If the reactions of Great Wall, Geely and BYD are relatively normal, the reactions of car companies such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW are a bit different.
Initially, they didn't take a serious look at Xingchen Motors, thinking that a local Chinese company actually wanted to build a luxury model to compete with the BMW 730.
Isn't this something that makes you laugh out loud?
If luxury cars were so easy to buy, wouldn’t the streets be filled with luxury cars?
Which one of them has accumulated decades, or even hundreds of years, to reach today's situation.
"Han, please sort out the situation of Xingchen Automobile and report to me tomorrow."
Felix, the general manager of BMW China, didn't look very good.
Volkswagen is not the only one interested in sponsoring the Olympic Games. BMW is also working hard.
However, it was not successful in the end.
Because of this, he was criticized by the German headquarters.
Originally, when he reported it, he said that Volkswagen had lost the Olympic sponsor qualification, so although the headquarters was very angry, it could accept it.
After all, Volkswagen's current scale cannot be underestimated.
It has a variety of car brands under its umbrella, which can be said to be the most powerful stage.
But now Felix discovered that in addition to Volkswagen, there was also Star Motors, a sponsor of the official Olympic reception car.
In this case, the situation is different.
It doesn't matter if BMW can't compete with Volkswagen. After all, Volkswagen's joint venture partners in China are Spring City Automobile Group and Modu Automobile Group, which have very unique influence.
BMW headquarters has already had a hunch on this.
So even though I was unhappy, I accepted it relatively quickly.
But it will be difficult for them to accept that Xingchen Motors has suppressed BMW.
In particular, Ziweixing of Xingchen Motors also advertised that it has an absolute advantage over the BMW 730.
This is even more intolerable.
What makes Phillips even more anxious is that the appearance pictures of Ziweixing that have been circulated on the Internet these days are so stunning.
Even though he was very unhappy with Xingchen Automobile, he had to admit that Ziweixing's exterior design was excellent.
Even the BMW 730 dare not say that it is more elegant and beautiful.
So for the first time, Phillips began to face up to such a Chinese company.
"The marketing department has collected various information related to Xingchen Automobile, and I have the relevant information in my computer."
"Now I can give you a brief report."
Han Yang was secretly grateful.
Fortunately, I had prepared in advance, otherwise I would have been bitten again if I was attacked so suddenly.
Although foreigners will not easily be PUA subordinates when working, that is not absolute.
Like Phillips, when he is in a bad mood, he will not be polite when he should curse.
Even sometimes when you are not swearing, the words you say are even more uncomfortable.
Soon, Han Yang turned on the computer and briefly explained the situation of Xingchen Auto to Phillips.
Due to publicity strategies, a lot of information about Xingchen Automobile can be found on the Internet.
For example, some situations of Ziweixing, as well as some simple situations of Xingchen 2 and Xingchen 3.
This is not easy.
After all, there is no information about new models before they are launched, so it is normally difficult to find out.
"Are they going to have second and third models so soon?"
After listening to Han Yang's report, Phillips felt it was unreal.
How can any company develop like this?
Not even a new car has been launched yet, but the second and third models are already here.
Don’t you want to take a look at the market reaction?
"Yes, a reporter contacted Xingchen Automobile about this news, and the other party did not deny it."
"And from now on, the two new models of Xingchen Motors are a sports car and an SUV."
"The popularity of SUV models has increased a bit in the past two years. I can understand why they want to build SUVs."
"But things like sports cars are not something that Chinese companies can afford."
"How can the 3.0T twin-turbocharged engine used in their Ziweixing be worthy of the power needs of a sports car?"
Although Nanshan Engine is developing the W12 engine, this news has not been publicized to the outside world.
Just like Nanshan Transmission has begun the research and development of 10AT, this matter will not be mentioned.
In a group, it is impossible to talk about everything.
Isn’t that waiting for your competitors to stop you?
"After listening to your report just now, I'm a little worried."
