I am farming in the real world

Chapter 203: The Zotye Recall Order That Shook the Automotive World!

The image of this Chinese beaver was referenced from the classic Hong Kong film "A Better Tomorrow," using Chow Yun-fat's character as the basis for the animated model.

Paired with Little Ma's rational speech, even foreigners who didn't understand the Chinese content were drawn in, sparking a craze on Douyin (TikTok) outside of China and becoming a wildly popular Chinese Douyin inspirational meme in the first half of the year.

Chen Jue borrowed and adapted this meme-like video for Zotye Auto's return promotion, which aptly reflected Zotye's ups and downs over the past few years.

"I've been waiting for three years, just for a chance. I want to prove myself!"

As soon as this classic movie line was uttered, Wu Xiaodong, a loyal Zotye fan, immediately understood the underlying meaning.

"What is Zotye doing? Are they starting to play memes officially too?" Wu Xiaodong wondered.

After watching this short video, he flipped through the chat history in the group.

But the further up he scrolled, the more amazed Wu Xiaodong became: "Zotye Owners Recall Order? Old car owners enjoy lifetime free maintenance from today? Trade-in program, future replacement of Zotye's next-generation new models will unconditionally receive a 50,000 yuan voucher?"

"Holy crap!!!"

"Is this poster real?!"

Because according to the official poster issued by the group owner, this time the brand is creating momentum for the return of Zotye Automobile to the market, and has launched an unprecedented gratitude and feedback event.

Like the second one, this kind of disguised 50,000 yuan cash replacement subsidy has been played out by major car manufacturers in order to boost the sales of their models.

Manufacturer subsidies + national subsidies or provincial subsidies, having an old car can offset tens of thousands of yuan.

Just open Douyin and search, there are even zero down payments or even getting paid to take the car, nothing to be surprised about.

But the first one, which surprised all Zotye car owners and friendly car companies, was that Magic Cube Group solemnly promised to provide subsequent lifetime free maintenance and care for the original 180,000 Zotye old car owners.

You need to know that this is not a lifetime warranty, but TMD lifetime maintenance!

Many domestic car companies now, such as Chery, NIO, and Li Auto, have issued slogans and offered lifetime warranty services to car owners who purchase their own brand of cars.

However, this type of service looks confident and gives customers the illusion that the product quality is guaranteed, but in fact it hides mysteries.

First of all, to enjoy the 'lifetime warranty', you must be the first batch of users of a newly launched model.

According to the current degree of competition among major domestic car manufacturers, a brand would be considered unqualified if it does not launch 4 or 5 new cars within a year.

This has led to very bloated car series launched by car companies, with various new models emerging in a dazzling array. Frequent updates and iterations will weaken the tracking of subsequent common problems in the car.

Because new models or iterative models basically use new processes and production platforms, the product quality is not mature due to the lack of data provided by a large number of car owners.

Problems such as breaking down halfway and electronic failures are particularly prominent in new models.

For the first batch of car owners who buy new models, they become the car companies' guinea pigs in a daze.

Although a 'lifetime warranty' is given, if problems occur frequently and you go to the 4S store for repairs, in addition to wasting the car owner's time, you also have to spend extra money.

After all, the so-called 'lifetime warranty' only targets the three major components of the car: engine, gearbox, and chassis.

But every car owner knows that the easiest parts to break on a car are not the three major components, but some vulnerable parts such as rubber sleeves and wiper blades.

In this way, the trap clauses of the 'lifetime warranty' are perfectly avoided, allowing car owners to pay for accessories themselves, and also pay high labor costs and parking fees to the 4S store.

But the 'lifetime maintenance' launched by Zotye Automobile this time is different!

Maintenance and warranty, only one word difference, the treatment is heaven and earth.

"Is it really lifetime maintenance?"

"Free maintenance for every 5,000 kilometers driven?"

"No fees, no tricks?"

Wu Xiaodong felt more and more confused as he swiped through the group messages.

Because after this 'Zotye Owners Recall Order' was launched, the old Zotye car owners all over the country were as excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood, and ran to the local dealers and 4S stores to see the situation.

As soon as they arrived at the store, they put their beloved car on the lift for inspection without saying a word. It was not as simple as changing the oil and filter. All vulnerable parts such as swing arms, shock absorbers, and rubber sleeves were replaced for free, and even the labor costs were not charged.

