Qingming Festival Triggers 240% Increase in Car Rentals and Black Market F-Code Frenzy
During the recent Qingming festival, a surge in demand for car rentals has been observed, with orders increasing by 240% compared to the same period last year. This trend was particularly noticeable in Beijing, where a car rental shop manager predicted that all 100+ vehicles in the shop would be rented out.
4 April 2024
The preferred vehicle types are SUVs and luxury cars, with a higher demand for comfortable models. In addition to the rise in car rentals, certain tourist destinations also experienced a significant increase in bookings. One such location is Gansu Tianshui, a city that gained popularity online due to a spicy hot pot fad. The number of tourist orders in Tianshui has grown by over 21 times compared to the same period last year. The demand for car rentals has also led to a rise in the black market, with individuals profiting from the resale of F-codes.
These codes are required to purchase a new Mi car, and their value has increased significantly. For instance, a yellow reseller named Zhang Kai managed to earn 20,000 RMB within four days by selling F-codes he had obtained from a high-ranking Mi employee.
Zhang Kai is just one link in a long chain of people who have traded the F-codes. The initial distribution of these codes started days before the official launch, with some codes selling for as much as 5,000 RMB. The high demand for these codes on the second-hand market has led to them becoming a rare commodity. The rapid growth in car rentals and the resale of F-codes has sparked controversy among netizens. Some users have expressed concerns about the ethics of reselling F-codes, while others have criticized the high prices of car rentals during the Qingming festival. One user on Weibo commented, "It's unethical to sell F-codes at such high prices, and the rental prices are also outrageous.
The companies are taking advantage of the holiday season to make a profit." Another user added, "The demand for car rentals is understandable, but the resale of F-codes is just a money-making scheme. It's not fair to those who genuinely want to purchase a Mi car." Despite the controversy, the demand for car rentals and F-codes remains high, with many people willing to pay the high prices.
As the manager of the car rental shop in Beijing mentioned, "The demand for comfortable vehicles is particularly high, and we are doing our best to meet the needs of our customers." In conclusion, the Qingming festival saw a significant increase in car rental orders and a surge in the resale of F-codes.
The black market for these codes has led to controversy, with many netizens expressing their concerns about the ethics of reselling F-codes. However, the high demand for car rentals and F-codes remains unchanged, with many people willing to pay the high prices.
As the Chinese proverb goes, "There is always a buyer for a good product."