Later America was called
"A country on wheels" is a country where people love to travel by car, but this is far from the case now.
It would be nearly impossible to drive this Cadillac from Chicago to New York. Not only is the stability of the vehicle itself a problem, the most important thing is that the road conditions are not good, and it is not so convenient to refuel.
So they still can only take the train. The New York Auto Show will be held in two days, and Li Yu has been in New York for two days.
HarperCollins Publisher found Li Yu and first gave him royalties on the first edition of "Star Wars: A New Hope", totaling US$9,000.
There is no personal income tax in the United States today, and all the money goes to Li Yu. However, some of this money will be distributed to Lu Bicheng and De Ling in the future.
Editor-in-chief James said: "Sir, you can open an account in an American bank, so that we can remit money to you all the time." Li Yu was ready to follow his advice and open an account at Citibank, which would be much more convenient in the future.
James added: "In addition, we have already negotiated with Europe. "Star Wars: A New Hope" will be released in Europe in English, French, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish and other languages, but The translation work will take some time." Li Yu smiled and said, "What a coincidence, I happen to have the French version."
"This is great!" James said,
"Our work can be advanced faster. According to my preliminary estimates, the sales volume of this book in Europe will not be less than 200,000 copies. If the sequel can continue to sell well, the overall sales will increase significantly." Well, it is also easy to sell. .
On the day of the auto show, Sierra came over in a carriage. Like Europe, there are still many horse-drawn carriages in the United States today, and many people do not think that cars will be the future.
Many coachmen in Europe and the United States dislike cars very much and often ridicule them in newspapers. For example, there are many cartoons showing cars breaking down halfway and the driver having to lie under the car to repair the car.
In the eyes of the public, this is not gentlemanly at all. But since mankind entered the first industrial revolution, technology has changed too fast. Sometimes when the times abandon an old thing, it is so fast that there is no time to say hello.
Li Yu and Sierra rode a carriage to the auto show, feeling a bit like moving from the old era to the new era.
The New York Auto Show has been held since the first year of the twentieth century, that is, in 1900. The scale is certainly not comparable to that of later generations, but now there are many car companies participating in the show.
There are five famous international auto shows in later generations: Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany, Paris Motor Show in France, Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, North American Auto Show and Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.
But currently the North American auto show, the Detroit Auto Show, has not yet started, so the New York Auto Show is basically the largest auto industry event in the United States.
Even though cars have not yet become popular on a large scale, there are not many people who love cars now. There were hundreds of car companies in the United States at this time, but most of them were small workshops. If I had to make an analogy, they might be a bit like self-employed people in later generations, where one or two people or several people work together to build a car, and then if possible Participate in a racing competition, and if you become famous, you can continue to raise funds to start a company.
The reason why this can be done is because the structure of today's cars is far less complicated than that of later generations. ——Of course, there are only a few car companies that can become big.
Just like any emerging industry, there are hundreds of schools of thought contending at the beginning, but in the end, only a few giants remain.
There are many cars in the exhibition hall, but the most dazzling one at this auto show is really Cadillac. After all, 10 horsepower in 1903 was almost like a twin-turbocharged V8 engine more than 100 years later. Thinking about it makes people excited.
As soon as Li Yu and Sierra walked in, Wilfred saw them: "I'm here! I'm here! You guys are coming so slowly. Just ten minutes ago, all the cars we produced this time were sold. All sold out." Sierra said dissatisfied: "Didn't you agree to leave one for me?" Wilfred scratched his head: "But the price offered by those Japanese was too high." Sierra pointed to the back: " Isn't there another one?" Wilfred said quickly: "This car is a show car, and we need to use it to attract big buyers." Sierra said: "You are quite good at doing business." Wilfred De said: "It was all my father's idea."
"Okay, then I'll go look elsewhere." Sierra turned and left. The booth next to it is Ford.
At this time, Mr. Leland, the founder of Lincoln Motors and Cadillac Motors, was chatting with Henry Ford.
Ford has not yet begun production of the Model T, but has only built a few prototypes. This is also the current operating model of many car companies. As mentioned above, prototypes need to be used to gain fame and obtain financing through competitions and the like.
Of course, another way is through auto shows. Many companies hope to gain favor for their products and gain large quantities of orders.
This not only facilitates financing, but also allows them to produce with confidence. What Ford brought today is its own prototype Ford 999. This car was recently driven around by a racing driver and earned a lot of fame.
