LAFAYETTE — It's not out of the ordinary to spot at least one Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz during a drive through the Purdue University campus.
Along with locals who cruise around in the luxury car brands, they're the favorites of international students who can afford to dish out $30,000 to more than $100,000 on a vehicle.
Lafayette salespeople say that population is largely made up of Chinese students whose parents are wealthy and are happy to provide their kids with the money to drive a nice car while studying in America.
"There are many Chinese students here who will purchase cars from me," said Yuchen Zhang, who sells Mercedes-Benz vehicles for the Mike Raisor Automotive Group in Lafayette.
Zhang understands his audience well — he's from Shanghai and graduated from Purdue in 2014.
He markets to students by putting up posters in Chinese restaurants near campus and by communicating deals and incentives via WeChat, a social media app widely used in China.
Chinese student customers typically spend $30,000 to $40,000, he said, but the really rich will dole out more than $100,000 for a Lamborghini or Maserati.