The Ultimate Transportation-Themed Christmas Gift Guide

Today, we are going to discuss some creative and exciting gifts you can give your friends and family members this Christmas. The theme we have chosen for this gift guide is transportation, a vast and thriving sector that is the backbone of human civilization, facilitating the movement of goods and connecting markets.

Not only is transportation integral to commerce, but it also breaks down geographical barriers for people, allowing them to pursue education, commute to work, access essential services, visit family and friends, and participate in society. All of this is made possible through public transit, ride-hailing, and shared mobility.

Overall, efficient transportation systems are key to economic growth. And the sector has strong growth potential both in the near and long term, driven by modernization, increasing consumer demand, rising global trade, and technological adoption. At the same time, the sector is facing challenges like emissions, congestion, and safety. But through smart systems, the sector can reduce its environmental impact, boost efficiency, and improve accessibility. The rapid adoption of AI, automation, smart routing, and data-driven optimization, meanwhile, can help bring down costs and create competitive advantages.

Amidst this, emerging technologies like self-driving cars, high-speed rail, and hyperloops promise to revolutionize transportation, with these innovations having the potential to make transportation safer, faster, more efficient, and more accessible. So, the way we move is constantly evolving, and with that, the sector is projected to grow steadily in the coming years and continue as the backbone of global trade, consumer goods delivery, and supply chains.

Now, let’s take a look at some great gift ideas for anyone who is interested in vehicles, engineering, or practical driving gear this Christmas.

1. 3D Printable RC Car Project (DIY Engineering Gift)

For the tech enthusiast who loves engineering and innovation, a standard diecast model might feel a bit too static. Instead, consider gifting them a 3D printable RC car project. This is a gift that leverages additive manufacturing technology, allowing the recipient to build their own vehicle from scratch.

Companies like 3D Sets are revolutionizing the hobby space by selling the digital engineering blueprints (STL files) rather than physical boxes. You purchase the files, and then use your own 3D printer to manufacture the car’s body, chassis, gearbox, and suspension components right at home.

This is the ultimate “innovative tech” gift because it transforms the user from a consumer into a manufacturer. The process teaches the principles of mechanical engineering as they print and assemble complex mechanisms like differentials, drive shafts, and functional doors without using glue. It is a hands-on lesson in how modern vehicles are designed and constructed.

The cost for the digital files is typically around $40 to $60. The builder will then need to supply their own filament (plastic material) and non-printable hardware like screws, a motor, and a battery, which can cost another $50 to $100. Of course, the recipient will need access to a 3D printer, making this the perfect gift for the “maker” in your life.

If your recipient doesn’t have a 3D printer but loves high-tech cars, you might also consider the AWS DeepRacer. It is a physical 1/18th scale race car from Amazon designed to teach machine learning. It allows users to code reinforcement learning models to drive the car autonomously, blending transportation fun with cutting-edge AI skills.

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2. Ceramic Coating Kit for Long-Lasting Car Protection

If someone in your family has a car, this is the perfect gift for them, as it can enhance the aesthetics of their vehicle, improve its longevity, and increase its resale value, making a ceramic coating kit a valuable investment in material science.

While traditional car detailing relied on organic waxes like Carnauba, modern kits utilize advanced chemical engineering. These products use liquid polymers containing Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) or even Graphene. When applied, these nanoparticles fill the microscopic pores of the vehicle’s paint, creating a semi-permanent bond.

This technical process results in a surface that is extremely “hydrophobic,” meaning it chemically repels water and contaminants. It provides a level of protection against UV rays, acid rain, and oxidation that old-school waxes simply cannot match.

While hiring a professional to apply a ceramic coating can cost over $1,000 due to the labor involved in paint correction, consumer-grade kits have made this technology accessible at home. These kits generally include the preparation sprays, the nano-coating liquid, and specialized microfiber applicators.

A high-quality consumer kit, such as the AvalonKing Armor Shield IX DIY Kit, typically costs around $70. It is a practical gift that uses chemistry to protect your loved one’s vehicle for a year or more, far outlasting traditional methods.

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3. Desktop Wind Tunnel for Model Cars & Engineering Students

A small desk-sized wind tunnel for scale car models could be another novel and exciting gift this Christmas. If someone in your family has a collection of Hot Wheels cars, this gift will elevate their display while allowing them to have fun with their toys.

In general, a wind tunnel is a tool used to produce a controlled stream of air for conducting aerodynamic experiments.