Li Yu looked at it for a while and quickly discovered many problems with the car. Sierra greeted the two of them: "Hello, Mr. Leland, Mr. Henry!" The two of them also knew Sierra.
"Beautiful Sierra, you are really the most moving lady in this exhibition hall, as dazzling as the best racing car." There are no car models in today's auto shows.
Wilfred ran over quickly: "Father, it's your fault that you sold all the cars you produced! Miss Sierra was going to order one, but now she's angry." Leland said in surprise: "What happened just now?" A Japanese customer offered twice the price, and I remember you agreed." Wilfred's old face blushed slightly, and Sierra said beside him: "So that's what happened." Wilfred smiled awkwardly. Laughing: "Miss Sierra, do you think this is good? I will provide you with a car with better power." Henry Ford said to Li Yu next to him: "Where have I seen this gentleman?" Sierra introduced Said: "He is Li Yu, from the Qing Dynasty."
"So it's you!" Ford said,
"I remembered, there was a photo of you in the newspaper." Mr. Leland said, "Are you the Li Yu who is rumored to have discovered Pluto and found extragalactic galaxies?" Li Yu said with a smile, "It's me."
"It's such an honor to meet you!" Ford said,
"Why are you at the auto show? Do you want to buy a car?" Li Yu said: "You don't have to mention whether you want to buy a car or not. I am more interested in some car technologies."
"Technology?" Ford himself was an engineer and was fascinated by automotive technology. He had run several car companies before, but they all went bankrupt. The reason was that he was too obsessed with technology research and development and neglected company operations.
Li Yu looked at the car in front of him and said: "I have just observed that there are many areas where this car can be improved. In fact, it is not just this car, but also the Cadillac Model A next to it. But I think the two gentlemen What I'm probably most interested in right now is engine improvements, four-wheel drive systems, and electronic ignition systems, right?" Li Yu has a sharp eye. He had a bachelor's degree in mechanics at that time and was quite familiar with cars.
There are many reasons for the weak horsepower of cars now, but in the short term, the points that can be quickly improved are engine displacement, cylinders, intake and exhaust design, etc.
As for the four-wheel drive system, although it may be seen as a configuration only required by high-end models or off-road vehicles in later generations, it is actually really important at this time, because today's road conditions are simply not comparable to those more than 100 years ago, and the paved roads are not Much, not to mention the level of paving.
Therefore, the four-wheel drive system is crucial, and it was also one of the biggest demands for vehicles in the subsequent World War I. It can even be said that with the current level of roads, driving is almost like driving off-road.
Of course, what is most needed for off-roading is a four-wheel drive system. There is also the electronic ignition system, which is something that has been completely popularized and even taken for granted in later generations of cars. You can't just use the joystick to crank it every time you drive like the hand-cranked tractors of the past.
Ford opened his mouth, and Li Yu almost explained the current situation of the automobile industry in just one sentence.
He paused and then said: "I didn't expect that you, a foreign academician of the Royal Society and a member of the Astronomical Society, would have such deep insights into the mechanical industry." Li Yu smiled and said, "I am indeed quite interested." Li next to him Mr. Lan said: "The points you mentioned are difficult to solve. The engine problem can also be increased by increasing the displacement to increase the horsepower. But the four-wheel drive system is really difficult to implement. Someone already designed a four-wheel drive car last year. However, the stability is very poor and the cost is too high. As for the electronic ignition system, it is limited by design and stability and is difficult to popularize because it is not as stable and reliable as the rocker." Li Yu said: "Mr. Leland's words make sense. , but I do have a way to solve it. The engine is a design problem. To sum up, it means that the number of cylinders can be increased, and the volume and cost can be controlled at the same time." Ford nodded: "Yes, please continue." Li Yu said : "As for the four-wheel drive system, I believe you two also understand that the core problem lies in the universal joint. If its stability and reliability can be improved, it will be fine." Ford nodded again: "That's right." Li Yu said: "As for the electronic ignition system, I think I can also provide a complete solution to this design." Ford was stunned, and then said after a long time: "Can you really solve these problems?"
"Yes," Li Yu said calmly,
"I will set up a company to provide technical support for several automobile companies such as four-wheel drive systems, electronic ignition systems, and even key engine parts." This idea was hatched from the moment Li Yu showed up at the exhibition hall.
