"Tina Have Many Engines":

What a Viral TikTok Teaches Us About cross-border selling in China

If you’ve been on social media recently, you might have seen this: a young Chinese woman awkwardly dancing and singing in thickly accented English — “Engine engine engine engine in my fat-ter-ry.”

It sounds ridiculous. But the video, posted by @auto.parts.store.tina, went viral — racking up over 560,000 views. The jingle is offbeat. The delivery? Chaotic. And yet, it works.

So what’s going on here?

Tina’s viral TikTok moment: dancing and singing “Engine in my fat-ter-ry” captured global attention.

From textbook to TikTok chaos

Scroll back on Tina’s account and you’ll see a very different strategy. She started conventionally:

• Introducing herself in fluent English

• Wearing professional outfits

• Showcasing working engines with crisp product demos

• Signing off with: “I’m Tine. Welcome to China.”

  
  

It was well-produced, professional, and followed the classic playbook for foreign trade marketing.

But the views? Minimal. The traction? Almost none.

Then she began experimenting. Trend formats. Different tones. Shorter edits. Until eventually… the unhinged engine song was born.

Before going viral, Tina used polished English and professional branding to promote her engine business.

This isn’t random — it’s calculated

Tina clearly speaks fluent English and understands global presentation standards. So she knows how strange the singing looks. But she also knows who she’s targeting.

Her ideal customers are international buyers of secondhand or OEM engine parts — often browsing Alibaba or sourcing platforms filled with robotic, impersonal listings.

In that context, Tina’s videos cut through the noise. She’s:

• Visible

• Memorable

• Human

And in B2B, that matters — especially in Asia, where personal rapport still plays a role in dealmaking.

Bad taste? Maybe. Good strategy? Definitely.

Let’s not pretend the content is highbrow. It’s not. But it’s working because it’s real, emotive, and unexpected.

In a world where AI can generate flawless but soulless content at scale, showing your human awkwardness might just be your biggest asset.

Tina’s singing might make people cringe, but it also makes them watch — and in digital marketing, attention is currency.

The takeaway

Tina’s viral success isn’t about being silly — it’s about breaking expectations. In a hyper-polished online world, imperfection signals authenticity. That’s what cuts through.

So if you’re marketing to or within Asia, don’t just translate — connect. Don’t just polish — differentiate. Show your temperature.

At Aha! Advisory, we help growing businesses navigate cultural nuance and stand out in Asia — the smart way.

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