15 YouTubers who are seriously influencing the automotive market
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If you visited this website in 2005, you may not have known it, but YouTube will become one of the biggest players in the automotive industry. At first it was just a great way to share harmless videos of cute babies and cats, but over the years something has changed; people started taking user-uploaded videos seriously.
The revolutionary concept that anyone in the world can record and upload videos to YouTube at any time has created a whole new world of consumer criticism unimaginable in previous decades. If before you needed a platform to discuss a certain topic, you could write a letter to a newspaper or call a radio station and hope it works. We now live in a world where literally anyone with a mobile phone can potentially start their own online show if they want to.
Currently, the problem is not a lack of resources to create or upload videos, but to get people to view your work! Luckily for the next YouTubers, people are watching. These are some of the most popular YouTube accounts dedicated to cars and car culture. Like many popular social media influencers on Instagram, YouTubers are important because so many people seem to care about what they have to say. And that could potentially make or break the success of a car company. Here are 15 great YouTube accounts that could very well influence your next car purchase or your favorite car company.
15 Chris Harris on cars
This YouTube channel only existed on October 27, 2014, but very quickly established itself as an important one.
At the time of this writing, it has amassed over 37 million views and over 407,000 subscribers.
On his about us page, Chris Harris writes that his channel is "home to fast cars (and some slow ones) that drive with little regard for tire durability." In his numerous videos (more than 60 on the channel at the moment), he can be seen driving luxury cars such as the Audi R8, Porsche 911 and Aston Martin DB11. Part of the fun of this channel is how much fun Harris seems to be having and how he discusses cars in a style that is instantly likable.
14 1320video
1320video is a channel specifically focused on street racing culture. With over 817 million views as of this writing and over 2 million subscribers, they definitely must be doing something right. They stated that their goal is to provide "the best street car videos in the United States!" On 1320video you'll find videos with titles such as "Leroy drives ANOTHER Honda!" and "TURBO Acura TL? This is a first for us!”
Some of their videos are quite long, over half an hour long. This is a prime example of a YouTube channel that takes their content seriously: they approach their uploads with the same level of commitment as a regular "TV show".
13 TheSmokingTire
TheSmokingTire is another great YouTube channel for car enthusiasts. They describe themselves as "the premier destination for automotive video reviews and adventures." They also define their content by making an important distinction between their channel and others: "No Hollywood, no bosses, no bullshit."
What people love about TheSmokingTire is their honesty; on many of their car review videos, they will add the phrase "One Take" to the title.
This lets us know that they have done nothing to cure what we are seeing. It also gives us the illusion that we perceive the car as it really is.
12 EVO
EVO is an automotive channel that introduces itself with "Expert reviews of sports cars, supercars and hypercars to the limit, explored the world's greatest roads and in-depth videos from car showrooms." They have over 137 million views and over 589,000 subscribers. When you look at their videos, it's easy to see why they have a lot of fans:
EVO is another automotive YouTube channel that takes the idea of a car review really seriously. Their videos have beautiful photos and they present the information in an informative yet entertaining way. Videos on the EVO channel are also typically 10 minutes long. This is great for internet shows; it's long enough to tell us something about the cars they're reviewing and short enough to give viewers enough time to watch a few videos.
11 Jay Leno's garage
Jay Leno found the perfect life after TV: a YouTube show. Jay Leno's Garage is one of the most popular car channels. With over 2 million subscribers, the channel has really benefited from Jay Leno's previous popularity and success as a late-night TV host.
What's really great about the show is that Leno genuinely loves cars; The show explores not only cool sports cars, but also classic cars, vintage cars, and even mods and motorcycles.
This is a great show that dives deep into almost every aspect of automotive culture.
10 Car and Driver magazine
Most car enthusiasts are very familiar with Car and Driver Magazine, but their willingness to adapt to YouTube is what sets them apart. They have a great YouTube channel that was created in 2006, making them one of the first to use technology among the YouTube bloggers included in this list.
They described their goal for the channel by saying, "Car and Driver brings the world's largest automotive magazine to YouTube. We bring you the latest and greatest in the world's automotive industry; From expensive exotic supercars to new car reviews, we cover everything.” They have amassed over 155 million views; it is clear that Car and Driver Magazine is a major player in the automotive industry. A negative review from them can really affect the success of a car.
9 EricTheCarGuy
EricTheCarGuy is such a great YouTube channel that it's actually a bit more successful than other automotive channels that have been launched before.
It also has over 220 million views, far more than, for example, Car and Driver Magazine, a publication that you would expect to be better.
