Chapter 332 Monthly sales exceed 10,000
After BMW's first model began mass production, the factory's influence in Shenzhen began to rise sharply.
In the past, although the factory was built on a large scale, it had no output, and others still looked at it through colored glasses.
What is different now is that even if a BMW Light is sold for only 29,900 yuan, it still has a turnover of tens of millions of yuan a month.
In 1984, this was already the largest industrial enterprise in Shenzhen.
Even those Hong Kong companies that came to Shenzhen to build factories earlier than BMW, no one can compare with them.
As a result, the performance of BMW cars has naturally attracted more attention.
"Director, the sales statistics for May are out. A total of 10,340 BMW Lights were sold, once again setting a new sales record."
Early in the morning on June 1st, Chen Chenxing couldn't wait to come to Jiang Hui's office.
He stayed up all night with a group of subordinates last night and finally confirmed the sales data for May, so he had the confidence to come to see Jiang Hui as soon as he got to work today.
"After exceeding the target of 10,000 vehicles, do you still have the confidence to continue to improve in the future?"
Jiang Hui was not surprised at all by the results reported by Chen Chenxing.
After all, the May production plan has scheduled more than 10,000 vehicles. In fact, it is not particularly difficult to sell 10,000 vehicles.
But 10,000 vehicles is definitely not the end point Jiang Hui pursues.
"It is probably more difficult to achieve significant improvement in the domestic market in a short period of time. To be able to maintain a monthly sales of 10,000 vehicles is actually quite stressful."
"Of course, as China's economy continues to develop rapidly, more and more people can afford to buy cars, and the situation will change sooner or later."
"However, in order to further increase the sales of BMW Light, I am considering whether to sell BMW Light to overseas markets, such as some places in Southeast Asia. There may be a market."
For other domestic automobile manufacturers, almost no one considers such things as earning foreign exchange through exports.
Especially for newly established joint ventures, they are constantly consuming foreign exchange, and earning foreign exchange is too far away.
But BMW is different. Chaoyang Motorcycle Manufacturing Factory, the first enterprise invested by BMW Technology in China, is a major foreign exchange earner. Many people at BMW came from Chaoyang Motorcycle Manufacturing Factory. Everyone has a deep understanding of the matter of earning foreign exchange. It doesn't feel like it's completely impossible.
"Exporting is not impossible at all, but if we follow the official exchange rate, our US dollar selling price is definitely too high."
Jiang Hui expressed his worries.
The price of RMB 29,900 is very competitive in the Chinese automobile market.
But if it is converted to more than 10,000 US dollars according to the official exchange rate, it is obviously not competitive at all.
"Master, regarding the matter of earning foreign exchange from exports, as long as the relevant departments can earn foreign exchange, even losses are acceptable."
“Shenzhen City also has a subsidy policy for exports to earn foreign exchange.”
"I think the export price of BMW Light can be comprehensively considered in conjunction with various contents such as export subsidies, and further communication can be conducted with relevant departments."
"Ultimately, our dollar prices will become competitive, and our export business will not become a loss-making business."
Chen Chenxing had already considered Jiang Hui's concerns before.
There is a very large gap between the official RMB-USD exchange rate and the black market rate.
If converted into U.S. dollars according to the black market price, the BMW Light is still very competitive.
Relevant departments are naturally aware of these gaps, so they have some support in terms of export subsidies.
"Go and do some detailed calculations. I definitely support exports, but at least you can't lose money."
Jiang Hui will not export for the sake of export, but it is definitely something worth promoting if it can further increase the sales of BMW Light and make the business of the entire industry chain fuller.
……
"Director Lu, the sales volume of BMW Light has exceeded 10,000 units, while the sales volume of our BJ212 plus BJ310 dropped to less than 9,000 units last month."
"When will the commercial vehicle designed by your R&D center according to BMW's Light be completed?"
Many technicians at the Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant have now left for BMW. It is not difficult for Chen Qi to know the sales data, which is not particularly confidential and even BMW actively publicizes it to the outside world.
But after learning the news, he became anxious.
A car factory that only started production last year has now surpassed the Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant in sales. This situation is unacceptable.
