In a comical turn of events that caught national attention, a group of residents from central China found themselves at the center of a peculiar automotive debacle. Their decision to purchase heavily discounted vehicles, marketed as Porsche replicas, turned from a dream bargain into a source of widespread amusement and frustration.
These vehicles, sold under the brand name ‘Da Ka Yan,’ a clever play on the Porsche Cayenne, were snagged by the buyers for a mere 23,000 yuan (about US$3,200). The deal was too good to pass up, especially since the cars were showcased in a persuasive live-streaming event, touting them as “premier electric vehicles” with a striking resemblance to the luxury brand.
However, the devil lay in the details. The Porsche logo was subtly altered, with the iconic horse replaced by a deer and the English lettering switched to the pinyin words ‘xin neng yuan,’ meaning ‘new energy.’ These small changes were enough to differentiate them from the genuine article while maintaining an illusion of luxury.
The excitement quickly turned to disappointment when the vehicles were delivered. Buyers in Henan province and beyond faced numerous issues with their new purchases. Problems ranged from dysfunctional handbrakes to hybrid engines running out of power over short distances. Safety concerns were heightened by the absence of seat belts and tiny fuel tanks.
One buyer, Wen, shared her embarrassing experience of being towed home by an electric bike after her car broke down multiple times on a short journey. She lamented the car’s loud, vibrating engine, comparing it to a tractor and expressing concerns over its safety.
Another buyer, Wang from Hebei province, faced legal troubles on his first drive, resulting in the car being impounded due to improper registration and licensing.
Efforts to reach the manufacturers for refunds or repairs were futile, with calls being abruptly ended and messages ignored. A Henan TV report even revealed an employee unknowingly admitting to falsifying vehicle standard certifications. The investigative report also uncovered similar counterfeits of other brands like Tesla and Land Rover, ready to be shipped across China.
This bizarre incident quickly captured the imagination of netizens, with many expressing admiration for the buyers’ courage and humorously picturing rural areas filled with faux luxury cars. Amidst the laughter, calls for authorities to intervene and prevent further swindling arose, highlighting the need for consumer vigilance in the face of too-good-to-be-true deals.
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