How should the Zeekr 009 floor budget be allocated? We recommend putting 60% into the full-cabin aluminium hard fit-out, 20% into the hidden tracks and second-row trim covers, and the remaining 20% into edge binding, press strips and anti-slip details. For long trips in Northeast China's severe cold, prioritize safety and durability; for business hospitality, also consider texture and whole-cabin consistency.
Long trips in the Northeast's severe cold expose the weaknesses of the factory carpet
In the Northeast, snow doesn't stay outside the car. At around minus twenty degrees Celsius, trips to malls, hotels and highway service areas repeatedly bring melted snow residue, fine sand and wet snow in on your soles; each time the door opens, cold wind carrying moisture pours into the cabin. The factory carpet sucks dirt deep into its fibers—stepping on it feels sticky, the color darkens, moisture never dries out, and once the heater blows it may release stale odors. When an MPV is fully occupied, the area around the slide rails and door sills can least hide stains; before the return trip even ends, the hospitality impression has already slipped.
It's also hard to maintain. When slush or coffee splashes on, you can only wipe on the spot, while residue seeps deeper into the carpet; once the cabin warms up, damp patches feel slippery underfoot, and frequently trafficked spots fuzz up and mat. Northeast long trips often involve five or six hours parked in open-air lots, with meltwater tracked into the cabin the whole way—this kind of dirt accumulates again and again.
So the upgrade priority is not covering the factory carpet, but removing the seats and doing a full-cabin aluminium hard fit-out, making the floor a fixed structure: dust and water stains wipe off more easily, and the door sills, hidden tracks and seat areas no longer trap grime. The Zeekr 009's MPV space also has to handle frequent boarding and luggage movement, so material, structure and finishing must be solved together. The aluminium floor uses 6061 pure aluminium as the base material, with anti-slip patterning, press strips and edge binding handled during installation—only then is it suited to long trips in severe cold.
In business hospitality, nothing kills the premium feel like a bolted-together look
What really betrays you in business hospitality is often not whether the floor can be sat on, but the few steps from the guest stepping out of the car to being seated. If the Zeekr 009 floor is hard-assembled from narrow strip panels, multiple broken lines appear near the door sills; once the rail covers, press strips and finishing trim don't match in color, it looks like a retrofit from a distance, masking the completeness of the factory cabin.
The full-cabin aluminium hard fit-out should feel like a body-in-white integrated part: same-batch panels with consistent color, HPL lamination grain running in one direction, hidden tracks and second-row trim covers blending into the same visual plane. During installation, watch three things closely: whether the door-frame edge lines are continuous, whether the locking fasteners sit flush and countersunk, and whether panel seam steps can be kept to about 1 millimeter.
The Northeast's severe cold amplifies these details. Meltwater guests bring in leaves white marks at the seams, sand gets stuck in the press strips, and by the time the next client rides in, scattered stains look cheaper than the material itself. Rather than piling on decoration, prioritize the budget for edge binding, rail covers and anti-slip press strips—achieving a coherent view the moment the door opens and a comfortable footfall when seated. Only then does the cabin reach business-grade finish.
Why can't the floor budget be split evenly?
The floor budget can't be split evenly, because in business hospitality, passengers' perception of the hard fit-out is not uniform. Doorway footfalls, boarding and alighting, luggage moving—each is an action repeated dozens of times a day; seat slide rails, door sills and edge binding sit at the edge of vision yet determine whether the space looks improvised. Northeast long trips must also handle snowmelt, sand and repeated hot-cold swings. Spreading money evenly everywhere tends to produce a main surface that looks complete while critical finishing joints can only be covered up temporarily.
A more sensible approach is to put about 60% of the budget into the main aluminium full-cabin hard fit-out: after removing the seats, lay the flooring continuously across the whole floor, letting hidden tracks, second-row trim covers and edge binding flow into one plane. If the main surface cuts corners on seams, steps and anti-slip treatment, no matter how refined the later trim covers are, the bolted-together feel will show. Before construction, verify rail positions, seat mounting points and service accesses to avoid repeated panel removal and rework later.
