Chapter 363 Stirring up the storm
FAW moved quickly. Wang Le, the director of the design department, did not wait for the purchasing department to take action. He first found a way to get Jiang Hui's contact information and called directly to ask if the 1.5L engine could be sold.
They have known each other for a long time, and although their relationship is not close, they are at least familiar with each other.
Wang Le knew very well that on such critical issues, it would be easiest to ask Jiang Hui directly.
After getting a positive answer, Wang Le even cooperated with the purchasing department and FAW to go to Nanshan Engine for an on-site inspection. He also bought two prototypes and went back for testing, preparing to officially start the design work of a new car.
Nanshan Engine also took action in a timely manner and proactively spread the word, expressing its willingness to sell 1.5L engines.
In this era, China has hundreds of automobile factories.
But except for FAW, Second Automobile Works, Shouqi Automobile, Shanghai Automobile Manufacturing Plant and BMW, the cars of other automobile manufacturers are almost all in the stage of hand-building, or are responsible for modifying some vehicles.
For these manufacturers, it is completely impossible to develop their own new engines.
Previously, there were not many options available on the market.
Things are different now. Nanshan Engine is willing to sell the 1.5L engine that many people are coveted. Naturally, many manufacturers are interested.
Even Capital Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd. plans to develop a low-end commercial vehicle based on the 1.5L engine.
"Director, even if we use the 1.5L engine from Nanshan Engine, the final cost cannot be lower than that of BMW."
"But since the powertrain is the same, buyers may not consider us at that time. After all, our price will be higher."
Lu Jianqiang has always supported purchasing engines from outside, but not from Nanshan Engine.
After all, Nanshan Engine is a company that has just become independent from BMW, and Lu Jianqiang is very aware of its relationship with Jiang Hui.
"The appearance of our car is one size larger than that of the BMW Light, so it is normal for the price to be higher."
"Not to mention selling 10,000 units a month like BMW Light, even if we can sell 5,000 units, that is still a very good result."
Chen Qi felt the crisis facing the capital's automobile manufacturing plants. If there were no special circumstances, BMW's sales would exceed them this year.
This must have been difficult for him to accept.
When the time comes to face questions from superior departments, he will have to come up with some reasons and plans.
"That's true. I just don't know if Nanshan Engine will supply us engines honestly. If they supply them for a period of time, they will find that our commercial vehicles pose a threat to the sales of BMW Light. Then deliberately reducing the supply or not supplying engines, wouldn’t we be very passive?”
I have to say that what Lu Qiangqiang said is not impossible to happen.
When GAC Trumpchi's GS8 was first launched, it sold very well and became a rare large seven-seater SUV among independent brand car companies. The price is not cheap at all.
However, the sales of GS8 threaten the sales performance of Toyota Highlander, and the transmission of GS8 is 8AT provided by Aisin.
Under this situation, Toyota directly used Aisin to solve the problem of insufficient production capacity, supplying a limited supply of 8AT gearboxes to the GS8 every month.
In this way, even if the GS8 is very popular in the market, it will not have a big impact on the Highlander.
After all, no matter who is buying a car, they don’t want to wait several months to take delivery of the car.
This situation lasted for a year and a half, and the popularity of GS8 suddenly dropped, and the novelty of consumers also passed.
It can be said that Toyota has dealt a severe blow to the development of GS8 through this move.
If something similar happened to Nanshan Engine, it would actually be very possible.
Of course, this is just Lu Jianqiang's opinion.
In fact, Jiang Hui is not so short-sighted as to influence the development of Nanshan Engine for a little profit.
The products of Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant are unlikely to pose such a big threat to BMW Light.
"Based on my understanding of Jiang Hui, he is not the kind of person who is so narrow-minded."
"The 1.5L engine will either not be sold. Once they are willing to sell it, they will definitely deliver it with quality and quantity."
Chen Qi knew Jiang Hui relatively well. Whether it was based on his trust in Jiang Hui or other considerations, he was not worried about Nanshan Engine setting a threshold for the Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant in the future.
"Then I'll contact Jiang Hui later and see what his opinion is?"
