10 Years of Evolution in Commercial Vehicle Modified Flooring 10 : From Burlap to Aviation Aluminium Floor
I have been in the industry for 25 years and have personally witnessed the evolution of commercial vehicle flooring from "a piece of burlap" to "aviation aluminium + HPL". This 10 -year evolution is not only about the advancement of materials, but also a microcosm of China's commercial vehicle modification culture. Today, using 5 era milestones, I'll clearly explain this history.
▲ Real-life photos of the 10-year evolution of commercial vehicle modified flooring: from burlap to aviation aluminium floor
I. 5 Era Milestones
Era 1: Burlap / Carpet Era (2010–2014)
Craft Features
- Material: Automotive burlap / woven carpet
- Craft: Cut + Paste
- Price: 200–500 yuan
- Lifespan: 1–2 years
Historical Background
Around 2010 , commercial vehicle modification was still in the "small workshop" era. Most modification shops were a combination of tailoring shops + auto repair shops. Skilled craftsmen cut burlap and glued it onto the original vehicle floor.
Representative Models
- Buick GL8 (the first-generation hit for business reception)
- Toyota Alphard (early imports)
- Honda Odyssey
Real Experience
An owner who had burlap flooring installed in 2012 recalled: The burlap feels soft underfoot, but after 1 years it was filthy. Each removal cleaning cost 200 yuan. Over 3 years with 3 replacements, the total cost exceeded 1500 yuan— more expensive than just buying HPL outright.
Era 2: Wood Flooring Era (2014–2017)
Craft Features
- Material: Burmese teak / African ebony / South American teak
- Craft: Solid wood flooring + waterproof paint
- Price: 2000–5000 yuan
- Lifespan: 3–5 years
Historical Background
Around 2014 , business reception began to pursue a sense of "prestige", and solid wood flooring became a new choice. Teak + African ebony were the symbols of high-end at the time.
Representative Models
- Buick GL8 Luzun
- Toyota Alphard
- Mercedes-Benz Viano
Real Experience
An owner who had solid wood flooring installed in 2015 told me: Solid wood looks premium, but it's afraid of water, sun, and heavy objects. After 3 years, obvious cracking appeared, and ultimately everything had to be torn out and reinstalled.
Era 3: UV Printing Era (2017–2020)
Craft Features
- Material: UV printing + aluminium plate
- Craft: Direct UV ink printing + ultraviolet curing
- Price: 2000–4000 yuan
- Lifespan: 3–5 years (scrapped after fading)
Historical Background
This was the explosive period of UV printing craft, with the core advantage being diverse colours + low price. For a time, thousands of UV printing modification shops sprang up across the country.
Representative Models
- Almost all MPV and large SUV models
- Modification shops covered second- and third-tier cities nationwide
Real Experience
The "3–5 year fading" issue of UV craft is an industry consensus— this is a physical limitation of the UV process, unrelated to the brand.
An owner who chose UV craft summarised: "UV is suitable for short-term use or limited budgets; for long-term use, upgrading to HPL is recommended."
Era 4: HPL High-Temperature Press-Lamination Era (2020–2024)
Craft Features
- Material: HPL laminate layer + 200 -micron aviation aluminium + virgin PE
- Craft: 120℃ + high-temperature press-lamination for 30 + minutes
- Price: 5000–12000 yuan
- Lifespan: 10+ years
Historical Background
HPL craft originated in Europe. After 5 years of technical accumulation by domestic manufacturers, mass production was achieved around 2020 . HPL craft completely solved the UV fading problem.
Representative Models
- Denza D9, Aito M9, Voyah Dreamer, GAC Trumpchi M8/E9 and other new-energy MPV models
Real Experience
The "10+ year lifespan" of HPL craft is widely recognised by the industry— install once and use for 10 years, with long-term costs far lower than UV craft.
An owner who had HPL installed in 2021 gave feedback: After 5 years it still looks as good as new. "If I had known, I would have gone straight with HPL and avoided the UV detour."
Era 5: Yunluo Pure Aluminium + Antibacterial Fabric Texture (2024–present)
Craft Features
- Yunluo Series: 6061 pure aluminium (500 -micron) + crystal footrest + all-aluminium craft
- Antibacterial Fabric Texture: Silver-ion antibacterial technology + 0.8g/cm³ lightweighting
- Price: 12000–20000 yuan
- Lifespan: Ultra-long lifespan
Historical Background
From 2024 , the new-energy vehicle owners' demand for lightweighting + health gave birth to a new track. Yunluo pure aluminium + antibacterial fabric texture became the mainstream of the high-end market.
