When auto parts companies cooperate with OEMs, cost is always an unavoidable topic.
In particular, Changan Automobile, which is accustomed to producing mini cars, is more aware of the price sensitivity of Chinese consumers.
So I definitely hope that the cost of SUVs and cars can be reduced.
Cao Yang could understand this.
However, understanding is understanding.
Of course, the money that should be earned must be earned.
Nanshan Group is a business, not a charity.
"Mr. Yi, Mr. Zhang, and Minister Liu, the parts our Nanshan Group provides to our customers, whether they are engines, gearboxes, or other parts, can be said to be of high quality and low price. QCD's competitiveness is on par with international automobile parts. Compared with the component giants, it can be said to have an overwhelming advantage."
"I can promise that the parts and components provided by Nanshan Group to Changan Automobile will not be higher than those sold to other customers."
"We are even willing to launch some special specifications specifically for the parts used in Changan Automobile's models."
"However, I actually think the most important thing now is that your company should launch the product as soon as possible."
"Especially for medium and large SUVs, no independent brand is currently producing them on the market."
"If you can launch this model in time, you will probably make more money selling one car than two cars."
After Cao Yang made a simple statement, he immediately changed the topic.
It’s embarrassing to talk about the cost.
It's not okay to disagree directly. It's also inappropriate to directly say how much it can be reduced.
It would be better to let Changan Automobile produce a model with less cost pressure first, and let them try it and get the benefits, and then the rest will be easier.
As for whether Changan Automobile will consider looking for some cheaper suppliers than Nanshan Group to replace some parts in the future, that is almost inevitable.
Cao Yang can only ensure that the QCD auto parts produced by Nanshan Group have the strongest comprehensive capabilities, but there is no way to ensure that every dimension is the strongest.
Especially in terms of cost, some domestic manufacturers produce directly according to other people's drawings.
There is no design cost, and testing can be omitted.
All kinds of production equipment are also cheap, and the final parts cost is definitely lower than that of Nanshan Group.
Not to mention other things, Nanshan alone invests 10% of its sales expenses in various research and development every year. This part of the expenses must be amortized on auto parts and other products.
On this point, other domestic manufacturers can compare with Nanshan.
Of course, Nanshan has some unique technological advantages of its own, so it is not afraid of other domestic manufacturers.
After all, there are some things that you can’t copy even if the parts are placed in front of you.
Otherwise, more than ten years later, a large number of parts would still be purchased from international auto parts giants.
"Mr. Cao, to be honest, we know very little about SUV models. Do you have any suggestions?"
Yi Jia is also a smart person. He knew that Cao Yang didn't want to talk to him directly about too many cost details, so he didn't get entangled.
Instead, he asked a very important question for Changan Automobile.
"In fact, it is not difficult. No matter it is any car company, in the early stages of development, there will inevitably be some processes of imitation. There is nothing shameful in this."
"China's independent brand car companies started relatively late, and there are still some gaps compared with international car giants in terms of exterior design and vehicle design."
"But after a few years of training, the situation will be completely different."
“When you first start, you can directly learn from other people’s designs and then make some improvements on this basis.”
"Slowly entering the stage of completely independent design, this should be the path most suitable for the development of domestic car companies."
"At present, BYD and other car companies are already taking this path."
"Everyone knows that the F6 model they sell best is Honda's Accord."
"The S6, which is selling well now, is based on the Honda CRV."
"The F3, which will be launched soon, has the same styling as Toyota's Corolla."
"For models of similar size, the price is only about half of others. There are still many cash-strapped consumers who are willing to choose to use it."
"Especially in the past, the engines of self-owned brand models were always criticized. Many consumers did not dare to buy self-owned brand models for this reason."
"Now that Nanshan Engine can provide customers with engines with excellent performance and stable quality, this consumer concern can basically disappear."
"If Changan Automobile can seize this wave of SUV craze, it is likely to be able to overtake in corners, just like mini-cars, and become a leader in the field of passenger cars."
When Cao Yang said this, Yi Jia couldn't help but nodded.
There is nothing wrong with this logic.
Although it is a bit boastful and seems to be advertising Nanshan's engines and other products, what others say is also true.
"As for medium and large SUVs, Mr. Cao, do you have any recommended models for reference?"
Anyway, that's all I've said.
Yi Jia simply put down her dignity and asked more straightforwardly.
"This choice is easy. Just look at the best-selling models in the American market, and then it is best to use models that may be introduced to China in the future as learning objects. The effect should be very good."
"For example, Toyota's Highlander, I think it is a good learning object."
In order to promote Nanshan Group's parts and components, Cao Yang was not polite at all.
Anyway, in the end, Nanshan Group was the beneficiary of this matter.
As for whether the Toyota would be injured, that's not something he should consider.
"Toyota's Highlander?"
"We will study it carefully when we go back."
Yi Jia had a smile on her face when she saw that Cao Yang really gave the answer so happily.
…
Changes in the sales volume of individual customers will not cause any big fluctuations in Cao Yang's mood.
So after sending Yi Jia and his party away, he immediately returned to his busy design work.
As the top priority during this period, the determination of the appearance drawings of Xingchen 2 and Xingchen 3 and the production of clay models are naturally the most urgent matters.
Only when these basic things are determined can a lot of specific development work be formally launched.
Otherwise, how to develop parts such as interior and exterior decoration parts, body skeleton parts, chassis, etc.?
Under different shapes, the structure of the parts is naturally completely different.
"Mr. Cao, I was worried before that since you have never designed an SUV before, you would be able to maintain that level of stunning styling."
"Now it seems that I was wrong and completely underestimated your level."
Mi Ying followed Cao Yang every day during this period. It could be said that she watched Cao Yang draw the appearance of Xingchen 2 one stroke at a time.