In fact, Lu Jianqiang was relatively familiar with Jiang Hui, but their personal relationship was relatively casual.
He knew that Chen Qi and Jiang Hui had a good relationship, but it was not easy to ask the factory director to take action in everything.
"Okay, communicate as soon as possible and raise any difficulties."
BMW Light has played a very good leading role, and Chen Qi now hopes to have similar models in his own factory to further increase sales.
At that time, the Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant will be able to secure its No. 1 position in the industry.
……
Compared with the actions of manufacturers such as FAW and Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant, the situation at Capital Internal Combustion Engine Plant is quite different.
"Lao Xu, have you inquired clearly? Is Nanshan Engine really planning to sell its 1.5L engine to others?"
Cheng Tao looked at Sales Department Director Xu Rongbiao anxiously.
The Capital Internal Combustion Engine Plant has enjoyed a comfortable life in the past few years relying on the sales of 2.5L engines and other products.
Even though the sales situation at the Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant this year is not that ideal, the total sales are still increasing, which means that the turnover of the Capital Internal Combustion Engine Plant is also increasing.
In addition, some other customers are also purchasing engines from their factory, so the days of the Capital Internal Combustion Engine Factory can be said to be prosperous.
Under such circumstances, Cheng Tao naturally had a headache when he heard that Nanshan Engine had begun to compete with him.
"I specifically asked people from Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant, FAW and several other automobile factories. I also had people call Nanshan Engine directly. The other party has really started selling 1.5L engines."
Xu Rongbiao gave an answer that Cheng Tao didn't want to hear with a bitter look on his face.
As the first technician to come into contact with Jiang Hui, Cheng Tao knew very well how strong Jiang Hui was.
The factory had previously bought a 1.5L engine designed by Jiang Hui and dismantled it for research. They found that this engine was more cleverly designed in many places than the 2.5L engine they produced.
Even though its displacement is smaller, its output power and torque are not much smaller than the 2.5L gasoline engine of the Capital Internal Combustion Engine Factory.
This is very fatal.
Their engines are smaller than yours, their structures are simpler, their costs are lower, but their performance is not much different.
"Is the Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant also considering purchasing products from Nanshan Engine?"
As his big customer, Cheng Tao is very concerned about whether the Capital Automobile Manufacturing Factory will abandon him. "They previously wanted to launch a commercial vehicle similar to the BMW Light, but due to various problems, the mass production time has been delayed several times."
"Originally, their commercial vehicles will go on sale this year, but I guess the competitiveness is not particularly strong."
"Now that the engine used in the BMW Light will be sold to the outside world, Director Chen Qi will most likely be interested."
Xu Rongbiao has not yet found out such crucial information.
But after analyzing some information, he felt that the situation was not very good.
"If the Capital Automobile Factory feels the goodness of Nanshan engines, we will be in trouble in the future."
"I used to think that I didn't want to break up with them, but now it seems that nothing is more important than letting our factory survive."
"Starting from tomorrow, our factory will also officially research and produce 1.5L engines. The relevant structures will be made for the same products used on BMW Light."
"The design office needs to finalize the plan as soon as possible, and then you also need to communicate well with the customers to let them have confidence in us."
Cheng Tao gritted his teeth and prepared to let the Capital Internal Combustion Engine Factory enter a new stage of development.
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That is to learn from (plagiarize) the 1.5L engine of Nanshan Engine and enrich its own product line.
Relying on his previous production experience, he felt that the products he produced should not be much worse than Nanshan engines.
As for whether your blatant reference will infringe on patents or something, he doesn't consider it at all.
He is gambling too!
I bet that the higher-level departments will not stop all the 1.5L engines that have begun mass production just because they have infringed the Nanshan engine patent.
At that time, even if it is punishment, it will probably only be a formality.
Cheng Tao still has some confidence in this point.
Anyway, there are many manufacturers in other domestic industries doing similar things.
Even though a patent office has been established, everyone’s patent awareness is still very weak.
"Okay, this is not a big problem."
