Chapter 315 General Motors’ little thoughts
"That is to say, you have such strong confidence. Our teachers in the Vehicle Engineering Department were worried after hearing the news."
Jiang Hui's answer was a bit beyond Zhu Jiansheng's expectations, but after thinking about it carefully, it seemed to make sense.
There is a reason why Ligong Special Vehicle Factory has the confidence to propose the heavy truck project to the First and Fifth Machinery Departments.
Not to mention other things, just the intercontinental missile launch vehicle with a difficulty index that is several levels higher. They are almost assembling the prototype vehicle. This is a world-class achievement.
Let alone FAW and Second Automobile Works, even if we look around the world, there is only one car factory in Polar Bear that can compare with it.
On this basis, it seems that it is not that difficult to develop a heavy-duty truck product that is better than FAW and Second Automobile Works.
"We have experience in the design of Humvee military vehicles and intercontinental missile launch vehicles. If FAW and Second Automobile Works can still surpass us, then what we need is not to worry, but to be proud of the power of Huaxia Automotive Technology."
"It's just that I never dreamed of doing that."
It's not that Jiang Hui looks down on FAW and Second Automobile Works, but the level of the domestic automobile industry is indeed what it is now.
Otherwise, a BJ212 would not have caused such a big response in the automobile market.
"You are right. It seems that I still care too much about the heavy truck project and am a little worried about gains and losses."
"Actually, as long as we complete the intercontinental missile launch vehicle, other trucks will not be a problem."
After figuring it out, Zhu Jiansheng felt relaxed.
Capital Institute of Technology's position in China's automobile industry will not be easily shaken by any factory or university in the future.
After putting aside his worries, Zhu Jiansheng stopped paying attention to what was happening at FAW and Second Automobile Works.
Instead, they focused solely on the intercontinental ballistic missile launch vehicle.
Although the production process of some parts still needs further improvement, the first prototype can already be officially assembled.
Naturally, the Seventh Aircraft Department also personally arranged for several engineers responsible for intercontinental missile design to come over to confirm the situation.
Originally, the Seventh Machinery Department felt that it was impossible for the Polytechnic Special Vehicle Depot to produce a missile launch vehicle so quickly, and the related development progress of land-based intercontinental missiles was now a bit behind.
Now we must definitely combine the situation of the missile launch vehicle to get the missile out as soon as possible.
Otherwise, there will be a launch vehicle by then, but there will be no missiles on it to use, which will be meaningless.
The various movements in the Seventh Machinery Department must be of greatest concern to special personnel from various countries.
Although much of their information is confidential, it is very difficult for outsiders to find out.
But this time, the missile launch vehicle was not produced in a factory affiliated to the Seventh Machinery Department. Personnel from several departments and a large number of supporting factories took various actions. Naturally, the U.S. Embassy also received some rumors.
"Smith, do you think this information is reliable?"
Woodcock has not returned to the United States to serve in the United States in recent years, but has stayed in China as an ambassador.
Information such as intercontinental missile launch vehicles is definitely something that needs to be focused on.
Currently, only polar bears in the world have the ability to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles using land-based launch vehicles, and the United States itself has not yet made a breakthrough.
If China makes a huge breakthrough in this area, this news is definitely worthy of attention.
Maybe during this process, relevant companies in the United States will be able to produce intercontinental missile launch vehicles.
"I think relevant units in China are developing intercontinental missile launch vehicles. This matter should be confirmed."
"What is not certain now is whether their project progress is as smooth as I heard, and they have reached the stage of starting to assemble prototypes."
"According to the intelligence we know, it is necessary to have the ability to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles. The chassis design of this launch vehicle is very special. Most countries simply do not have this capability."
"After all, it requires at least the ability to drive all-wheel drive with more than 8 axles, and the various technical thresholds involved are very huge."
Smith's view should represent the views of many people.
At this time, no one in the United States believed that China could handle the intercontinental missile launch vehicle.
"What you said makes sense, but it also doesn't make sense."
"China's current attitude is to focus solely on economic development. There is no reason to reveal to the outside world that it has mastered a technology before it has mastered it."
"Most of the time, the products they proactively disclose to the outside world are already relatively backward, and the most advanced ones must remain mysterious."