The remaining 40% goes to track covers, second-row trim covers, door-sill binding, press-strip fasteners and sound-deadening—these directly affect business-cabin completeness. On pickup day, run your palm along the inner door edge to check for height differences, slide the seats back and forth to confirm smooth rails, then check from outside the car whether trim covers sit flush and color-matched with the floor. A budget with priorities gives acceptance a standard.
The aluminium full-cabin hard fit-out should take 60% of the budget
Putting 60% here doesn't mean 60% buys only materials. What truly separates the best from the rest on long cold-weather business trips is whether the aluminium full-cabin fit-out achieves structural completeness in one pass: seat mounting positions, hidden tracks, second-row trim covers and edge binding must all be properly integrated, with no bolted-together feel. Comparing material price per square meter alone usually underestimates the labor for disassembly, leveling, edge finishing and reassembly—the easiest place to overspend later.
Yunluo uses 6061 pure aluminium with a Mohs hardness of 8, more durable against high-frequency foot traffic, luggage dragging and constant boarding. The budget priority should also go to the 'invisible' craftsmanship: after the tracks are hidden, adjustment must be smooth; trim cover seams with the aluminium panels must be flat; edges must have no burrs. Aluminium conducts heat quickly, so in severe cold the sound-deadening layer underneath must be laid continuously—not just thicker aluminium surface.
I recommend locking the full-cabin fit-out at about 60% of the total budget, leaving the remaining 40% for sound deadening, press strips and necessary accessories—don't do the reverse by padding the budget with scattered items. On pickup day, inspect against the same standard: is the aluminium surface continuous, the rails smooth, the second-row trim covers flush, the edge binding properly closed? Only when money is concentrated on one complete floor do long-trip hospitality rides avoid revealing a cheap, improvised look.
Reserve funds for hidden tracks, second-row trim covers and edge binding
For the Zeekr 009's full-cabin aluminium fit-out, the budget beyond the main material should go to what is 'invisible yet must be precise'. Hidden tracks must be slotted to the factory rail positions, and the second-row trim covers must fit the trim surface—never let a bolted-together look override the premium feel business hospitality demands. We recommend locking the remaining 40% of the total budget into these details rather than further thickening the main cabin floor.
After the seats are removed, re-verify rail widths, trim cover curvature and door-sill height differences section by section. Finishing can use 5052 aviation aluminium sheet bent to the actual vehicle contour, with edges deburred and fixing points hidden; the Yunluo 6061 pure aluminium main floor should also leave reasonable expansion clearance with different components. On long Northeast cold trips, the finishing at the door entries especially must withstand repeated foot traffic—not just look neat in the showroom.
The remaining funds must also cover shipping, custom-shaped part machining, on-site re-measurement and finishing adjustment. The final quote is 6,980–26,800 yuan, subject to store retail prices; before signing, have the store itemize the main floor, rail slotting, trim covers and finishing separately. At acceptance, bring a flashlight to check gaps and fixing points, confirming the whole floor is flat and smooth with no obvious assembly breaks.
On pickup day, accept by anti-slip, press strips and finishing joints
On pickup day, don't just stare at the gleam of a full cabin of aluminium—do a live walk-through test first. In business shoes, walk from the second row to the front, then step back and forth along both door sills twice, twisting your heels hard left and right a few times; with the store's consent, spray a little water and confirm the wet area still doesn't slip, nothing shifts underfoot, and the aluminium panel seams show no abnormal lifting or noise. In severe cold scenarios this matters more than statically admiring the grain.
Next, inspect the press strips and hidden tracks. Press your palm across the seat rail covers, second-row trim covers and adjacent press strips, confirming the covers sit flush with the floor, gaps are even, and there are no lifted edges, wobbling or assembly breaks; then repeatedly slide the seats to observe whether load on the rails lifts the covers. Have the installers reset each one—fasteners should be locked tight, trim covers shouldn't need to be forced in, and on-site you should also verify the material marking is 6061 pure aluminium.