"Director, our BJ212 and BJ310 sales have declined, mainly because the launch of Shanghai Automobile's Santana and other models has raised the performance requirements of various units for cars, resulting in some units preferring to wait in line for the Santana rather than purchase the BJ310. ”
"The sales changes of BJ212 are, to a certain extent, affected by the BMW Light."
"If we simply develop a commercial vehicle based on the BJ212, it may be difficult to compete with the BMW Light."
“Whether it’s cost or performance, it can’t compare to others.”
“So the R&D center is well prepared to develop a competitive product.”
The development progress of commercial vehicles is not particularly ideal, so Lu Jianqiang naturally has to find some convincing reasons for himself.
Otherwise, life will be difficult in the future.
Anyway, the current overall operating situation of the Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant is actually very good.
Even if sales are declining, it is still one of the best in the country.
"When can it be developed?"
Chen Qi would not let Lu Jianqiang slide over so easily.
As a factory director, he needs to consider more things.
"If we want to develop a product with better performance than BMW Light, I think it will take at least two years or even longer."
"If it is simply developed based on the BJ212 powertrain, the design can be finalized this year and mass production will begin in the second half of next year."
Lu Jianqiang directly gave the choice to Chen Qi. In this way, no matter what the situation is in the future, he does not need to bear the responsibility alone.
Reporting to the top is sometimes actually shirking responsibility and avoiding being held accountable for unfavorable situations in the future.
"We can't wait any longer. We will naturally develop a car that surpasses the performance of BMW Light, but it can be launched as a replacement model."
"The key at this stage is to develop a commercial vehicle as soon as possible and seize part of the taxi market and official car market together with BMW Zigzag."
"Otherwise, by the time our new product comes out, the day lilies will be cold."
No matter how the car performs, solve any problems first.
Anyway, if the powertrain is shared with the BJ212, the new investment will be relatively limited. Chen Qi feels that the risk is still within the controllable range.
Even if the commercial vehicle sales volume of the Capital Automobile Factory cannot be compared with that of the BMW Light, it will still be acceptable as long as it is a fraction of the other's.
After all, for most automobile manufacturers, the annual output is less than 10,000 vehicles.
Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant is already considered very good. "Okay, then I will go back and hold a mobilization meeting later to get all departments to speed up their actions."
If he just solves the existing problems first, Lu Jianqiang's pressure will be reduced a lot.
Compared with the Capital Automobile Factory, which performs well in the passenger car market, FAW is even more anxious.
In the past, they mainly relied on Jiefang trucks to maintain their influence in China's automobile industry, and had little to offer in terms of passenger cars.
Even if they cooperated with Audi to launch new products, they did not have a particularly big influence due to price, foreign exchange and other issues.
Under such circumstances, Geng Weidong, the factory director, was naturally anxious.
"Old Zhao, you have to hurry up on the negotiations with Volkswagen and introduce Volkswagen brand models to China for production as soon as possible."
"Otherwise, the few Audi 100s assembled by CKD alone will not have any effect on our sales."
After being stimulated by Shanghai Volkswagen, FAW quickly formed a cooperation with Audi. It started producing the Audi 100 at the end of last year, which is considered the first generation of domestically produced luxury cars in China.
But so far, the number of assembled vehicles per month is only about 100, which is really very limited for the overall sales target.
If there were no reference companies such as Capital Automobile Factory and BMW, which frequently produce 10,000 vehicles a month, the pressure on FAW would not be very great,
After all, they produced more than 80,000 trucks last year, setting a new historical record. They even produced more than 1 million cars last year. They have absolutely no rivals in China.
However, the Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant now sells more than 100,000 vehicles a year, and BMW seems to be on track to break through the 100,000-unit annual production mark.
By then, FAW will not be ranked number one in the industry, it will not even be ranked second.
Geng Weidong definitely can't accept this situation.
"Volkswagen is also facing a more complicated situation now. On a global scale, their sales situation has not yet been completely reversed."
"So they are relatively enthusiastic about setting up a joint venture factory with us, but they still have some concerns about some specific terms, and the two parties have not completely reached an agreement on what model to produce first after the joint venture."
"Now they are more anxious than us. If they wait for a while, maybe the other party will compromise."