"What we did this time does not conform to this logic."
Woodcock is also considered a Chinese expert, and his Mandarin is more standard than many Chinese people.
He is relatively clear about Hua Xia's style of doing things in recent years.
The matter of the intercontinental ballistic missile launch vehicle seems strange no matter how you look at it.
"It seems so." Smith scratched his head, feeling a little confused about how to explain this. "Could it be that China has really mastered the design of this special launch vehicle and has produced a prototype?"
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After much deliberation, it seems that this is the only understanding that makes sense.
"Regardless of what the actual situation is, since we have obtained this information, we will send it back first to see what the relevant domestic departments think after receiving the information."
If you don’t understand something, just don’t do it for now. The worst thing you can do is explain their concerns clearly when delivering the message.
After their news spread back, the United States quickly had some ideas ready to be implemented.
"Austin, what you mean is that you want to contact the Polytechnic Special Vehicle Factory to discuss the heavy truck cooperation project, and then go to their factory for confirmation during the process, and finally see if the other party is also responsible for the intercontinental missile launch vehicle Project? ”
When Smith received a call from General Motors' design director Austin, saying that General Motors was preparing to arrange an inspection team to come to China to discuss a heavy-duty truck cooperation project, Smith immediately felt the beauty of it.
China’s “Three Automobile Vehicles” project is no secret.
General Motors also came to discuss this topic with the First Machinery Department before, but in the end, no consistent cooperation plan was formed.
Now that we are bringing up this topic again, it is considered a thing of the past.
"Yes, the Polytechnic Special Vehicle Factory has achieved very good results in the Humvee military vehicle project before. It is normal for us to cooperate with them on the heavy truck project."
"In the past, China's internal attitude towards joint ventures was unclear. Now the situation is different, and our attitude at General Motors is naturally different."
Austin thought about what the relevant departments said when they found him, and his attitude became a little firmer.
"Okay, then I will help you make some arrangements. Then you'd better come up with some sincere plans, otherwise you may not be able to achieve your goals."
Smith also wants to know whether China has really developed an intercontinental ballistic missile launch vehicle project. Now that General Motors is willing to take the lead, he is naturally willing to help.
But when the intention of cooperation reached Ligong Special Vehicle Factory, Zhu Jiansheng naturally thought more.
"Xiao Jiang, GM's contact this time seems a bit strange. You are familiar with Austin, who leads the team. What kind of medicine do you think they are selling this time?"
When in doubt, ask your son-in-law.
Zhu Jiansheng no longer feels embarrassed to ask Jiang Hui for advice.
"There are already several joint venture car companies in China such as Shanghai Volkswagen, FAW Audi and Yangcheng Peugeot. Even the Capital Automobile Factory has officially cooperated with the American AMC."
"Under such circumstances, it is normal for General Motors, as a global automobile giant, to have the idea to achieve success in the Chinese automobile market."
“However, General Motors’ most successful brands are Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac, and several current joint ventures also produce passenger cars.”
"It is indeed a bit strange for General Motors to find a special vehicle factory to cooperate with Ligong Special Vehicle Factory for heavy trucks. We cannot rule out that the other party has some small thoughts or ulterior motives."
Jiang Hui really didn't know what GM's specific thoughts were. He could only extract some information from various information and then speculate on some conclusions.
"If there is an ulterior motive, then it only involves the intercontinental ballistic missile launch vehicle."
"Our prototype has been officially assembled. Leaders from the Seventh Machinery Department and the Fifth Machinery Department have come to visit and inspect. Maybe they have heard some rumors. It is not surprising."
Capital Institute of Technology itself is a military-industrial university and is highly sensitive to confidentiality.
Especially during this period, important military projects have made great progress, and the relevant information has become even more sensitive.
In this sensitive period, General Motors has to consider exchange inspections, and everyone will definitely think about that.
After all, this is the second manufacturer in the world that can produce intercontinental missile launch vehicles, and it is even the first one that can produce 12-axle intercontinental missile launch vehicles.
If Zhu Jiansheng hadn't personally conducted the project, he wouldn't have believed it even if he heard the content.
"It is indeed possible, so there is no need to cooperate with them."