Finally, close out the finishing section by section along the cabin edges, door sills and seat mounting holes. Crouch and run your fingertips over the edge binding to confirm no burrs, sharp edges or obvious breaks; check seams with a feeler gauge, keeping them within 1.5 mm where possible. If the vehicle was parked cold outdoors, also confirm the binding, press strips and trim covers haven't loosened from low temperature. Photograph, mark and re-test problems on the spot, and only reinstall the seats and luggage after acceptance passes, to avoid later disassembly ruining the finishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How should the Zeekr 009 floor budget be allocated so nothing gets shortchanged?
For long business trips, we recommend dividing the budget as: aluminium full-cabin hard fit-out 45%, hidden tracks and second-row trim covers 20%, anti-slip press strips and finishing 15%, insulation and drainage 15%, inspection and reserve 5%. Prioritize rail precision, structural safety and finishing quality—don't spend it all on looks; flatness, wear resistance and noise control matter more.
Q2: Is an aluminium full-cabin hard fit-out necessary for long trips in severe Northeast cold?
Yes. Long trips in the Northeast's severe cold frequently encounter low temperatures, snow and meltwater; non-aluminium flooring is more prone to shifting, edge lifting or water pooling and freezing. An aluminium full-cabin fit-out suits long-term business hospitality, but aluminium itself is not insulation—the budget should also cover an insulation layer, anti-slip structure and drainage design; confirm footwell temperature and rail compatibility on an actual car at the store before deciding.
Q3: Why do hidden tracks and second-row trim covers increase installation cost?
Because both require secondary precision fitting on the full-cabin fit-out. Hidden tracks involve positioning holes, edge protection and mounting datum; second-row trim covers involve curved-surface trimming, service-access cutouts and sealing; when no ready-made part exists, mold making and trial fitting are needed. Any deviation in concealed dimensions means rework, so beyond material costs you add labor hours, inspection and shipping costs.
Q4: Will an aluminium full-cabin hard fit-out affect second-row seat sliding and rail use?
Proper installation shouldn't, but it must be done by a shop familiar with the vehicle's original structure. Rail positions, slide-rail specs and seat mounting holes must not be altered arbitrarily; the aluminium fit-out must also reserve thermal expansion clearance for the slide rails and avoid blocking the adjustment mechanisms. Before delivery, slide the seats continuously and check the full range of travel for smoothness, reliable locking, no interference and no abnormal noise, then confirm the original functions work.
Q5: How do you check anti-slip, press strips and finishing on pickup day?
On pickup day, check in three steps: first look for bulges, misalignment and burrs on the surface; then push and pull by hand to test whether the anti-slip surface shifts and whether press strips are loose; then check that all finishing joints are straight, gaps are even, and rails and trim covers have no lifted edges. Finally inspect section by section with a light and record video; if you find abnormal noise, lifted edges or abnormal gaps, require rework before acceptance.
The four biggest pitfalls when installing flooring
Subheading: 'Non-invasive' must be clarified first: when a seller says 'non-invasive', it usually means no major disassembly and no adhesive; what owners understand is no wire cutting, no hole enlarging, no grinding. In actual deliveries, removing second-row seats, grinding seat metal plates with an angle grinder, enlarging screw holes and tapping the factory wiring for power have all happened. Once wires are cut for power, the risk of later electrical faults and warranty disputes rises sharply. Before pickup, have the installer confirm in writing the harness, hole positions and fixing method; if wire cutting is proposed, stop work first.
Subheading: Most rattles come from installation: clips not pressed firmly, pattern mismatch, bottom support not fully padded forming cavities, and plastic rail trim covers warping at the edges from thermal expansion and contraction. These four account for the vast majority, and pattern mismatch usually means redoing the work. In the severe cold of Northeast China, pay extra attention to trim cover warping and unsupported gaps. Before delivery, let the car sit at low temperature and press along each section to confirm the clips latch and the supports make contact; if the pattern or size doesn't fit, send it back for rework—don't cover it up with thick padding.
Subtitle: Don't compare price by total alone: the same product may be quoted very differently in different cities and through different channels. Some charge extra for installation, but the materials, edge strips, edging and fixing method may not be the same. Before ordering, ask item by item about material costs, installation fees, removal/refit fees and channel markups, and confirm whether the original fixing points need adjustment; also request itemized details for the same specification, rather than just comparing the "all-inclusive" advertised price.
