed the top lap time again. The Dutchman then went so close to the wall that the circuit recorded the gap as -0 cms. Hulkenberg was within 0.4 cms according to the circuit TV graphic -- enough to avoid trouble in a relatively straightforward session on an improving track. str/nf THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES INC. FERRARI N.V. Mercedes-Benz Group
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
9 hours ago
- Business Standard
India may ease EV localisation rules amid China rare earth export curbs
Many have yet to qualify for PLI disbursements and now face the risk of losing business to Chinese suppliers, three of the people said Bloomberg India is amenable to relaxing the 50% localization it expects from electric vehicle makers and suppliers in return for incentives, after China's curbs on rare earths exports put the goal in doubt, according to people familiar with the matter. Although the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers is yet to make a formal plea for paring the requirement, the industry body's members have flagged the need in various consultations with the government, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. India has advised automakers to import fully-built motors or assemblies to get around the curbs in the short term, they added. The Ministry of Heavy Industries did not immediately reply to an email seeking comments. Suppliers are already scrambling to find alternative supply chains and drawing up potentially costly work-arounds for rare-earth magnets after Beijing in April clamped down on exports of the materials used in traction motors. Prolonged Disruption A prolonged disruption in supplies is likely to make it difficult for manufacturers to meet localization norms under a federal government program that offers cash incentives to automakers and parts suppliers. The so-called Production-Linked Incentives, or PLI, for manufacturers of everything from semiconductors and EVs to textiles is aimed at boosting local manufacturing and broadly reducing reliance on imports. Still, rare earth minerals are essential for the production of permanent magnets which are key to making traction motors used in electric and hybrid vehicles. China's export curbs could force Indian OEMs to import fully made parts, undermining the country's push for self-reliance, the people said, referring to original-equipment manufacturers. Automakers are currently evaluating alternatives — including importing the motors as a whole or as sub-assemblies from China, they said. Double Blow That said, the curbs deal a double blow to Indian auto component makers, who invested heavily in localizing EV parts like permanent magnet synchronous reluctance motors, or PMSRM, and magnet-based assemblies, the people said. Many have yet to qualify for PLI disbursements and now face the risk of losing business to Chinese suppliers, three of the people said. Shipping a motor by sea would add around 2,000 rupees ($23.245) per unit, while air cargo could raise costs by up to 5,000 rupees for electric two-wheelers — a steep hike for a mass-market vehicle part, one of the people said.