It is true that automobiles are a very important industry. Even in later generations, they will still be one of the pillar industries of big countries.
Especially in a country like Japan, cars are almost the lifeblood. Japan is the third largest GDP country in the world. You can imagine the significance of cars.
Cars and the automobile industry are two different concepts. Cars involve so many upstream and downstream related industries that together they become a huge entity.
And cars are also of great significance to modern industry. Li Yu happens to be very familiar with industrial design including automobiles.
But he also knew that in the environment of the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, there was no suitable soil for industry. Now his thinking is clear. This industry is really big, and the well-known car companies are not just the familiar Volkswagen, Toyota, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Ford, General Motors, etc. - these are those that can produce and sell cars. enterprise.
Upstream of them, there are some companies that are not well-known to the public but are actually very important and very profitable, such as Germany's Bosch, Continental, Japan's Denso, etc.
These companies can be called automotive technology suppliers, and almost all automotive companies cannot do without their technical support.
On the other hand, without them, all car companies would be paralyzed. For example, the lack of chips in automobiles in the past few years has caused difficulties for many automobile companies. Automobile chips are mainly produced by several specialized automobile chip companies in the upstream of the industry.
There are also many core components in the car's key engine and gearbox, which are also produced by these upstream technology companies. For example, the cVt gearbox that is very popular in Japanese cars has its core component, the steel belt, from the Bosch Group in Germany.
In other words, these companies are the hidden champions in the automotive industry. There is another very critical point: these companies hold a large number of patents, and they receive a lot of money from the patent fees alone.
In fact, many European countries now have such high welfare and such long vacations. It seems that every day is like working at work. They are still developed countries. In addition to colonizing the third world for many years and sucking blood, another important reason is that more than 100 people A large number of technology patents have been accumulated over the years.
It can also be said that it is a technical barrier that makes it difficult for late-developing countries to get around it. You see, even Japan, South Korea, Singapore, etc., which are emerging later, have become developed countries, and the people are having a hard time.
In short, if there is a cause, there will be an effect. Otherwise, future generations of Europeans would not dare to implement so many enviable welfare policies.
Looking back at the environment in the late Qing Dynasty, it was indeed difficult to build a large-scale automobile industry, but it was much better to do technology research and development and technology provision.
In other words, Li Yu can first work in the upstream of the automobile industry and become the leader of the industry like Bosch, or the invisible king.
This is all high-tech, does not require excessive capital investment, and does not rely heavily on the industrial environment. It is a better direction.
It happened to be what Li Yu was good at. Sierra and the Carnegie family behind her happen to have a certain status in the United States, and they can help with future patent applications, import, export, and distribution.
Even Li Yu can apply for patents in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, and Germany. The broad road. Ford thought about what Li Yu said for a while,
"Do you also know about cars? If we can really come up with such an excellent system, I will purchase it unconditionally, but we need to see successful samples." Mr. Leland also said: "Yes, the points you mentioned are exactly Once the problem we urgently need to solve is proven to be a mature and reliable technology, it will be great news for us." Competition among automobile companies is fierce now, and whoever has advanced technology or who can reduce costs is a powerful weapon to occupy the market.
Li Yu said steadily: "I will provide it to several gentlemen, and you will be 100% satisfied." Ford said: "If that is the case, sir, you can come to my company, and we can make a lot of money together!" Ford will also really do it in the future. He became a big chaebol and was extremely rich.
Li Yu said with a smile: "I'd better start my own small business." Li Yu will not be a vassal of a certain company, so he must do preliminary work first, such as registering a company, registering a patent, etc.
He also suddenly thought of Tesla. When Tesla left Serbia and worked as an engineer in Edison's company, Tesla was absolutely top-notch in terms of technology, and could be said to be many, many more than Edison.
Edison's DC generators had big problems at the time, and Edison promised Tesla $50,000 if he could improve these DC generators.
Tesla believed it and in less than half a year, he actually transformed all 24 DC generators in the Edison Company.
Then he went to Edison to ask for money, but Edison actually replied: "You don't understand, this is our American humor." He didn't give him the money... Tesla argued hard, but in the end Edison just gave him Just a little salary increase.
This is the delicate relationship between boss and employees. So strictly speaking, Edison was not only an inventor, but also an entrepreneur.
Of course, he was indeed very successful in starting a company. Many important American companies had Edison's shadow in their early days.