"But now that I hear what you say, I'm not so worried."
"Xingchen Motors is just messing around. It doesn't look like it's serious about building cars."
Phillips breathed a sigh of relief.
This opponent seems to be a little drifting.
"The one that should have the biggest headache right now, I think, is Volkswagen. Their Audi A6 is likely to be impacted by Xingchen Motors."
"In particular, the most important market for the Audi A6 is China's official car market, and Ziweixing has now become the official designated vehicle for the Olympic Games."
"It is very likely that people will also work towards official vehicles in the next step."
Han Yang felt that it was necessary to reduce the pressure on his boss so that he would not be scolded every now and then.
"Didn't you just say in the report that Ziweixing is not very suitable for official use?"
"Its shape is beautiful, but it's too sporty and not stable enough."
Phillips has a good memory.
The information just passed by very quickly, but he took down a lot of things.
"In the official car market, it's not just about the appearance of the car. There are often various factors involved."
"Besides, what if people think that Ziweixing is more sporty and suitable to express the vitality of China?"
After Han Yang said this, Phillips stopped worrying about this issue.
As long as it's not you who has the headache.
…
Li Jianfeng is considered an old man among the people in Shanghai.
After graduating from college in 1995, he entered the purchasing department of Shanghai Volkswagen.
Now ten years have passed, and he has finally reached the position of a small manager.
However, early this morning, Bu Defan called him over and said something that surprised him.
"Li, although I know that you have a very good relationship with Nanshan Group, and their parts are also relatively good in QCD."
"But this is the decision of Volkswagen China, and even the decision of Volkswagen headquarters. There is nothing I can do about it."
"At most, they are the models currently in mass production. We will not bother and continue to use parts from Nanshan Group."
"But for new models in the future, except for a few parts, other manufacturers will not be able to lower their prices to the level of Nanshan Group. Otherwise, we will give priority to other manufacturers as our parts suppliers."
Bu Defan solemnly gave Li Jianfeng instructions on the work.
Yesterday, German representatives from various Volkswagen companies in China held a meeting together.
One of the important topics discussed was how to deal with Nanshan Group and Xingchen Motors.
This time around the Olympic sponsors, the emergence of Xingchen Motors has put Volkswagen into an embarrassing situation.
There are even some jokes about Volkswagen on the Internet that have reached the top management of Volkswagen.
In this case, Volkswagen certainly cannot do nothing.
If they want to deal with Xingchen Automobile directly, there are not many tricks they can use.
But when dealing with the Nanshan Group, the situation is different.
They still have a lot of tricks up their sleeves.
"Bu Defan, the parts and components of Nanshan Group we are using now will only be considered for use when QCD is optimal."
"Even these parts are orders that Nanshan Group has grabbed from other manufacturers with a cost advantage of more than 10%."
"If we stop using parts from Nanshan Group, the cost will probably increase to a certain extent."
Li Jianfeng knows Bosch and Continental very well.
As long as there are no competitors like Nanshan Group there, their price reduction cooperation will definitely drop by several levels.
Therefore, he is very reluctant to abandon Nanshan Group.
The reason for this is not entirely because the Nanshan Group has very close contact during the holidays, but it actually has work benefits.
Li Jianfeng felt the need to continue using Nanshan Group both in public and private matters.
"I understand what you said, and the headquarters is also aware of this."
"So this instruction doesn't spell it out directly, but leaves some leeway."
"If we don't even give Nanshan a chance to quote, then other manufacturers will definitely not be very cooperative with price cuts."
"But we will ask everyone for prices. When the time comes, we will take Nanshan's price alone and let Bosch and other manufacturers review it and bring it down to the same level."
"As long as we threaten them not to lower the price to the same level, we will give the order to Nanshan."
"Then I think most parts and most suppliers are still willing to work hard."
"The premise is that Nanshan is really strong in this field, and other manufacturers can realize that Volkswagen can do it if it turns to Nanshan to make parts."