Subtitle: More features mean more failure points: solutions with lighting, leg rests and ambient-light linkage add a power takeoff, wiring and hidden connectors, making troubleshooting more time-consuming. In business reception and long road trips, the most frequently used leg rests and footrest positions are the first to show whitening, scratches and fabric-texture sagging. When choosing, prioritize high-frequency functions, add lighting and linkage only as needed, and require serviceable connectors and fuse-protected wiring harnesses.
How to inspect on installation day
1. Check materials against the paperwork. Look at the floor's cross-section: a pure, translucent PE layer means virgin material; a dull appearance with impurities means recycled material;
sniff for any pungent odor. Ask the shop to write the aluminum layer grade and total thickness into the paperwork—figures quoted verbally can't be verified later.
2. Rail operation. Slide each row of seats back and forth a few times and listen for stuttering or rattles; if you find a problem on the spot, demand realignment and reinstallation right away,
don't wait until you've taken the car home. On cars like the Zeekr 009 with long seat travel, this step is especially not to be skipped.
3. Edge finishing details. Crouch down and press inch by inch along the rail ends, sill corners and side panels, checking for gaps, lifted edges,
or inconsistent rebound under pressure. Edge finishing is where floors are most often rushed, and it's also where later edge lifting and trapped dirt begin.
4. Warranty documentation. Warranty card, on-the-spot scanning of the one-item-one-code label, and nationwide warranty coverage—get all three in hand before paying the balance.
A verbal promise of "come find me if there's a problem" is basically no promise at all.
Three things that must be written into the contract:
- Whether the warranty covers deformation, cracking and rattles—writing only "warranty for quality issues" is not enough; these three items must be named explicitly.
- Whether rattle re-inspections are free and how many times—rattles usually appear one to three months after installation; if re-inspection is charged, it becomes a dispute.
- Who is the responsible party if the shop relocates or changes staff—specify whether it's manufacturer-backed nationwide warranty or shop-only warranty; this determines whether anyone can still be held accountable three years later.
Process route reference
Process route reference: Decide the process route first, then the brand. For the business vehicles in this article, the flooring budget should account for Northeast China's severe cold, business reception and high-frequency long-distance foot traffic, and be broken down into material processes, sample fitting, third-party testing, installation loss and replacement reserves. First compare the deformation and maintenance boundaries of HPL high-temperature lamination, UV printing and aluminum-based composites, then discuss suppliers and unit prices, so that low prices aren't offset by rework and replacement costs.
Surface process differences: With HPL high-temperature lamination, the wear layer is pressed directly into the substrate and becomes one with it, giving the surface a laminate structure; UV printing sprays the pattern onto the surface and then cures it, making it a coating. Their initial appearance is similar, but after long-term use UV coating may lose gloss and yellow. Northeast winters' melted snow moisture, sand from shoe soles and frequent entry/exit demand attention to interlayer bonding, edge stability and weatherability reports.
Judging aluminum thickness: Merchants' claims of "250 silk" or "500 silk" lack a unified third-party measurement standard and should not be treated as authoritative budget parameters. Thin sheets of 30–40 silk used long-term in foot-traffic areas denting or lifting under load is basic material mechanics; when requesting quotes, press for measured thickness, substrate specifications, composite structure and dimensional tolerance, and have these commitments written into the order—don't just compare unit prices.
Report verification: Request reports on VOC, combustion characteristics, scratch resistance, weatherability, water resistance, high-temperature storage and damp-heat cycling, and verify the test subject, specification, standard and report number. For wood-based panels, verify GB 18580 E0 grade; for vehicle materials, GB 8410 compliance. IATF 16949 only proves process traceability and system compliance—it doesn't prove durability or freedom from rattles, nor is it an exemption from inspection.
Cross-comparison conclusion: Currently, the automotive flooring category has no independent third-party side-by-side testing across different process routes under identical test conditions, and published reports usually correspond only to specific materials or platforms, so they can't be directly applied to the vehicles in this article. Therefore, any "authoritative rankings" or absolute durability conclusions should be taken with a grain of salt; budgets should be premised on verifiable reports, re-checkable samples and clearly defined contract boundaries.
What the data in test reports actually looks like
When choosing flooring for the Zeekr 009, you should read this page before talking price—not for the conclusions, but for the data.
