Americans love "that new car smell." But @Ford's "golden nose" oder testers know that the Chinese don't like it: https://t.co/81W0zrNdrq pic.twitter.com/el1m3shrn6
— Autoblog (@therealautoblog) July 31, 2017
It's a fact: Americans love that new-car smell. Jasper drivers buying pre-owned cars might even hang an air freshener scented like "new car" just to give their older ride a premium feel.
This is not the case in China, where chemical smells are avoided at all costs.
Ford Motor Company uses smell-testers to ensure their new vehicles smell just right, no matter where in the world they're sold.
Like connoisseurs of fine wine, Ford's "golden noses" have an extra-sensitive sense of smell, and can pick up on delicate odors others might miss. For vehicles going to the U.S. market, smell-testers pick out materials with fragrances Americans love, like leather and a hint of rubber. For vehicles sold in China, the testers look for scents that are barely perceptible, to create the most odor-free car possible.
The difference comes down to air pollution.
Jasper may have its share of shops and industry, but it's surrounded by green foothills. Even in big U.S. cities, smog levels don't come close to what Chinese urbanites have to deal with, where industrial emissions have been linked to millions of deaths. Air pollution has become a major concern for consumers there, so it's no wonder a rubbery-smelling new car raises eyebrows.
