Chapter 544 Every family has two cars (second update, please subscribe)
In the early morning, it rained heavily, and the asphalt-paved streets were soaked by the rain.
On the sidewalk, pedestrians holding umbrellas hurried to the bus stop and crowded under the platform canopy, anxiously waiting for the arrival of the bus. Thanks to the good drainage system, although it rained heavily, the streets There is no water on it. There is only a little water on the curb, and when the bus pulls into the stop, there will be some water splashing from the wheels.
After the bus pulled into the station, people crowded into the bus, threw a one-cent coin into the coin box, and continued walking in. Then the bus drove away from the platform, and the other passengers were still there. Waiting anxiously.
Standing on the roadside, holding an umbrella, Zhu Peilin looked thoughtfully at the crowds of people passing by. After a few minutes, an Alfa Romeo parked next to him.
"Manager Zhu, you must be impatient!"
Archid said to him as soon as he got in the car.
“No hurry, let’s go!”
Zhu Peilin looked out the window. It was still raining heavily outside, but even so, it could not stop the pedestrians from rushing on their way. They either lowered their heads and hurried on, or took a quick glance at the surrounding scene. Everyone had their own destination.
Looking at the pedestrians outside the car window, Zhu Peilin said.
"Look...it's raining so hard!"
"It's rainy season, can it not rain too hard?"
Archid said.
“Well, the rainy season is from November to April of the following year. For almost half a year, it rains almost every day...”
Zhu Peilin, who seemed to be talking about the rainy season, suddenly said.
"And this is the market demand. People always need transportation that can protect them from wind and rain."
"That's why, Manager Zhu, you want to build a car."
Nodding, Zhu Peilin said.
“Not only must we build cars, but we must also build cars that are low enough that everyone can afford them... national cars.”
When referring to “national cars”, Zhu Peilin thought of the official plan. From the day he saw the plan, as the manager of Rongguang Machinery Company, Zhu Peilin devoted himself to the car.
"How's it going? Have you brought the manual?"
"I have brought it. The third plan is adopted. Although it is based on the Fiat 500 as a whole, in order to reduce costs, a rear-mounted rear fan similar to the Volkswagen Beetle is used. Compared with water-cooled engines, cold engines are not only lighter in weight and easier to maintain, but also avoid the trouble of repairs caused by damage to the water tank, and help reduce costs."
"Is it a Volkswagen engine? "
"No,"
Archid said, shaking his head.
"We are redesigning a 2-stroke inline 2-cylinder air-cooled engine with a power of 10KW. We expect the cost to be about 50% lower than the 569cc four-cylinder water-cooled engine used in the 500. In this way, the cost of the entire vehicle will also be reduced."
The 500 Alchid mentioned was the Fiat 500 designed by Fiat before the war. Although Rongguang Company was formerly a Fiat factory, it only shipped back mechanical equipment. All of Fiat's technology Information was taken to factories in the central and southern parts of the country.
“Are you sure you can control the selling price within 300 yuan?”
Price is the main issue Zhu Peilin considers. He chose Fiat 500 as a reference prototype because of its price It was cheap enough. When it was first developed before the war, it sold for about 5,000 lire. Although the price finally jumped to 8,900 lire, it was still very cheap. Even the Fiat 500 currently produced by Fiat is priced at less than $600.
However, even so, the price is still too high, and Zhu Peilin’s psychological price is to discount it in half.
"After a rough estimate, with the introduction of modern production lines, we are confident that the price will be controlled within 400 yuan. If it is any lower..."
Shaking his head, Alchid said with some embarrassment.
"I'm afraid that's not realistic, after all, the overall cost is there."
Nodding, Zhu Peilin looked out the window and said.
“With this price, whether we can convince banks is a big question.”
Ten minutes later, the car stopped in front of the main entrance of Borneo Bank. Looking at the people going in and out of the bank gate from time to time, Zhu Peilin hesitated for a moment before asking.
"Did you bring the information?"
"Bring it."
Archid patted the briefcase.
“Let’s go!”
A few minutes later, as soon as Zhu Peilin got out of the elevator, he saw Zhang Bi face to face. "Haha, Peilin, I was shocked when I received your call. The last time we met was at the club last year!"
"There is no way, who can let me You, Manager Zhang, are so busy!”