Bu Defan has been in China for so many years and has a relatively good understanding of many situations.
So when communicating with Li Jianfeng, he was very straightforward.
"If this is the case, then it may be better to promote it on new models."
"If we go too far in mass production, Nanshan Group may do something extreme."
"It will also be a problem if it affects our mass production and supply."
"Even after people realize this change, they directly find a reason to increase prices and earn back all the profits before switching parts supply. That will make us very passive."
If dealing with ordinary suppliers, Li Jianfeng is not too worried.
It can be said that they can knead it as they wish.
But dealing with the Nanshan Group is different.
This is definitely not the kind of manufacturer that can be easily kneaded.
It is even different from any domestic auto parts company.
“Isn’t there an annual model change every year?”
"Slowly go through these replacement models, switching their parts part by part."
"Then when setting the target for new models, we will try to exclude them as much as possible."
Bu Defan combined Li Jianfeng's opinions and gave his own judgment.
He will definitely carry out the tasks given by Volkswagen.
But it is also necessary to make some appropriate adjustments.
…
"Zengbu, did you have any big conflict with Volkswagen?"
Zeng Tingting, who had just returned from a business trip, suddenly received a call from Xu Liang of Spring City Volkswagen Purchasing Department.
They have known each other for many years, and their relationship has always been relatively good.
"Xugong, why do you ask this suddenly?"
"Did something happen?"
Zeng Tingting suddenly felt a bad feeling in her heart.
In the past few days, there has been a lot of buzz on the Internet about Xingchen Motors and Volkswagen becoming sponsors of the Olympic Games.
Generally speaking, many people feel that Volkswagen suffered a loss this time, and Xingchen Motors came out halfway and picked the peaches.
As the head of the sales department, Zeng Tingting was a little worried that this publicity would have a negative impact on Nanshan Group's parts business.
However, developing the vehicle business is the general direction of the group in the future.
We certainly cannot stop doing this just because it will affect the parts business.
"I'm telling you, but after that I won't admit that I told you this."
Since Xu Liang wanted to sell a favor to Zeng Tingting, he naturally had to explain something clearly.
"Xugong, don't worry, I have a bad memory. I often cannot remember what I heard today."
Xu Liangdu said that, and Zeng Tingting naturally wanted to cooperate.
As long as both parties have a tacit understanding.
"This morning, the German people in our department suddenly asked us to report on the supply status of various models given to us by Nanshan Group."
"Then he specifically proposed that we should reduce our dependence on Nanshan Group in the future."
"As long as it is a part that other manufacturers can make, even if the first quotation cost is relatively high, it can still give the other party an opportunity to review the price reduction."
"That is to say, as long as they can lower the price to your cost level, the order will be given to other suppliers."
"At first I thought it was Bosch or Continental suppliers who complained through the Deutsche headquarters that we in China were switching a large number of their parts."
"After learning more about it later, I realized that this matter was not that other manufacturers wanted to deal with you, but that Volkswagen wanted to deal with you."
When Xu Liang said this, Zeng Tingting couldn't help but frown.
Sure enough, what is supposed to come will come.
"So, Volkswagen will reduce Nanshan Group's share of parts supply in the future?"
"Xugong, is my understanding correct?"
Zeng Tingting confirmed it again.
"Yes, that's what it means."
"Did they say what the reason was?"
Although she had a guess in her mind, Zeng Tingting still wanted to confirm it again.
However, Xu Liang was unable to give a definite reply this time.
"They didn't say the specific reason, but it's definitely not groundless."
"If you sort out the recent conflicts with Volkswagen, you will probably have the answer."
Xu Liang sighed.
This is a situation that he personally doesn't really want to see.
When those German manufacturers replace Nanshan, it will definitely be more difficult to get along with them.
But his arms couldn't twist his thighs, so he had no choice but to implement the above strategy.
(End of chapter)