"Although I haven't driven an SUV yet, I have the urge to buy such an SUV when I see its appearance."
"The various SUVs currently on the market are simply no match for it."
Zeng Tingting was also quite shocked when she looked at the appearance picture in front of her.
Although whether a car is good-looking or not is a matter of opinion, there are some models that no matter who looks at them, they will think they are beautiful.
Obviously, the 2018 Range Rover Extended Edition chosen by Cao Yang is such a model.
In particular, the classic white body with black A-pillars, B-pillars, and C-pillars gives people the feeling of a suspended roof.
In this era, it is definitely very impactful.
The longer and larger shape than the Range Rover will also make these two large SUVs look more domineering and exposed.
The Chinese people's love for big cars has been proven by history.
So Cao Yang has no plans to build any small SUV or small car at all.
Tian Ji is like a horse racer, using a large SUV to beat other people's medium-sized SUVs.
If you use a full-size SUV to beat other people's large SUVs, I don't dare to say that you will win completely, but you will definitely not lose ugly.
"Mr. Cao, I feel like this car has a bit of a Range Rover flavor, but the lines are clearer, more angular, and more domineering."
Although Rao Yongxiang also felt that the drawings in front of him were very stunning, but as he was familiar with the models of various OEMs, he still found some familiar impressions from the drawings.
After thinking about it for a while, I thought of Land Rover's most classic Range Rover model.
Although the Range Rover currently on the market is obviously not as good-looking as the one in front of you.
But the style is definitely somewhat similar.
"Range Rover is one of the representatives of luxury SUVs. It's not a bad thing that we are a little similar to them."
Cao Yang did not argue.
Originally, Xingchen No. 2 was based on the Range Rover more than ten years later, and I just enlarged it to No. 1.
As a model with obvious family genes, it is normal for Rao Yongxiang to associate it with the current Range Rover.
Even after the appearance of Xingchen 2 is publicized, some people will definitely make similar noises.
"That's true."
"Maybe it can also increase the influence of our Xingchen 2 in a disguised form."
After Rao Yongxiang finished speaking, he also realized that he seemed to have said the wrong thing.
Fortunately, Cao Yang was not angry, so he breathed a sigh of relief.
However, he did not dare to continue discussing this topic.
"Land Rover is still a brand owned by Ford Motor Company, right?"
"I heard that Ford's performance in the past two years has not been very satisfactory, especially the European branch, which has suffered losses for several consecutive years."
"Even Ford Global fell into losses in the first half of this year, and there is a high probability that its full-year performance will also be in the red."
"Under this situation, I think Ford will definitely make some business adjustments and even sell some brands."
"Mr. Cao, do you think it's possible for us to buy Land Rover from Ford?"
Zeng Tingting suddenly came up with a very bold proposal.
Buying a luxury brand like Land Rover is probably something that many people in China would never even dare to think about.
But after Zeng Tingting said it, she felt more and more that this matter was not impossible.
Originally, Jaguar Land Rover was purchased by Ford from BMW in 2000.
And BMW also bought Jaguar Land Rover from others.
In other words, this company has actually been sold back and forth for many years.
No one is its biological father or mother.
As long as it cannot contribute profits to the group, it is normal to sell it.
"If I remember correctly, Ford spent more than two billion dollars to buy Land Rover from BMW."
"Now that several years have passed, if they want to sell it, they may have to pay more than three billion dollars to have any hope."
"For such a large amount of money, let's not say whether the company can get it. Even if it can get it, whether it is cost-effective is another question."
Obviously, Rao Yongxiang does not support Zeng Tingting's proposal.
Spend more than 20 billion yuan to buy a poorly performing luxury brand. What are you trying to do?
Is it possible that because I said that the shape of the Star 2 looks a little like a Range Rover, I want to buy the Land Rover?
Then he would be the sinner of Xingchen Automobile.
"Ford only started to really fall into losses this year. It won't take more than a few years for them to be willing to sell off their assets."
"Even if it is to be sold, the current price is definitely not cheap. It is not a good time."
"So let's talk about buying a Land Rover later."
Cao Yang did not directly deny Zeng Tingting's proposal.
He even looked at her favorably because of it.
Others don't know, but he knows it very well.
A few years later, Ford sold Jaguar Land Rover to Tianzhu's Tata Motors at a low price.
The selling price was less than half of the original purchase price.
"Mr. Cao, can we directly arrange for designers to make clay models?"
Rao Yongxiang changed the topic.
The shape of Xingchen No. 2 is so stunning, so hurry up and implement it.
After the clay model is produced, the drawing data of some body parts can be generated through a three-dimensional coordinate scanner, and then further processing can be carried out.
The relevant dimensional parameters have also been determined, and some simulation confirmation and other work can be started on CATIA.
In short, when the clay model is finalized, the design work is officially on track.
You can roll up your sleeves and get to work.
"Just start doing it."
"This large SUV is the key model for Xingchen Motors to turn losses into profits in the future, so we must pay attention to it."
Although Xingchen No. 2 is a reference to the Range Rover, it is enlarged in size.
When the time comes, the design of the parts will certainly not be completely copied.
This part of the content cannot be directly "transported" by Cao Yang.
Although it may not have much impact on the design, the longer the sides of the car will definitely have an impact on the subframe, transmission system and other aspects.
"Mr. Cao, don't worry. We have already made a clay model of one car model. Now we will make a model of Xingchen No. 2. There will definitely be no problem."
"We will discuss the design of specific vehicle parts and components with Nanshan Auto Parts and move forward."
"We will do our best to ensure that the production schedule of the model is not delayed!"
Rao Yongxiang can be regarded as issuing a military order.
After all, the process of model development will definitely encounter various problems.
It is not that easy to ensure that the schedule is not delayed.
(End of chapter)