“Look what you said, can I be as busy as you? Your Rongguang factory has more than 7,000 people, and you are the number one among our comrades in the second phase. A person who became a business executive. "
They are all comrades in the Allied Special Dispatch Team, so naturally they are much closer than many others. After some pleasantries, Zhu Peilin went directly to the topic.
"I want to borrow a sum of money from the bank. I hope to be able to get a loan of 30 million, of which 20 million is US dollars!"
Although the amount is large, Zhang Bi already knew something about it before and asked directly:
"USD loan? What is the purpose of this loan?"
Zhu Peilin replied:
"This money is used to introduce automated automobile production lines from Detroit, the United States. The remaining 1,000 Ten thousand will be used for the reconstruction of the factory.”
"Automated production line?"
Zhang Bi couldn't help but look at his old comrades again. Although they were comrades in the dispatch team, Zhu Peilin went to an Italian company for an internship after the training, and he went to I went to the United States to study finance. Although I was a comrade in arms, I was not very familiar with him.
"So, Rongguang plans to build a car? National Motors?"
"Yes!"
Zhu Peilin nodded and said.
"Our company has developed a new type of car. Although the specifications are small, the price is very cheap..."
While speaking, he reached out to take the project specification from Alchid and handed it to Zhang Bi. As Zhang Bi flipped through the instructions, he continued.
“According to official statistics, the average annual income of employees last year was 280 yuan, an increase of 18%. If this level can be maintained this year, it will reach 330 yuan. According to the plan, the company will The renovation and expansion will be completed in March and the car will be officially put into production in May. By then, the per capita income should be around 390 yuan, and the selling price of our cars will be controlled within 400 yuan, which is basically equal to the annual income of ordinary employees.”
< br>Then, Zhu Peilin added.
“If you break it down into types of work, the annual income of skilled workers has now reached the level of 400 yuan. In other words, when cars are put on the market next year, a car will only be 75% of the per capita income of skilled workers. Or so. In terms of affordability, this kind of car is actually an ordinary consumer product that most families can afford.”
Zhang Bi asked as he looked through the car project manual.
"Although I say that, do ordinary people have the need to buy a car? And this car of yours..."
Pointing to the structural diagram in the manual, Zhang Bi said.
“It has a two-door, four-seater layout. You should know that our family is a big family. After all, we want to “increase production to serve the country.” Such a car may be inconvenient for family travel.”
Faced with Zhang Bi’s doubts, Zhu Peilin shook his head and said.
"A family of five children is the minimum standard. Even the Beetle designed by Dr. Porsche cannot seat seven people. There are not enough cars... Then buy two!"
Zhang Bi opened his eyes wide. Eyes, looking at him with incredible eyes, asked.
"Two cars, how is this possible?"
"How is this impossible?"
Zhu Peilin explained.
"In five years, the per capita income of employees will exceed 600 yuan, and the income of both husband and wife in most families will exceed 1,200 yuan. As the family population increases, it is normal to buy two cars."
< br>Looking at Zhang Bi, Zhu Peilin said.
“Although there will be competition from cars designed by Dr. Porsche, a low-priced car of 400 yuan is undoubtedly the most suitable as a second car for the family. Moreover, it can also be exported! The United States People also need a second car, don’t they? Otherwise, the Beetle would not be popular in the United States.”
What does the Beetle rely on to be popular in the United States?
It is cheap. Many families in the United States now buy a second car for their family. At that time, American cars generally cost US$2,800. Even second-hand cars cost US$1,600. The Beetle sold for only US$1,600 in the US. At $1,500, it’s almost cheaper than a used car. So many Americans bought a Beetle as their first car after college, or as their family's second car.
"The second car. Peilin, you really dare to think that many of our comrades haven't bought a car yet, and you actually think about two cars for a family. But, think about it, with a high income, you will naturally want to buy a car." Consumption, some things, always dare to think..."
Looking through the information in front of me, I may not believe that every family in Nanyang has a second car, but the financing description mentions the US market, which convinces Looking at Zhang Bi, he thought for a while and said with a smile:
"Although Rongguang is also a company, the loan amount is too large and needs approval from the board of directors. I will need to arrange someone to go to Rongguang for inspection recently. No If it’s a big problem, the bank should be able to lend money.”
When he walked out of the Bank of Borneo building, looking at the passers-by holding umbrellas in the heavy rain, Zhu Peilin couldn’t help clenching his fists and thinking in his heart. Said to himself.
"Okay! Soon, everyone in Nanyang will have their own car..."
(End of this chapter)