Even after arriving at the store, there were free working meals, fruits, and drinks, which directly made this group of old Zotye car owners exclaim good guy!

Including the Yiwu Zotye car owners group that Wu Xiaodong joined, many car owners were already on their way to the Zotye 4S store.

There were also some who had already completed the maintenance and started to post and share reception videos and a large paragraph of heartfelt praise in the group, which made Wu Xiaodong feel itchy.

So as soon as he got off work, Wu Xiaodong didn't plan to go out to play or find food. He went straight to the nearest Zotye 4S store.

As a result, when he arrived, he was dumbfounded!

Everywhere he looked was full of various Zotye cars!

From the maintenance area of the 4S store all the way to the gate.

The eye-catching Z-shaped car logo, and the grand occasion of a group of men, women, and children getting out of the car and entering the 4S store to inquire about the recall order, directly stunned the staff of those popular car companies such as BYD, Geely, and Volkswagen next door!

"Damn!"

"What's wrong with Zotye?"

"It's almost off work, why are there so many customers! And they're all staying!"

"It's really a ghost! Isn't Zotye already collapsing? Where did so many old car owners come from?"

Most of the 4S stores are concentrated in the suburbs of a city, or in urban areas with wider land. The purpose is to serve those car owners and facilitate their access to their peers.

As a result, Zotye is doing well. It has been operating bleakly for 8 years and is about to close down with little popularity.

A recall order for old car owners directly mobilized 180,000 Zotye car owners across the country.

Those who inquire inquire, and those who do maintenance do maintenance, directly making the 4S stores in various places bustling with activity.

I'm afraid those in the automotive industry nearby have never seen so many Zotye cars with the Z logo running on the road at the same time in their lives.

When the terms of this 'lifetime maintenance' began to ferment, the car circle and the Internet followed suit!

"I have never seen such a money-losing activity in my life (admire)"

"Zotye seems to have just changed a new boss, too TM rich and powerful! (Awesome)"

"Lifetime free maintenance, how much money will this save car owners in a year? (Stare)"

"A friend of mine drives a Zotye. He used to be despised by a group of us who drive joint venture cars when we went out for drinks and bragging, but now he stands up and laughs at us for spending wronged money at the 4S store every quarter (cover face)"

"The Zotye here is queuing up like crazy! It is said that they are all here to get free maintenance! (Picture)"

Netizens were talking about it, especially those car owners started to share their experiences in the comment area.

In recent years, the per capita income and consumption level in China have been increasing year by year, and the car penetration rate has reached an exaggerated level of one car for every 3 people.

With more people using cars, there are more car owners who have been scammed by '4S stores'.

Everyone gathered in the comment area of the Zotye Jianghu recall order to complain about the high cost of car use. After some calculations, not to mention the fuel and insurance expenses, just in terms of maintenance, it would cost several thousand to tens of thousands of yuan a year.

If you encounter a luxury car owner, the maintenance cost will be even higher.

Like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi, these old brands have come up with a so-called zero-to-retail ratio, which is more expensive to disassemble and sell all the parts than a TM brand new car. Just replacing a headlight assembly costs tens of thousands of yuan.

Looking back at Zotye, with the slogan of 'gratitude and feedback to old car owners', it provides free maintenance to car owners and tries every means to save money for car owners. The purpose is to do a good job in after-sales reputation and brand quality image.

In such a comparison, this publicity offensive of the recall order is almost deified in the car circle!

Especially the 180,000 old car owners who enjoyed the benefits, have been constantly posting photos and service experiences in the past few days, and the bombardment has made the car owners of other brands feel jealous.

"I can't do it anymore! I want to buy a second-hand Zotye! (Cover face)"

"Brother upstairs, you are too late. As soon as this recall order came out, second-hand car dealers across the country went crazy. As long as it is a Zotye car with a Z logo, no matter the condition of the car, you can't buy it for an extra 20,000 yuan in cash on the spot (shock)"

"If this can really achieve a lifetime commitment to maintenance, it is really a car that can be passed down for three generations."

"A brother of mine is in the second-hand car business. He just replaced his Porsche Macan with a Zotye SR9, saying that business is not good and he wants to save money (laughing and crying)"