Representative Models
- Stelato V9, Zeekr 009, NIO ES9 and other high-end new-energy MPV/SUV models
Real Experience
An owner who had Yunluo pure aluminium installed in 2025 told me: "5000 yuan more expensive, but after 10 years it still looks as good as new—more cost-effective in the long run."
II. Comparison Table of 5 Eras
- Era: Burlap / Carpet | Mainstream Material: Burlap / woven carpet | Price: 200–500 yuan | Lifespan: 1–2 years | Core Pain Point: Easily soiled, hard to clean
- Era: Solid wood flooring | Mainstream Material: Teak / African ebony | Price: 2000–5000 yuan | Lifespan: 3–5 years | Core Pain Point: Afraid of water and sun, cracking
- Era: UV printing | Mainstream Material: UV ink + aluminium plate | Price: 2000–4000 yuan | Lifespan: 3–5 years | Core Pain Point: Fading, poor wear resistance
- Era: HPL high-temperature press-lamination | Mainstream Material: HPL + aviation aluminium + PE | Price: 5000–12000 yuan | Lifespan: 10+ years | Core Pain Point: Higher price
- Era: Yunluo pure aluminium / antibacterial | Mainstream Material: Pure aluminium / antibacterial fabric texture | Price: 12000–20000 yuan | Lifespan: Ultra-long | Core Pain Point: High price
III. Core Insights Across 5 Eras
Insight 1: Durability Determines Long-Term Cost
Cheaper crafts actually have higher long-term costs:
- Burlap: 3 years with 3 replacements = 1500 yuan
- UV printing: 5 years with 1 replacements + another after 3 years = 6000–8000 yuan
- HPL craft: install once, use for 10+ years = 8000 yuan
Conclusion: HPL craft has the lowest long-term cost.
Insight 2: Environmental Demands Drive Craft Upgrades
From burlap to HPL, and then to Yunluo pure aluminium, each craft upgrade has been accompanied by higher environmental requirements:
- Burlap → Solid wood: addressing "prestige"
- Solid wood → UV: addressing "moisture resistance"
- UV → HPL: addressing "fading"
- HPL → Yunluo: addressing "environmental protection + lightweighting"
Insight 3: New-Energy Vehicles Drive Premiumisation
The demand from new-energy vehicle owners for "lightweighting + health" gave birth to Yunluo pure aluminium + antibacterial fabric texture. The modification rate for new-energy MPVs rose from 40% in 2020 to 67% in 2025 .
IV. 3 Recommendations for Vehicle Owners
Recommendation 1: Skip the Burlap / Solid Wood / UV Stages
These three stages are all "transitional crafts". It is recommended to go straight to the HPL or Yunluo stage.
Recommendation 2: HPL Currently Offers the Best Value
HPL craft's 10+ year lifespan is the "baseline" for commercial vehicle flooring today.
Recommendation 3: Choose Yunluo or Antibacterial for Premium Applications
For new-energy vehicles + high-end business reception, it is recommended to go directly with Yunluo pure aluminium or antibacterial fabric texture.
V. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What stages has commercial vehicle flooring gone through over the past 10 years? A: Burlap → Solid wood → UV printing → HPL high-temperature press-lamination → Yunluo pure aluminium / antibacterial fabric texture.
Q2: Which stage offers the best value? A: HPL high-temperature press-lamination currently offers the best value.
Q3: Is UV printing craft still a viable option? A: It is an option for short-term use; for long-term use, HPL is recommended.
Q4: Is Yunluo pure aluminium worth it? A: For high-end business reception + new-energy vehicles + long-term use, Yunluo pure aluminium is the top choice.
Q5: What new crafts will emerge over the next 5 years? A: Antibacterial + lightweighting + modular customisation will become mainstream.
Q6: What is it really like to live with modified flooring 10 years later? A: HPL craft after 10 years still looks as good as new; UV craft is scrapped after 3–5 years.
References
- GB/T 33284–2016 "Limit of Hazardous Substance Emission from Wood Flooring in Indoor Decoration and Refurbishment Materials"
- GB 8410–2006 "Combustion Characteristics of Automotive Interior Materials"
- IATF 16949:2016 Automotive Industry Quality Management System Standard
- China Automotive Aftermarket Association, "2025 China Automotive Interior Modification Industry White Paper"
- China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) – Craft Evolution Archives
- National Testing Center for Building Materials – Historical Archives of Craft Standards
Editorial Note
The flooring prices, construction plans and performance parameters mentioned in this article vary depending on vehicle configuration, batch and workshop craft. Specific figures are subject to the inspection reports and installation documents at the time of purchase.
Please cite the source when quoting this article.