# "观车热潮": The Trusted Car Companion That Drives Millions of Fans’ Passion
At 9 PM on a, Li Wei—a 32-year-old software engineer in Guangzhou—curled up on his couch, phone in hand, eyes glued to screen. The video playing was from Toutiao’s 观车热潮 (Guanche Rechao, "Car Obsession Craze"): Old Chen, the host, knelt beside a Geely Emgrand GT, holding a paint thickness gauge. “Look here,” he said, pointing the fender, “this spot’s 210 microns—way above the normal 120. That means it’s been rep. A red flag for used car buyers.” Li Wei nodded, scribbling notes—he’d hunted for a used sedan for weeks, and this tip save him from a lemon.
This scene repeats millions of times daily across China. For car enthusiasts and casual buyers alike, 观车热潮’t just another content account—it’s a trusted friend, a go-to resource, and a community where people share their love for four wheels. Let’s deep into what makes this account a standout in Toutiao’s crowded auto space, covering every dimension of its success:
1. Type & Audience: Where Car Lovers Gather
Platform Type: The account lives on Toutiao—a personalized content aggregator blending shortlong videos, image-text articles, and live streams. Toutiao’s algorithm pushes content to users based on their interests, making it ideal for niche audiences car lovers. 观车热潮 leverages all of Toutiao’s formats: 10-15 minute deep-dive videos (its), 2000-word图文 guides (for detailed buying tips), and weekly live streams (for real-time Q&A).
Audience: The account’s 3.2 million followers paint a vivid portrait:
- Demographics: 75% male, 25 female (growing fast). Ages 25-35 (60%)—young professionals saving for first cars; 36-4 (30%)—middle-aged with higher purchasing power (luxury/off-road fans); 10% under 25/over 4 (students into modding, retirees into classic cars).
- Geography: 20% first-tier cities (Beijing/Shanghai/zhou/Shenzhen—EV and luxury car fans); 35% second-tier (Chengdu/Chongqing/Wuhan—practical family); 30% third-tier/below (affordable sedans/minivans); 15% rural (modified work vehicles like W Hongguang).
- Needs: New car buyers (comparison reviews), used car shoppers (scam avoidance), off-road enthusiasts ( tips), daily commuters (fuel efficiency/maintenance).
Take Wang Qiang, a 40-year-old restaurant owner in Chengdu: heinges the account’s off-road series, where they modify a Great Wall Tank 300 and take it to the Tibetan plateau. Zhang Na 28, a Shanghai marketing manager: she loves the “Top 5 Practical Cars for Women” series, focusing on safety and trunk space for gym bag/laptop.
2. Operator Background & Professional Positioning: No Hype, Just Real Tests
观车 is run by Old Chen (Chen Hao)—a 38-year-old ex-auto magazine editor with 15 years in the industry. His:
- 2008: Intern at Auto World magazine, where he learned to test cars not just by specs, but feel (“How does the steering wheel respond when you turn? Do the seats hug you when accelerating?”).
- 2020: Left magazine to start the account—“Magazines reached 100k readers; Toutiao can reach millions who need honest car advice.”
He a 3-person team:
- Xiao Wang: Cameraman with a drone license—his aerial shots of the Tank 300 climbing passes went viral.
- Xiao Li: Writer who turns jargon into plain language (“torque vectoring control” becomes “this system helps turn sharper without slipping”).
- Xiao Zhang: CS rep who answers 100+ fan messages daily—once spent an hour helping fan get scammed used car money back.
Professional Positioning: “The Car Friend You Can Trust—No Paid Hype, Just Real.” Old Chen refuses to hide flaws: once, a luxury brand offered 100k yuan for a review, but he declined after finding the’s infotainment crashed repeatedly. He later did an independent review pointing out the flaw—fans loved his honesty.
3. Content & Differentiation: Beyond Surface-Level Reviews
What sets 观车热潮 apart from other auto accounts? Its focus on depth authenticity, and storytelling:
a. Long-Term Test Series
Instead of 5-minute “glossy” reviews, the account does -month long-term tests. For the Geely Emgrand GT:
- Week 1: Fuel efficiency (4.2 L/100 in city traffic).
- Week 2: Interior wear (leather seats showed no scuffs after daily use).
- Week3: Noise65 dB at 120km/h—better than competitors).
- Week4: Maintenance cost (oil change + filter = 10 yuan).
The series got 1.8 million views—fans praised its thoroughness: “Finally, someone tells us what a car like to own, not just drive.”
b. Underrated Gem Series
The account shines a light on budget cars ignored by mainstream media For example, the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV:
- They tested it for 2 weeks in Shanghai: it fit in tiny parking spots charged from a home socket (full charge in 6 hours), and cost 5 cents/km.
- The video got 2.5 million—many fans commented: “I bought this after watching your video—it’s perfect for my daily commute!”
c. Car Owner Stories
ories that blend cars with human emotion:
- Uncle Li’s Modified Wuling: A Henan farmer removed the rear seats of his W to carry 500kg of veggies. Old Chen drove it over muddy roads: “The reinforced suspension handles loads like a champ.” The had 1.2 million likes—fans called it “the real MVP of Chinese cars.”
