While Western drivers like the 'new car' smell fresh off the production line, Chinese would rather their cars didn't smell of anything - a cultural divide that's testing car makers seeking an edge to revive sales in the world's biggest auto market.
At Ford Motor Co, for example, 18 smell assessors - dubbed "golden noses" - at its research plant outside the eastern city of Nanjing test the smell of each material that goes inside a Ford car to be sold in China and around Asia.
[...] A J.D. Power report last year showed that unpleasant car smells were the top concern for Chinese drivers, ahead of engine issues, road noise or fuel consumption.
— Read more at Ford's 'Golden Noses' Seek Edge in Slowing China Car Market at The New York Times.
Ugh ugh ugh I wish all cars (new, used, rental!) came smelling of absolutely nothing. Ugh. I don’t like plasticizer; I don’t like those stupid stinky hanging car trees. I want scentless. Ugh.
Pretty sure mine did come smelling of nothing. If it was fake scented, it must have faded quickly!