Engineers use wind tunnels to simulate real-world airflow around a vehicle in a controlled environment. This allows them to test and refine the vehicle’s aerodynamics, which relates to how objects move through the air. These tests help improve fuel efficiency, performance, stability, and safety by reducing drag, increasing downforce, managing heat, and minimizing noise.

For instance, Ford’s state-of-the-art Rolling Road Wind Tunnel (RRWT) enhances aerodynamic research and development for its next-generation electric, hybrid, and gas vehicles. It was used in the development of the Mustang Dark Horse.

In the aerospace sector, Boeing’s Transonic Wind Tunnel is used to test everything from commercial airliners to weapons systems. The most powerful wind tunnel in the world is China’s JF-22, which can reach speeds 30 times the speed of sound.

A desktop wind tunnel, meanwhile, is a compact gadget that simulates airflow over small models like diecast cars using a fan and smoke. It allows users to visualize aerodynamics, turbulence, and drag for both fun and educational purposes. Key features of this scaled-down and accessible version of industrial wind tunnels include adjustable wind speed, internal lighting, and smoke generators for visual effects.

A small desk-sized wind tunnel is perfect for diecast or model-car enthusiasts, offering cool and engaging visuals, and it is also useful for engineering students who want to learn about aerodynamics.

This niche but memorable present can be a bit pricey. For example, Windsible from Fun-Tech-Lab carries a price tag of more than $200 for 1:64 to 1:18 models and can exceed $600 depending on the model and kit. Its package includes the wind tunnel, a fogger, fog fluid, a DC power adapter, a cleaning cloth, and a set of modular fog nozzles. The fogger liquid is formulated to protect diecast models and ensure user safety.

Before making a purchase, make sure to verify the model size and whether the unit includes flow visualization or force sensors.

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4. Driving Simulator Wheel & Pedals (Realistic Training Gift)

Want to help your family members get better at driving? Then a driving simulator steering wheel is the perfect gift to give them this Christmas. It will help them practice car control, understand vehicle dynamics, and improve overall driving skills.

The force-feedback steering wheel and pedal set is engineered for a realistic driving experience, featuring dual-motor force feedback and a leather wheel. Adjustable paddle shifters allow the user to brake, accelerate, and change gears, giving them the sensation of operating an actual car.

Force feedback technology is key here, as it provides tactile sensations such as vibrations, forces, torques, and resistance in response to the user’s actions. This allows them to feel exactly what’s happening under the wheels.

This gift also comes with a fun factor and makes a thrilling present for gamers, as these wheels can be attached to a PC or console for realistic driving and simulator racing. Users can feel every shift, drift, and movement through the steering wheel and pedals, creating a deeply immersive experience.

Driving simulator steering wheels come in a wide range of prices and quality levels, giving you plenty of options depending on your budget.

The popular Logitech G923 TRUEFORCE Racing System costs around $400. Its feedback system connects directly to in-game physics for exceptional realism and features aluminum paddle shifters, a hand-stitched leather wheel, and a pressure-sensitive brake system.

Before buying, make sure the wheel is compatible with the recipient’s gaming platform. For instance, the Logitech G923 is compatible with PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 4 and 5 systems.

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5. GPS Dash Camera with AI Safety Features

You may want to consider giving your loved one the valuable gift of a dashboard camera, or dash cam, this festive season. While this gift may seem too practical and not particularly fun, it can be extremely beneficial for protecting your family members in accidents and providing evidence for insurance claims.

These small, affordable devices are mounted on a vehicle’s dashboard or windshield and capture everything happening in front of them. Recording video while you drive is their primary purpose, allowing them to document not only traffic incidents but also scenic drives, making them great companions for memorable road trips.

Some advanced features offered by dash cameras include GPS tracking, motion detection, parking mode, cloud upload, and emergency SOS.

Why Not Just Use a Smartphone?

You might wonder, “My phone has a 4K camera and GPS; can’t I just mount that?” While possible, dedicated dash cams offer critical advantages that phones cannot match:

• Heat & Durability: Continuous video recording generates massive heat. Sitting on a dashboard in direct sunlight will overheat and shut down a smartphone in minutes, whereas dash cams are built with capacitors to withstand extreme temperatures.
• “Set and Forget” Security: A dash cam automatically powers on and records when you start the engine. A phone requires you to mount it, open an app, and hit record every single trip—a hassle that leads to missing footage when you need it most.
• Dedicated Storage: Dash cams use “loop recording,” automatically overwriting old footage so you never run out of space. A 20-minute 4K video on a phone can eat up gigabytes of storage, quickly filling your device.