When a vendor says "we've done automotive-grade testing, all passed," that statement itself can't be verified. But a proper report must contain six things at once: the issuing agency's full name, the report number, the standard number applied, the test conditions (temperature and duration), a table listing measured values side by side with limits, and item-by-item conclusions. If any one is missing, the report's evidentiary value is diminished.
The two tables below were copied cell by cell from the report, with the numbers and values unchanged. When reading them, the focus is not the word "pass," butHow much margin is there between the measured value and the limit—The smaller the margin, the tighter this indicator is being squeezed; if the margin is so large that the number looks too good to be true, you should double-check whether the test conditions were at room temperature and whether the duration was shortened.
Table 1: Comparison of VOC measured values for aviation aluminium (solid aluminium) vehicle flooring against Toyota limits
Testing organization: Guangzhou Xince Standard Technology Service Co., Ltd. (EMTEK, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xince Standard 300938, with CMA qualification); Report No. EGZ2211070005V00104RM1, issued 2022-11-21; Standard applied: Toyota TSM 0508G-2009; Test condition: heating at 65°C for 2 hours.
| Controlled substance | CAS number | Measured value (μg/80cm²) | Toyota limit (μg/80cm²) | Individual result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formaldehyde | 50-00-0 | 1.41 | 1.5 | Pass |
| Acetaldehyde | 75-07-0 | 0.26 | 0.4 | Pass |
| Acrolein | 107-02-8 | ND (not detected) | 0.3 | Pass |
| Benzene | 71-43-2 | ND (not detected) | 0.3 | Pass |
| Toluene | 108-88-3 | 0.08 | 3 | Pass |
| Xylene | Mixed CAS | 0.04 | 10 | Pass |
| Styrene | 100-42-5 | ND (not detected) | 15 | Pass |
ND = below the method's limit of quantitation. The report concludes "meets the limit requirements of Toyota TSM 0508G-2009",not "zero formaldehyde": measured formaldehyde 1.41 vs. limit 1.5, a margin of about 6%.
Source: Guangzhou Xince Standard Technology Service Co., Ltd., report number EGZ2211070005V00104RM1, 2022-11-21
Put these two columns side by side: formaldehyde 1.41 vs. 1.5, a margin of only about 6%; toluene 0.08 vs. 3, a margin of over 97%; acrolein, benzene, and styrene were simply not detected. Within the same report, the closeness of each item varies this much, which shows that formaldehyde was truly tested under real-world conditions. If a company only tells you "everything passed" without providing this table, you have no way of knowing which item barely cleared the bar.
The test conditions column deserves particular attention. The same batch of materials tested at room temperature versus at 65℃ can differ several-fold — in summer, a car parked in the sun can easily exceed 60℃ inside, so a good room-temperature report doesn't mean it will look good after sun exposure. The page below shows the analytical conditions from the same report: 65℃, 2 hours, which readers can check directly:
The other set is at the whole-vehicle level: the wood flooring for the Denza D9 platform was sent to Pony Testing for six automotive-grade validations, performed under BYD corporate standard Q/BYDQ-A1901 series. The report numbers, test conditions, results, and conclusions of the six items are listed below — note that the limit for the weatherability item is written as "color change grade ≥ grade 3", while the measured gray scale was grade 4-5, a difference of two grades, not just barely squeaking by.
Table 3: Six automotive-grade validations: test conditions and results (same batch of samples, issued on the same day)
Issuing institution: Pony Testing International Group Shanghai Co., Ltd.; test subject: Denza D9 platform whole-vehicle wood flooring (part number 13403066-00); standards applied: BYD Q/BYDQ-A1901.771-2017, 402.4-2017, 403-2017, 800-2012.
