A 2018 J.D. Power China Initial Quality Study found that the second-most prevalent problem among new car buyers was excessive fuel consumption. By a two-to-one margin the top complaint was “unpleasant interior smell/odor.” China is the world’s largest market for new car sales. Auto manufacturing companies, therefore, have taken great efforts to eliminate odors from new cars sold in China. Among various control actions, Ford was awarded a US patent in 2020 for a process to bake-out the VOCs contained in auto interior seats, carpet, plastics, etc., that are responsible for new car odor.
US consumers generally favor new car odor. The differences in consumer sentiments about odor between one country and another, results from many influences. Perception of harm is one influence. For example, see article Investigation of volatile organic compounds exposure inside vehicle cabins in China, 2015. The article found that VOCs in new vehicles in China included benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene, acetaldehyde, acetone, and acrolein. The International Agency for Research on Carcinogens classifies benzene and formaldehyde as human carcinogens. The other chemicals may cause various health problems including upper respiratory irritation. Information in the referenced article may reach consumers in many ways, including word-of-mouth.