The truth behind cars in China becoming 'pregnant' due to the heat
- China is experiencing a record-breaking heat wave
- It seems to be affecting cars as much as people
- They’re swollen so much they appear pregnant – and here’s why
Published on Aug 13, 2024 at 3:52 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Aug 14, 2024 at 5:40 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Here’s the real story behind the cars in China during a record-breaking heatwave that looked pregnant.
The footage appeared on X, showing the hoods appearing severely swollen.
But are congratulations really in order? Obviously not, as experts have explained.
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Pregnant cars in China
A weird video was posted to X by Inconvenient Truths by Jennifer Zeng.
With an extremely swollen bubble on the hood and some on the doors – it looks as if the cars are soon to be hearing the revving on tiny wheels.
Since the post appeared on 6 August, it’s received 758.8K views – and reactions were mixed.
“Is it a boy or a girl?” quipped one.
“Anything and everything [is] possible in China,” said another.
But, the vast majority were hinting at what they believed was causing the pregnant-car effect.
Speaking of extreme heat, this 5D theater in China makes the entire audience feel like they’re on fire.
The truth behind the video
First thing first – China is currently experiencing an extreme heatwave – and it seems it’s affecting cars as well as people.
It’s not – as has been speculated – a mechanical or manufacturing defect.
It turns out that the soaring temperature has caused after-market vinyl wraps or protective films added to cars to swell.
These fine and protective coverings are designed to protect the paint, house adverts or simply add to the aesthetic.
Of course, they’re designed to withstand some pretty extreme weather conditions with many featuring a UV -protective layer – however, they do have their limits.
In this case, it seems the extreme heat caused the adhesive backing to weaken and release gases, which expand as they’re trapped between the car and the wrap itself.
The result is swelling and cars that appear heavily pregnant.
Per the Wrap Guys: “Extreme heat and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can potentially affect the longevity and appearance of your car wrap.
“Over time, high temperatures can cause vinyl wraps to warp, bubble, or even fade.
“While the UV protective layer on our wraps helps to prevent these problems, proper maintenance is still key to extending the already long life and quality of your wrap.”
Much like a pregnant stomach, experts have warned against popping the bubbles as it could release toxic gases from the adhesive.
It’s also been suggested that opting for good quality and well-fitted, properly installed wraps is key.
Check out this wrapped Cybertruck that looks like Iron Man’s personal vehicle.
Parking in the shade or using a sunshade could also help prevent damage.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