To meaningfully reduce driving risk, you do need to invest a reasonable amount in this compact, useful, and often easy-to-install product.

For instance, the Nextbase 522GW, which includes 1440p recording, a 3-inch HD IPS touchscreen, GPS, and a built-in polarising filter to reduce windshield glare and reflections, costs around $180. The Garmin Dash Cam 67W, which offers 1440p HD recording, an ultra-wide 180° field of view, GPS, and voice control, is priced at more than $200. Video clips captured by Garmin’s dash camera can be saved to the secure online Vault, though this requires a paid subscription.

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Investing in the Transportation Sector

Now, if we look at an investing opportunity in the sector, C.H. Robinson (CHRW -0.58%) is an exciting one. It is a leading third-party logistics and forwarding firm that provides a full suite of freight services, including truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), intermodal, ocean, and air freight forwarding; customs brokerage; supply-chain management; and logistics consulting.

The global logistics provider operates through a few key segments, including North American Surface Transportation (NAST), which provides transportation and logistics services and covers both truckload and LTL transportation brokerage services.

Global Forwarding is another segment that provides ocean freight services, air freight services, and customs brokerage, while the All Other and Corporate segment includes Robinson Fresh, which provides sourcing services, and Managed Solutions, which acts as the shipper’s agent.

Through its network, the company manages millions of shipments annually for thousands of customers and hundreds of thousands of carriers. It also uses advanced technology like AI and automation to optimize logistics, pricing, carrier matching, routing, scheduling, and supply-chain management.

The massive scale of C.H. Robinson’s business, combined with its operational efficiency and profit growth, makes the company a viable investment choice.

When it comes to the company’s stock market performance, CHRW shares are currently trading at $150.89, up 48.48% YTD. The $18.12 billion market cap C.H. Robinson has an EPS (TTM) of 4.93 and a P/E (TTM) of 31.09. It pays a dividend yield of 1.64%.

As for its financial results, for the third quarter, it reported “sustained outperformance.” The company’s income from operations increased by 22.6% to $220.8 million, while diluted earnings per share (EPS) increased 67.5% to $1.34. Its net income increased by 67.6% YoY to $163.0 million.

The company generated $275.4 million in cash from operations during this period. A $2 billion share-buyback program was also announced by C.H. Robinson, which indicates strong cash flow and confidence in its future performance.

Its total revenue, meanwhile, decreased 10.9% to $4.1 billion due to lower pricing and volume in its ocean services, lower pricing in truckload services, and the divestiture of the Europe Surface Transportation business, partially offset by higher volume in its truckload services.

Talking about the seven consecutive quarters of consistent outperformance, CEO Dave Bozeman noted that they are “on the right path to deliver sustainable outperformance.”

C.H. Robinson’s model, he noted, is highly scalable, and they expect to improve it further as the company harnesses “the evolving power of AI to drive automation across the quote-to-cash lifecycle of a load.” The company, he added, “is still in the early innings of our Lean AI journey,” calling it the third inning in NAST and the first inning in Global Forwarding.

Lean AI is the company’s disciplined approach to AI innovation, with which it aims to “maximize value and minimize waste for better outcomes.”

A year ago, during his first investor day as CEO, Bozeman shared that they are looking to grow market share and expand overall operating margins, with a special focus on technology, for which they partnered with Microsoft (MSFT +0.2%) and began using Azure AI.

“We went in hard with AI. It’s a game changer for us and particularly for our scale,” Bozeman said at the time, adding that he’s “building a new company,” which is going to be an “easy bet to invest in because it’s a market leader.”

Click here for a list of top logistics stocks for global trade growth.

Conclusion

From roads and highways to waterways and the skies above, transportation shapes our world in many ways. It is, in fact, critical for our interconnected society to be productive and keep it moving forward. As the sector continues to evolve through innovation, sustainability efforts, and cutting-edge technology, transportation remains a powerful force shaping global growth and everyday life.

So, this holiday season, with options like a diecast car, a dash cam for safety, or an immersive driving simulator, give your friends and family the gift of creativity, engineering, and excitement that are defining transportation in the real world.

Click here for a list of holiday aerospace-themed gifts.