Jiang Hui thought for a while and felt that General Motors might really have this purpose.
"Cooperating with large companies in countries such as the United States is now in line with the general direction of reform."
"Especially due to the existence of polar bears, our relationship with the United States is becoming closer and closer. Relevant departments are already considering introducing a batch of advanced military equipment from the United States to resist the pressure of polar bears."
"Under such circumstances, the relevant departments will definitely be very interested in General Motors' offer of an olive branch. We cannot refuse it directly."
At Zhu Jiansheng's position, thinking about problems is no longer simply about considering the problem itself, but looking at things from a higher perspective.
For example, this cooperation project with General Motors is not just a problem of the project itself, it needs to be viewed in conjunction with the broader environment.
"This is indeed a problem. There is a big gap between our domestic military equipment and the United States. The benefits of being able to use the honeymoon period of both parties to introduce some aircraft or missiles from the other side are also very great."
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"In the past, many of our military products followed the path of the polar bear. It is hard to say whether the direction is correct or not."
"It would be the best thing if we could develop inclusively, fully combine the advantages of both sides, and ultimately form our own system."
Jiang Hui naturally knew about some military cooperation between China and the United States in the 1980s.
During this period, the United States was rarely generous in exporting advanced military equipment.
Even products such as Black Hawk helicopters and F16 fighter jets can be exported to China.
Otherwise, because China's foreign exchange reserves are a bit insufficient, it is really possible to introduce various advanced military equipment and technologies from the United States on a large scale during this period.
This will definitely have a very different meaning for China's subsequent military industry development.
"Yes, so this time I have to have normal contact with General Motors to see what the other party thinks first."
"However, regarding the missile launch vehicle, it must be emphasized inside the factory. No one can easily disclose the information to the outside world."
After a brief exchange, Zhu Jiansheng slowly came up with an idea.
Let's make polite contact first and take it one step at a time.
……
Zhu Jiansheng had a coping attitude towards General Motors' inspection, but after some people learned the news, their reactions were completely different.
For example, FAW was originally dissatisfied with the application from the First Machinery Department of the Polytechnic Special Vehicle Factory to the First Machinery Department for the Balong 100 heavy-duty truck project. Now that they saw people from General Motors going over to discuss cooperation on the heavy-duty truck project, they naturally thought more. Much more.
"Director, the Ligong Special Vehicle Factory seems to be determined to get out the heavy trucks this time, and it will be difficult for us."
In Zhao Guangming's view, General Motors must have been invited by the Capital Institute of Technology for inspection this time.
In particular, he knew that Jiang Hui had a good relationship with General Motors design director Austin and others, and they had contact with them many years ago.
Now that the other party has led a team here and designated to discuss cooperation with the special vehicle manufacturer of science and technology, it is not surprising that Zhao Guangming would have such thoughts.
"Is it possible for us to arrange for people to contact General Motors privately and ask them to come over to us and inspect the Ligong Special Vehicle Plant after they have inspected it?"
"The cooperation conditions that FAW can provide will definitely not be worse than those of Ligong Special Vehicle Factory."
Geng Weidong also felt that he was holding back a breath of anger that he couldn't vent.
Although they also officially approved the heavy truck project some time ago, the progress of this matter is not particularly ideal.
Considering that several domestic factories are already developing heavy truck projects, FAW naturally also has a sense of crisis.
If by then everyone else has produced heavy trucks and only FAW has no results, it will be very troublesome.
"I can try to ask the Beijing Office to contact the other party, but it may be a bit difficult."
“It’s probably not just our factory that has this idea.”
Zhao Guangming did not dare to make any guarantees, otherwise things would not be settled when the time came, and he, the deputy director in charge of the Beijing Office, would be held responsible.
"No matter what, you have to give it a try."
"Anyway, we cannot allow the Ligong Special Vehicle Factory to successfully cooperate with General Motors, otherwise we will be under great pressure in the field of trucks in the future."
Geng Weidong's current thinking is that regardless of whether FAW can cooperate with General Motors, he cannot let Ligong Special Vehicle Factory cooperate with the other party.
Otherwise, it will definitely not be beneficial to FAW by then.
(End of chapter)