Rebirth of the Industrial Tycoon

Daihatsu's Charade model was named "Xiali" after it was introduced to China.

It is a generation of national god car Xiali!

As an automotive engineer, Kato Masayuki knows all kinds of cars, and of course he also knows about Daihatsu's Charade.

Masayuki Kato recalled a little, and then said, "Isn't Daihatsu's Charade discontinued? The sales of that car are very poor."

"That's why Daihatsu sells the Charade model to Jinmen Motors! Replace it with a popular model that is currently being produced, and Daihatsu won't sell it!"

Li Weidong smiled slightly and then said, "Jinmen Automobile is planning to introduce the Charade model from Daihatsu, so naturally, it will not be very interested in the joint venture with Tianfeng Automobile."

"I see!" Kato Masayuki nodded silently.

For Tianfeng Motor, this news is indeed very useful, at least it can clarify the cooperation intention of Tianjin Automobile.

If Jinmen Automobile really has no intention of cooperating with Tianfeng Automobile, Tianfeng Automobile can also find another partner as soon as possible to avoid wasting time.

Shopping malls are like battlefields, one step ahead, one step at a time, especially in the automotive industry. Taking market share earlier may bring irreversible advantages.

This is especially true in China's auto market. For example, Volkswagen, which entered the Chinese market first, naturally became the leader of the domestic joint venture brand. And those joint venture brands that entered the Chinese market relatively late, many of them are half-dead.

...

Jinmen Auto will introduce Xiali in the form of full bulk parts, that is, after the auto parts are imported into China, Jinmen Auto will carry out the steps of assembly, welding, painting, final assembly, and quality inspection.

The import of all bulk parts is only the first step. Next, Xiali will embark on the road of independent production and independent research and development.

Compared with joint venture production, the advantage of independent production is that the threshold is relatively low.

Vehicles are imported and then produced independently. The quality is a little worse, the craftsmanship is a little behind, and there are more failures, all of which are acceptable. There is no joint venture party to pick and choose, and it can be used immediately.

A generation of the national god car Dafa van, the inside is cold in winter and hot in summer, the car shake is not much better than the tractor, all kinds of small faults continue, and the quality of the whole vehicle makes people anxious. However, it sold cheaply, so the sales volume was good, and it became a national car in the early 1990s.

If a joint venture is established like SAIC Volkswagen, the foreign party will inevitably have many requirements and restrictions.

For example, in the localization of Santana, German engineers refuse to use any components that do not meet the standard. All components must meet German standards. Therefore, the road to localization of Santana is particularly difficult.

In contrast, the localization process of Xiali was much faster. The first Xiali was assembled and rolled off the assembly line in 1986, and a facelift was launched in 1988. At that time, except for the important core components, other parts were domestic. After the sedan Xiali was launched in 1990, Xiali has successfully embarked on the road of independent research and development.

Since Jinmen Motors plans to introduce Xiali and engage in independent production, the joint venture with Tianfeng Motor is not so necessary. Why should I make a joint venture with you when I can build my own car?

The foreign trade department naturally hopes to promote the cooperation with Tianfeng Motors, but unfortunately it is only a hot topic, and Jinmen Motors loves to ignore it.

A major event such as a joint venture of an automobile factory still needs to be decided by the state. The superior department in charge of the Jinmen Automobile Factory is also the Ministry of Machinery Industry, and the foreign trade department is not involved.

For Li Weidong, 25 million yen has already been obtained, and it is meaningless to stay in Tianjin. Therefore, Li Weidong told Kato Masayuki that Jinmen Automobile was about to introduce Xiali, and also hoped that Kato Masayuki would end his inspection as soon as possible, and Li Weidong could also finish his translation work.

as predicted,

After learning that Jinmen Automobile had no intention of entering into a joint venture with Tianfeng, Kato Masayuki decided to end the inspection as soon as possible, and then returned to RB.

...

Friendship Store, Li Weidong accompanies Kato Masayuki to choose goods together.

Friendship Store is a must-see for foreigners who come to China.

In the first few years of reform and opening up, the Friendship Store was only open to foreigners. To enter the Friendship Store, you needed to show your passport for registration. After 1983, the Friendship Store also began to open to the Chinese, but the Friendship Store still did not accept RMB, only foreign exchange coupons.

Chinese people go shopping in Friendship Store, naturally, to buy imported goods, such as imported TV sets, refrigerators, washing machines and other household appliances, and even fashionable clothes, which are the most popular products among Chinese people.

Masayuki Kato is naturally not interested in household appliances. There are more RBs and more advanced ones.

What Masayuki Kato is interested in is all kinds of exquisite Chinese handicrafts. Beautiful vases, exquisite carvings, and even some famous calligraphy and paintings, whether they can understand or not, are the favorites of foreigners.

Although Li Weidong entered the Friendship Store for the first time, he was very calm. In the large shopping malls in later generations, the goods were more dazzling, and the decoration was more luxurious and flashy. Compared with the things in the Friendship Store, it was really nothing to see. head.

"This handwriting is so well written!" Kato Masaaki said in love with a calligraphy in his hand.

"Does Mr. Kato still know Chinese calligraphy?" Li Weidong asked.

"This calligraphy has a lot of characters, and I can't understand it, so it should be written well." Kato Masaaki replied with a serious face.

"There are too many characters, but I can't understand it, is it good calligraphy?" Li Weidong glanced at it and found that the calligraphy was written by Su Dongpo's "Nian Nujiao Chibi Nostalgia", and then looked at the calligrapher's signature, Li Weidong had never heard of it.

"Mr. Kato, this calligraphy is about the Battle of Chibi in the Three Kingdoms." Li Weidong explained.

"Three Kingdoms? Or the Battle of Chibi! Okay, I'll buy this!" Kato Masaaki said.

RB people really like the Three Kingdoms era.

"Li Sang, do you have something you like?" Kato Masaaki continued, "I'm going to give you a gift to express my gratitude to you."

"Mr. Kato, it's my job to be a translator for you. You don't need to thank me." Li Weidong said.

"No, that's not what I'm referring to." Kato Masayuki lowered his voice and continued: "Thank you for telling me that Tianjin Automobile has no intention of cooperating with our Tianfeng Company, which saves me a lot of time, and I can also return to China earlier, Reunited with my family."

"It's for this!" Li Weidong laughed and said jokingly, "I'm not interested in the Friendship Store. If you really want to give me a gift, just discount it!"

"It makes sense! Money is indeed the best gift." Kato Masaaki said, took out a 100 yuan foreign exchange coupon, handed it forward, bowed slightly, and said, "Li Sang, please accept it. my present."

"Really!" Li Weidong was stunned for a moment, then looked at the 100 yuan foreign exchange coupons, and secretly shouted in his heart: Don't be in vain!