"When the BMW Light began to sell well, we had already disassembled the 1.5L engine and compared various parts with those used in our 2.5L engine."
“Now we just need to draw the drawings of these parts and send them to various supporting factories to start production.”
"As a relatively mature product, I think the prototype can be produced by the end of this year, and by then it can be better promoted to customers."
Although Xu Rongbiao is in sales, he is also very aware of the R&D situation in the factory.
After all, good salespeople all have some technical knowledge, otherwise how can they fool customers into purchasing?
……
"Old Wang, what kind of medicine is Jiang Hui selling in the gourd this time?"
"Nanshan Technology actually took the initiative to say that it would supply some key components to Santana and contribute to the localization of Santana?"
Yu Jin is very clear about the shareholder background of Nanshan Technology. This is an affiliated company of BMW and a company controlled by Jiang Hui.
Under such circumstances, it is indeed strange for Nanshan Technology to proactively contact Shanghai Volkswagen and enter Shanghai Volkswagen's supply system.
At least he himself doesn't quite understand it.
"From what I know, Nanshan Technology wants to operate as an independent supporting factory in the future."
"This is just like Toyota Motor's Aisin Transmission and Denso, which are separated from Toyota Motor and go to external OEMs to compete for orders."
"Nanshan Technology is now communicating with automobile manufacturers, including Shanghai Volkswagen, and wants to obtain relevant parts and accessories."
"Judging from what we know so far, Nanshan Technology's strength is still good. Most of the parts on the BMW Light are supplied by Nanshan Technology."
"In our Santana localization project, there are many parts that have not found a suitable supporting factory. If Nanshan Technology can respond, it should not matter if it is handed over to the other party for production."
For Wang Huiliang, it is a top priority to increase the localization rate of Santana as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will continue to consume a lot of foreign exchange and it will be difficult to increase their production.
If, like BMW, almost 100% of its parts are produced domestically, then Shanghai Volkswagen will be able to produce vehicles according to market demand.
By then, Santana's sales can quickly increase from a few thousand to tens of thousands a year, and they will be able to live a very comfortable life.
"Will Nanshan Technology cause trouble? I heard that BMW will launch a sedan soon, which will definitely compete with our Santana."
Yu Jin expressed his worries.
He absolutely did not want to see this situation.
"Although I cannot say 100% that there is no such risk, I feel that as long as Nanshan Technology still wants to explore the market, it will not dig its own grave."
"I have also heard news in the past few days that both FAW and Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant are in contact with Nanshan Engine and trying to purchase 1.5L engines from each other."
“This background is actually similar to Nanshan Technology’s external customer expansion.”
"Based on the situation of several supporting manufacturers of the BMW series, I think Jiang Hui should have made major adjustments to its future development direction."
"The risks of letting Nanshan Technology supply parts to Santana are controllable, and the pros should outweigh the cons."
Wang Huiliang is also worried that Yu Jin will oppose the cooperation between Shanghai Volkswagen and Nanshan Technology. This is a situation he does not want to see.
"Since you think the risk is controllable, then arrange for someone to have a good discussion with Nanshan Technology."
"Even our Shanghai brand cars can consider purchasing parts from Nanshan engines and Nanshan gearboxes to enhance their competitiveness."
As the flagship product of the Shanghai Automobile Manufacturing Factory, the sales of Hushang sedans have been in decline and are no longer as prosperous as they were in their peak years.
This is what Yu Jin doesn't want to see.
Since FAW and Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant don't mind looking for others to purchase engines, there is no need for their Shanghai Automobile Manufacturing Plant to be so entangled.
"This is indeed a good plan. Our Shanghai-branded sedans are already relatively well-known. As long as the level of engines and gearboxes improves, it is possible for sales to return to their original state."
"When the time comes, Shanghai Volkswagen and Shanghai Automobile Manufacturing Plant will work together to make Shanghai the largest automobile industry base in the country. This is definitely a situation that the leaders are very willing to see."
Wang Huiliang was relieved when he saw that Yu Jin had no objection.
Because of Jiang Hui's series of layouts, the development of China's automobile industry has undergone considerable changes.
(End of chapter)