Why is EricTheCarGuy so successful? Where this channel really excels is in capturing what other channels lack; EricTheCarGuy doesn't just do car reviews, it gives you practical advice that you can use. The channel has helpful videos such as "How to replace a Honda K series starter the easy way" and "How to replace a Mini Cooper S (R56) clutch and flywheel". EricTheCarGuy has also uploaded over 800 videos!
8 Shmee150
Shmee150 is a little different from this list because it's a channel specifically dedicated to "supercars". As Tim, channel founder, describes it: “I’m Tim, Living the Supercar Dream with McLaren 675LT Spider, Aston Martin Vantage GT8, Mercedes-AMG GT R, Porsche 911 GT3, Ford Focus RS, Ford Focus RS. Race Red Edition, Ford Focus RS Heritage Edition and BMW M5, join me on my adventure!
In his many videos, you will see Tim testing many luxury cars. In a recent video, he can even be seen driving the BMW Z8 popularized by James Bond. This is one of the best channels, especially for sports car lovers.
7 Carbayer
Carbuyer is an incredibly helpful channel where viewers can find out about all the latest cars (and a bit older cars, of course). While the channel is especially aimed at UK residents, the information found on Carbuyer is undeniably helpful.
They have videos ranging from 2 to 10 minutes long; the channel has mastered the art of uploading easily digestible content without sacrificing quality.
As they put it, “Carbuyer makes buying a car easy. We are the only car brand endorsed by the Plain English Campaign, providing you with clear, concise and easy to understand information about the things that really matter when you are choosing – and buying – your next car.”
6 Coach
Autocar is another great publication that predated the invention of YouTube. It was first introduced in the UK in 1985 and very quickly gained popularity around the world. Autocar was also quick to adapt to the new media landscape created by YouTube and they launched their channel in 2006. Since then, they have amassed nearly 300 million views and over 640 subscribers.
Autocar is a great source of information about cars from people who are serious about culture. They stated, "Our hosts include some of the world's top automotive journalists who have unrivaled access to the world's fastest, rarest, most exotic and most exciting cars on some of the world's best roads and racetracks."
5 Mr JWW
While many YouTube car enthusiasts seem to be older generations who finally get a chance to check out their dream cars, Mr. JWW is a channel run by a young man who has fully embraced the blogging culture that has now come full circle with social media. What really makes this channel memorable: Instead of just focusing on cars, Mr. JWW also talks about his lifestyle in his various videos.
On his channel's description page, he lists "Supercars, Sports Cars, Travel, Culture, Adventure" as his main focus areas.
The great thing about this is that the automotive content isn't forgotten at all: it's a great balance of automotive videos and less car-focused content. There are videos of a YouTuber answering questions, but there are also a few videos of car reviews in exotic locations.
4 Supercars of London
Supercars of London was another channel that was one of the first to use YouTube. Founded in 2008, just three years after YouTube launched, the channel has established itself as the go-to source for all things automotive. The channel's about page gives the following intro: "If you're new to SupercarsofLondon, expect high-octane videos, fun moments, and beautiful supercars and locations!"
This is a classic combination that really can't be beat; on the channel you can see cars like the Porsche GT3, Audi R8 or Lamborghini Aventador driving around the city while the host entertains you. In 2018, the channel turned ten years old, and for good reason it has become a mainstay for car enthusiasts.
Where Donut Media really excels is that they combine a deep passion for cars with a light-hearted sense of humor.
They describe their channel as "Donut Media. Making car culture pop culture. Motorsport? Supercars? Auto news? Car pranks? It's all here."
These guys may not seem like an influencer, but that's the beauty of their channel. In fact, they have over 879,000 subscribers and over 110 million views. What's impressive is that the channel was only launched three years ago. For a channel still in its infancy, it has already earned the following.
2 Kelly Blue Book
The Kelley Blue Book is simply one of the best resources on YouTube for learning about cars. They describe themselves as "a trusted resource for fun and informative new car reviews, road tests, comparisons, showroom coverage, long-term tests and vehicle-related performance." It's not like any channel would say to get followers because Kelley Blue Book is truly a unique channel.
Here you will find videos in which they give detailed reviews of new car models. They do not distinguish between high performance vehicles and more pedestrian vehicles; they cover it all. In their latest videos catalog you will find reviews from Honda Odyssey to Porsche 718.
1 MotorsportMiddle East
MotoringMiddleEast is a great example of what a successful YouTube channel should look like. While the "Middle East" part of the name might seem like it's a super-niche channel that's only for people living in that particular region, you'd be surprised how enjoyable this channel's videos are.
MotoringMiddleEast has over 3 million views and despite what the name might suggest, the channel has begun to highlight automotive culture around the world.
The host of this show, Shahzad Sheikh, is likable and keeps things interesting yet informative. This is another channel that talks about cars in detail, with some videos being over half an hour long.
