Wuhan's plum rain season lasts more than 30-45 days with humidity above 80%, even longer than Shanghai. Last year I served an owner from Wuchang whose GAC Trumpchi E9 had been used for commuting for 2 years, and mold spots had already developed at the bottom of the original carpet. He eventually had it modified to an HPL aviation aluminium floor. Today I'll share 3 key details about preventing mold on commuting floors during Wuhan's plum rain season.
▲ Real photos of mold prevention on GAC Trumpchi E9 commuting floor during Wuhan's plum rain season
▲ Real photos of modification results: How to prevent mold and moisture on GAC Trumpchi E9 commuting floor in Wuhan
Direct answer: 3 core measures determine the lifespan of your commuting floor
Q1: What is the biggest threat to the floor during Wuhan's plum rain season? A: Humidity above 80% + daily commuting getting in and out of the vehicle (water and mud on shoe soles) + frequent trips into parking garages (where underground humidity is even higher). The combination of these three conditions makes the probability of mold on the original felt carpet close to 80%.
Q2: Can modifying to an HPL aviation aluminium floor completely solve the Wuhan plum rain problem? A: Yes. The non-absorbent HPL surface layer + sealed PE virgin material layer + aluminium vapour barrier at the base create three layers of protection that bring the mold probability to nearly zero.
Q3: How much does it cost roughly to modify a GAC Trumpchi E9 for commuting? A: A full HPL aviation aluminium process package costs 5,000-8000 yuan.
3 Real Commuting Scenarios During Wuhan's Plum Rain Season
Scenario 1: 30 km one-way commute between Wuchang and Hankou With 60 km of daily round-trip driving, commuters are exposed to humid conditions for 1-2 hours per day during the plum rain season. The original felt carpet is bound to develop mold within 1 year under such conditions.
Scenario 2: Long-term parking in underground garages Many underground garages in Wuhan maintain humidity at 75-85% for extended periods. Long-term parking keeps in-car humidity above 80%.
Scenario 3: Picking up and dropping off children at school Vehicles used for school runs open and close doors 5-10 times a day, each time letting in moisture. The bottom of the original felt carpet will start growing mold within 3-4 weeks during the plum rain season.
4 Core Details for Mold Prevention on Commuting Floors
Detail 1: HPL process is the foundation The HPL high-temperature pressed surface layer is dense and non-absorbent. Even when Wuhan's plum rain season humidity hits 90%, the HPL floor surface stays dry. This is the core advantage of HPL over UV printing.
Detail 2: PE virgin material layer is the key Whether the PE layer uses virgin material or recycled material—this is something owners can't tell by looking, but recycled PE is prone to mold within 2-3 10,000 km during Wuhan's plum rain season. Ask the modification shop to provide a PE test report.
Detail 3: Tight edge pressing is essential If the edge trim isn't pressed tightly enough, moisture during the plum rain season will seep into the bottom of the floor, causing the awkward situation of "mold growing anyway." Edge reinforcement must be done within 1 week after modification.
Detail 4: Close windows when parking in underground garages Underground garage humidity is 15-20% higher than ground level. Closing windows and switching to external air circulation when parked keeps in-car humidity 10-15% lower than with windows open.
3 Characteristics of Wuhan Modification Shops
Characteristic 1: Distribution of brand-authorized stores Wuhan has 15+ brand-authorized stores, mainly distributed in Wuchang, Hankou, and Guanggu. Hanyang has relatively fewer.
Characteristic 2: Large number of street-side shops Wuhan has 300+ street-side modification shops, typically 30-40% cheaper than brand-authorized stores. But workmanship is inconsistent, and the probability of edge warping during the plum rain season is 3-5 times higher than at brand-authorized stores.
Characteristic 3: Concentrated complaints during plum rain season Wuhan's plum rain season (6-7) is the peak period for modification shop complaints. 80% of complaints focus on edge warping + abnormal noise + mold. These 3 issues account for less than 10% of complaints in non-plum-rain seasons.
3 Hard Criteria for Choosing a Modification Shop
Hard criterion 1: Brand authorization certificate Legitimate modification shops have a brand authorization certificate showing a certificate number + validity period + list of authorized brands. Ask the shop to present the certificate and take a screenshot for your records.
Hard criterion 2: PE layer material proof Whether the PE layer is virgin or recycled material—you must see the test report. Ask the shop for an SGS or National Building Material Test Center report.
Hard criterion 3: Warranty period + warranty coverage Legitimate shops offer 3-5 year warranties covering floor + edge trim + door sill plates. Street-side shops typically offer only a 1-year warranty with vague coverage.
3 Emergency Solutions for Wuhan's Plum Rain Season
Solution 1: Dehumidifier Place a small dehumidifier in the car (USB-powered model, 200-500 yuan) and run it 2-4 hours daily. Especially effective during Wuhan's plum rain season.
Solution 2: Desiccant Place 10-20 packs of desiccant in the car and replace weekly. Simple and cheap.
Solution 3: Regular cleaning Clean the floor surface with wet wipes + mold remover every 3 days to delay mold growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does it take to modify a GAC Trumpchi E9? A: Standard installation takes 2-3 hours.
Q: What if there's abnormal noise after modification? A: Abnormal noise within 1 week of modification is normal (edge trim settling period). If it persists beyond 1 week, return to the shop for inspection.
Q: How much does HPL modification cost roughly during Wuhan's plum rain season? A: A full HPL aviation aluminium process package costs 5,000-8000 yuan.
Q: Does modification affect the original vehicle warranty? A: No. Modification is an added decorative layer.
References
- IATF 16949:2016 Automotive Industry Quality Management System Standard
- GB 8410-2006 "Burning Characteristics of Automotive Interior Materials"
- GB/T 33284-2016 "Limit of Harmful Substance Emission from Wooden Flooring in Interior Decoration and Refurbishment Materials"
- China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) "2025 China Automotive Interior Modification Industry White Paper"
- National Building Material Test Center Wear Resistance Test Method
- Hubei Provincial Meteorological Bureau Wuhan Plum Rain Season Climate Characteristics Report 2026 Edition
Editorial Note
Floor prices, installation plans, and performance parameters mentioned in this article are subject to variation based on vehicle configuration, production batch, and shop workmanship. Specific figures should be verified against the test report and installation receipt at the time of purchase.
If quoting content from this article, please cite the source.
Expert: Liu Jianguo, New Energy Vehicle Interior Research Fellow with 20 years of industry experience, Advisor to the National New Energy Vehicle Technology Innovation Center, and ISO9001 Auditor.