Although Zhao Guangming knew that the current situation in the factory was relatively difficult, he was still reluctant to give up if he could get some good conditions during negotiations.
"It is appropriate to take a step back and everyone should reach a consensus as soon as possible. Otherwise, our sales will never increase and we will have no way to explain to the superior departments."
“Looking at Volkswagen’s Santana in Shanghai, it’s hard to find one now.”
"After our joint venture, as long as we can choose suitable cars and quickly increase production, our annual output will exceed 100,000 vehicles, and it won't be so ugly by then."
Geng Weidong stated his purpose directly.
Anyway, he and Zhao Guangming are old partners, so there is no point in hiding them.
"Through the joint venture with Volkswagen to introduce new products and rapidly increase car sales, our factory's overall production and sales data can indeed exceed 100,000 units."
"However, to quickly increase sales means that the initial number of units need to be assembled through CKD mode, which will consume a lot of foreign exchange."
Zhao Guangming expressed his worries.
Everything involving the use of foreign exchange is no small matter.
How many factories are unable to update their equipment and upgrade their products due to foreign exchange quota issues.
"We assemble parts through the CKD model, which is only temporary. We will eventually promote localization."
"As long as we report this situation clearly to the foreign exchange bureau and other relevant departments, I think there is still a way to make them understand."
FAW's position in China's automobile industry is quite special. Geng Weidong felt that he was in trouble, so he went to find the old leaders. There must be a way to solve the foreign exchange problem.
In the past year, although China's foreign exchange is still in a very tight state, it has changed a lot compared to the year before.
In particular, Geng Weidong vaguely knew that the Seventh Machinery Department had signed a huge foreign exchange-earning order with Dashiguo, which immediately eased the tense foreign exchange situation to a great extent.
Against this background, he still has a certain degree of confidence in getting relevant departments to approve FAW's foreign exchange needs.
"If there is no problem with the use of foreign exchange, it will be entirely possible to increase production in the short term."
"This is actually a lot of good news for Volkswagen, and it should be able to be used in exchange for the other party's concessions on some conditions."
"Director, give me another month. I will finalize the joint venture contract with Volkswagen and officially start the CKD assembly of new products."
Geng Weidong took over the most difficult problem, so naturally Zhao Guangming would not shirk it anymore.
After all, if FAW's production and sales exceed 100,000 vehicles, it will be an incredible political achievement for him.
……
"Qin Bureau, Jiang Hui is really impressive. He quickly increased the sales of BMW cars to over 10,000 per month. Before anyone could react, he became the sales champion."
Zheng Haiming is in charge of the Automobile Bureau and other fields, and is naturally very concerned about changes in the automobile industry.
Especially for BMW Motors founded by Jiang Hui, he personally attended the BMW Light roll-off ceremony.
Unexpectedly, only half a year later, they successfully climbed to the top.
This speed is definitely worthy of Shencheng speed.
"The design of BMW Light is indeed very clever and fully meets the needs of many people."
"Some public security agencies and other agencies have a relatively large demand for this kind of car, and small businessmen and vendors from all over the country can't put it down for this kind of car."
"As for the taxi industry, it goes without saying that the newly added taxis in the capital in the past six months are almost all BMWs."
"Leader, I feel that the emergence of BMW will bring huge changes to the entire Chinese automobile industry. They are like catfish, forcing other automobile manufacturers to move as soon as possible."
Qin Hao is also very clear about the situation of China's automobile industry in the past few years.
Without external pressure, many car factories can produce the same product year after year without any pressure to upgrade.
Only when your products are completely eliminated from the market and you feel the pressure will you take some action.
"Your metaphor is really apt. In fact, we need catfish like BMW in all walks of life."
"Reform is about asking everyone to take active action, and not to work step by step like in the past."
"Look back and see if you can organize some other factories to visit BMW to learn and exchange, so that everyone can follow the footsteps of BMW to reform."
Standing in Zheng Haiming's position, he naturally hopes that there will be more outstanding people in the factories under the First Machinery Department.
In this way, his face also shines.
Otherwise, he would complain to his superiors every day, and he didn't want to do that.
Recommended old books with 5 million words~
(End of chapter)