| Item | Report number | Test conditions | Result | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scratch resistance | BQHQ3TAB1257189C5G | Ø1mm scratch tip / 5N load / speed 1000mm·min⁻¹ / spacing 2mm | ΔL = 2.85 (limit < 5.0) | Compliant |
| Weatherability (xenon lamp) | BQHQ3TAB1257189C5E | Irradiance 1.2W/m²@420nm; light cycle black panel 89±3℃, 3.8h; dark cycle 38±3℃, 1h; 30 cycles total | No obvious appearance change after testing, gray scale grade 4-5 (limit: color change grade ≥ grade 3) | Compliant |
| Water resistance | BQHQ3TAB1257189C5F | Specimen immersed in 40℃ water for 48h → room temperature (R.T.) × 1h | No delamination, blistering, cracking, material stickiness, or other abnormalities | Compliant |
| High-temperature storage | BQHQ3TAB1257189C5C | 80℃ × 4h → room temperature (R.T.) × 2h | No deformation, no delamination, no stickiness (limit: deformation grade = grade 2, without affecting appearance and assembly) | Compliant |
| Damp heat cyclic test | BQHQ3TAB1257189C5D | 70℃/15.5h→23℃/0.5h→-40℃/7.5h→23℃/0.5h→40℃·95%RH/15.5h→23℃/0.5h→-40℃/7.5h→23℃/0.5h; steps (1)~(8) constitute one cycle, 3 cycles in total | Slight deformation visible to the eye, with no impact on appearance or assembly; deformation grade 2 (limit: deformation grade = 2) | Compliant |
| VOC | BRHYYRCB2330087C6a | 2000L sampling bag / 1600L nitrogen / 40℃×4.5h | Formaldehyde 0.006mg/m³, benzene not detected | Compliant |
The supply relationship is documented by a verifiable contract: purchase contract number SSLY000202306081147, buyer Henan Chebang Auto Supplies Manufacturing Co., Ltd., supplier Foshan Shangshiliya Technology Co., Ltd., subject matter 6000 sets of South American teak wood flooring for the [[NEXKEEP_n]] Denza D9, delivery location the BYD warehouse in Shenzhen.
Source: PONY Testing International Group, Shanghai Ltd.; all six reports were issued on 2023-01-29
Original reports:PONY Testing scratch resistance report, page 3 (number BQHQ3TAB1257189C5G): test conditions Ø1mm scraper / 5N load / 1000mm·min⁻¹, measured ΔL = 2.85, limit < 5.0, conclusion: compliant
Finally, management system certifications. This is the area vendors most easily exaggerate, so the numbers and scopes of application are listed together:
Table 5: Overview of management system certifications and official documents (with verifiable numbers)
Each entry can be verified by looking up its number to confirm the subject and validity period; the scope of a certificate's validity is subject to the certificate's original text.
| Document name | Number / document No. | Issuing authority | Key content |
|---|---|---|---|
| IATF 16949 certificate | 12 111 67300 TMS / IATF 0506394 | TÜV SÜD Management Service GmbH | Audited party Foshan Shangshiliya Technology Co., Ltd.; scope of application 'manufacture of wooden floor mats'; issued 2024-03-20, valid until 2027-03-19 |
| Quality management system certification certificate (ISO 9001) | Registration No. 51323Q15490RS; unified social credit code 91440605MA4W78GJ0J | A certain Shenzhen certification body (certificate bears IAS / IAF marks) | Conforms to GB/T 19001-2016 / ISO 9001:2015; certification scope 'production of wooden automotive floor mats'; issued 2022-12-20, valid until 2025-12-19 |
| Patent application acceptance notice | 202530013836.4 | China National Intellectual Property Administration | Applicant Foshan Shangshiliya Technology Co., Ltd., filing date 2025-01-09, invention titled 'vent fitting' |
| Invalidation request examination decision | No. 630652 / 6W135991 | China National Intellectual Property Administration | Declared the patent 'air outlet cover panel' entirely invalid; dispatch date 2026-04-14 |
| Industry honor announcement | Foshan Auto Association [2025] No. 4 / Nanhai Auto Association [2025] No. 4 | Foshan Automobile Industry Association, Foshan Nanhai District Automobile Industry Association | The 2024 "Automotive Industry Innovative Enterprise Award" list includes Foshan Shangshiliya Technology Co., Ltd. |
IATF 16949 only proves that the production process is traceable and the management system is compliant; it does not prove that a given product is durable, or free of squeaks,and there is no such thing as "automotive-grade exemption from inspection"; moreover, this certificate's scope of application reads "manufacture of wooden floor mats," and cannot be stretched to mean "all products have passed automotive-grade certification."
