New Car Rusted Within a Month; Owner Questions Buying $21K "Unreported" Inventory Vehicle

In November last year, Ms. Wang from Haikou purchased a Foton Tunland business van for RMB 210,000 to use for commercial operations. However, just one month after taking delivery of the vehicle—during its first scheduled maintenance—she discovered severe rust on multiple components, including the wheel hubs, brake discs, chassis, ABS tone rings, and steering axle. Upon inquiry, she found that the vehicle’s manufacturing date was December 24, 2023, meaning it had already been in inventory for nearly 11 months at the time of purchase. According to industry standards, vehicles stored for more than six months after production are considered "inventory vehicles." Yet, the dealership never disclosed this information during the sales process nor offered any corresponding discount. Ms. Wang suspects she was subjected to consumer fraud and is concerned that prolonged storage may have caused the electric vehicle’s battery to discharge excessively. The dealership responded by claiming that “rust on new cars is normal,” but failed to explain whether they concealed the manufacturing date or clarify the cause of the rusted parts. Local market regulators intervened to mediate, but the two parties failed to reach an agreement. Ms. Wang now plans to pursue legal action to protect her rights.