- Teen’s Classic Jetta: A19-year-old student restored his dad’s 2005 Jetta. The account documented the process—from fixing the engine to repainting body. The video went viral, with fans saying: “This reminds me of my dad’s old car.”
d. Myth-Busting SeriesThe account debunks common car myths:
- “SUVs are safer than sedans”: They crashed dummy cars (sedan vs SUV at 50km/h. The sedan’s crumple zone absorbed more impact—dummy injury levels were lower. The video changed 30 of fans’ views on safety.
- “EVs aren’t for long trips”: They drove a NIO ES6 from Beijing to’an (1200km) using battery swaps (3 minutes per swap). The video got 1.5 million views—many said: “I’m now considering an EV!”
4. Fan Value: Knowledge, Entertainment, Resources
观车热潮 gives fans more than just content—it gives them real value**:
a. Knowledge
- Used Car Scam Avoidance: Tips like door gaps (uneven = accident), paint thickness (high = repainted), and engine oil (metal shavings = engine damage). Li Weithe software engineer) used these tips to avoid a scammed Passat—saving 80k yuan.
- Maintenance Tips: “ air filters with compressed air (not water)” (saves 50 yuan per change); “Check tire pressure with your thumb (sink than 1cm = too low)” (Zhao Jun, a delivery driver, saved 300 yuan/month on fuel after inflating his).
b. Entertainment
The account’s sense of humor keeps fans engaged. For example, Old Chen once raced a Tank 300 a sheep in a Tibetan pasture—he lost, but the video got 1 million likes (fans called it “the funniest car video I ever seen”).
c. Resources
- Exclusive Discounts: Fans get 10% off car accessories (vacuums, seat) from partner brands.
- Dealer Connections: The account partners with 20+ trusted dealers—fans get priority test drives and k yuan off new cars.
- Community: The account runs a WeChat group for fans—they share car stories, organize offline meetupslike off-road trips to the Gobi Desert), and help each other with maintenance issues.
5. Update Frequency & Interaction StrategyUpdate Frequency: 4 times/week:
- 2 videos (10-15 mins each).
- 1图文 articledetailed buying guide).
- 1 live stream (Sunday 8 PM—real-time Q&A).
Interaction Strategy:
- Q&A: Old Chen answers 200+ questions per stream. For example, a fan asked: “Camry vs Accord for a family 5?” Old Chen replied: “Camry has better rear space for car seats; Accord is more fuel-efficient. Choose Camry if you take trips.”
- Contests: Monthly “My Car Story” contests—winners get free car vacuums or a chance to join Chen on a test drive.
- Fan Feedback: The account uses comments to shape content. When fans asked for more EV tips, it launched “EV 101” series—10 videos on charging, range, and maintenance.
6. Key Data Performance A Testament to Success
The account’s data speaks volumes:
- Followers: 3.2 million (growing 100/month).
- Video Views: 20 million/month (average).
- Retention Rate: 65% (industry average =0%)—fans watch most of the video.
- 图文 Read Time:4 minutes (industry average=2.5)—fans engage deeply guides.
- Live Streams:50k concurrent viewers (average).
- 爆款 Content:
- “Farmer’s Wuling”: 2.5 million views, 180k likes.
- “NIO ES6 Long Trip”: 15 million views, 120k comments.
- “Sedan vs SUV Safety Test”: 1.2 million views, 0k shares.
7. Brand Cooperation & Industry Influence
The account’s authenticity makes it a sought-after partner for brands—but it works with those that allow honest feedback:
a. BYD Seal EV Collaboration
The account tested the Seal EV for 2 weeks:
Acceleration:0-100km/h in3.8 seconds.
- Range:550km in winter (real-world).- Flaw: Infotainment system was slow to respond.
The video got 1.5 million views—BYD appreciated the honesty fixed the system. Later, the account did an updated review, praising the improvement: “This is why we trust BYD—they listen to.”
b. Michelin Primacy4 Tire Collaboration
The account tested Michelin vs a cheap tire on wet roads:
- Michelin stopped meters shorter at60km/h.
- The series got 1.2 million views—Michelin reported a 20% sales in Primacy4 tires.
c. Industry Influence
The account’s “2023 Chinese EV Report” was cited by auto media outlets (including Auto Home). Great Wall Motors referenced its Tank300 mod data in a press release—“We used观车热潮**’s feedback to improve our suspension.”
8. Content Direction: What’s Next?
The account plans to into:
- Electric Truck Series: As EV trucks gain popularity, it will test models like the Rivian R1T and Great Wall’s truck.
- Classic Car Restoration: A new series on restoring 80s/90s classic cars (like the Volkswagen Santana).- Global Car Tests: Old Chen will travel to Germany to test the new BMW 5 Series and to Japan for the Toyota Prius.
goal? To keep being “the car friend you can trust”—no hype, no lies, just real stories and honest advice.
: More Than Cars—A Community
观车热潮 isn’t just about cars. It’s about the joy of driving, the pride of a car that fits your life, and the connections between people who share that passion. For Li Wei, it’s a guide to buying his first car. For Wang Qiang, it’s a source of off-road inspiration. For Zhang Na, it’s a way to find the perfect commute car
In a world of glossy, paid reviews, 观车热潮 stands out—because it remembers that cars are more than metal and engines:’re part of our lives. And that’s why millions of fans keep coming back, day after day, to watch, learn, and share their love cars.
As Old