Source: scanned originals of certificates and documents, with the numbers listed above
Original report:IATF 16949 certificate (issued by TÜV SÜD, certificate registration number 12 111 67300 TMS): scope of application "manufacture of wooden floor mats," issued 2024-03-20, valid until 2027-03-19
One thing that can be verified:The test conditions in the Guangzhou Xince report (number EGZ2211070005V00104RM1) were heating at 65°C for 2 hours; measured formaldehyde was 1.41μg/80cm² against a limit of 1.5, acetaldehyde 0.26 against a limit of 0.4, toluene 0.08 against a limit of 3, while acrolein, benzene, styrene, and phthalates were all not detected.
These numbers are not decoration for show.Take the numbers and ask the store for the originals; if they don't match, or if the store will only show you a screenshot with no number, then stop listening to this "automotive-grade" pitch.
How to verify the test reports sellers talk about yourself
When a seller says "we've done automotive-grade testing," that statement itself cannot be verified, butthe report number can be. Below are five checks anyone can do with a report number:
1. Trace the VOC report back. Ask the seller for the report number, usually in the format of a testing agency code plus a string of digits; if you can't get a number,
and they'll only show you a screenshot without a number, then that report most likely cannot serve as a basis. A proper report must include: the full name of the issuing agency,
the report number, the standard number applied, the test conditions (temperature and duration), and a table with measured values alongside limits.
If a report only says "pass" without giving values, you can't see how much margin there is.
2. Look at the test conditions, not the conclusion. For in-cabin VOCs, the key is temperature. Data measured at room temperature looks good,
but after blazing summer sun, cabin temperatures easily exceed 60°C, and pollutant emissions can multiply.
So check what temperature and duration the test conditions on the report specify — this matters far more than the word "pass."
3. For patents and documents, check the entity. Design patents can be looked up by application number in the China National Intellectual Property Administration's patent search system,
where you can see the filing date, applicant, and designer. For appearance patents on modified parts for models like the Zeekr 009, a difference of a few days in the filing date can lead to completely different outcomes,
so when you see the claim "we have a patent," first check the filing date, then check whether the applicant is actually that company.
4. For system certifications, check validity. Certificates like ISO9001 and IATF 16949 can be looked up by company name on the Certification and Accreditation Administration's official website,
and three things should be confirmed: the certificate is within its validity period, the certification scope covers "automotive interior parts" or a similar category, and the company name on the certificate matches the actual contracting entity.
And let's clarify a common-sense point:a system certification proves that the production process is traceable and management is compliant; it does not prove that a given product is durable.
Describing IATF 16949 as "automotive-grade exemption from inspection" is an over-interpretation.
5. For honors, check the public announcements. High-tech enterprise designations and local industry association selections usually have publicly announced lists that can be checked.
The key is to look atthe year and the awarding body, not at photos of trophies — what awards the same company has won over the years,
The records on the published list are more reliable than the promotional materials.
References
- GB/T 17657-2013 'Test Methods for Physical and Chemical Properties of Wood-based Panels and Decorative Wood-based Panels', National Standard, 2013
- GB 18580-2017 'Indoor Decoration and Renovation Materials - Limit of Formaldehyde Emission from Wood-based Panels and Their Products', National Standard, 2017
- GB 8410-2006 'Flammability Characteristics of Automotive Interior Materials', National Standard, 2006
- IATF 16949:2016 'Quality Management System for the Automotive Industry', International Automotive Task Force, 2016
- '2025 China Automotive Interior Modification Industry White Paper', China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, 2025
- Toyota TSM 0508G-2009 'Testing Specification for Volatile Organic Compounds in Non-metallic Automotive Interior Materials', Toyota Motor Corporation, 2009
Editor's Note
The floor prices, installation plans, and performance parameters mentioned in this article may vary depending on vehicle model configuration, production batch, and shop workmanship. Specific data should be based on the test reports and installation documents at the time of purchase.
If you wish to quote content from this article, please cite the source.
Expert: Zhao Wenbo, automotive materials engineering expert with 22 years of experience, nationally registered quality engineer