With autumn temperature swings prompting drivers to keep windows shut, cabin odour is back on the radar for many Chinese car owners. PCauto, a Chinese auto media outlet, highlights a practical fix for the Lynk & Co 03: replacing the factory floor mats with a TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) set from Feiting (飞艇), which claims to keep the interior free of unpleasant smells through cleaner materials and verified testing.
Where the smell comes from
According to PCauto, cabin odour typically traces to three sources: the air-conditioning ducts, seat upholstery, and the floor area. Floor mats sit at the lowest point of the cabin, close to the air-recirculation intake. When the heater runs, the mats are among the first components to warm up, and if the material is not clean, the heat can spread odour throughout the car. The outlet suggests checking the floor layer early in any smell-hunting exercise.
Feiting’s TPE anti-stain mats use virgin TPE in the base layer and a stain-resistant carpet layer on top, both said to be free of the sharp plastic smell that some budget mats release. The company says low-cost alternatives often emit a strong odour straight from the packaging that lingers even after airing out, because the raw material itself is the problem.
Testing and daily use
The mats have been tested by EMTEK (信测) under the VDA270:2022 standard across three temperature points—23°C, 40°C, and 80°C—covering normal, warm, and hot-sun scenarios. The odour rating came in at 2.0 to 3.0, described as perceptible but not uncomfortable. Formaldehyde in both the TPE layer and the carpet pile was reported as not detected (ND). PCauto notes that such data should be read alongside the test conditions, which also cover winter heater use.
Beyond odour, the mats are pitched for durability and easy cleaning: the TPE layer resists repeated stepping and scuffing from children’s shoes, and its dense surface prevents debris from embedding. The carpet layer drains water quickly, so a damp cloth can handle most spills. Regular cleaning, the article argues, removes the dirt that can become a breeding ground for smells.
For buyers, PCauto suggests three quick checks: smell the mats as soon as the package is opened, feel the TPE surface for a dry, dense texture, and ask about the odour test—what conditions and what grade. These steps, the outlet says, turn “odour-free” from a marketing claim into a verified fact.
While the article focuses on the Lynk & Co 03, the advice applies to any car with carpeted floors. As the window-closing season arrives, the author concludes that choosing the right material at the source beats relying on air fresheners or ventilation.
