Chapter 1504 This is an open conspiracy
"Once your engines are self-sufficient, we can part ways amicably."
Director Tan's last words silenced both Li Ye and Lu Zhizhang. Even Lu Zhizhang couldn't help but be moved.
Because the cooperation conditions offered by Director Tan were not only very sincere, but also very much in line with the style of "mutual help" among state-owned enterprises in the 1970s and 1980s.
The predecessor of the Light Automobile Company provided a complete set of production drawings of the Beijing 130 free of charge to hundreds of companies across the country, allowing countless small and medium-sized automobile factories across the country to survive because of the 130.
Now Director Tan only asks the Light Automobile Company to purchase his engine at "cost price" and also send experienced technicians to help with research and development, and they can "part ways" at any time.
If this isn't mutual help between brother units, what is it?
But Li Ye doesn't believe in this kind of "selfless help".
Because decades later, he had seen too many cases of "making small profits and suffering big losses", and he also knew that Director Tan's real purpose was to increase production capacity as quickly as possible and form an industrial scale first.
Perhaps in Lu Zhizhang's eyes, his understanding of the scale of the industry was still a little vague, and he just felt that Director Tan's "cost price" was very fair.
However, Li Ye knew that once Director Tan's products reached a certain scale, even if his own Kamaz engine was successfully developed in the future, it would fall behind Director Tan and even fall into the dilemma of "one step slow, all steps slow".
A few decades later, the rare earth industry, which was what China was best at, was actually a product that was developed at a large scale based on the "cost price".
Who would have thought that at the beginning, the Flower Planting Company was strangled by the Lighthouse in terms of rare earths. Later, the Flower Planting Company endured the frustration and sold at cost price or even at a loss, and with the addition of its own market demand, it gradually fought back.
Only with a market and production can technology be iterated. If you can’t sell your products and no one buys them, how can you iterate?
This is just like the mainland's chip industry. Li Ye has invested a lot of money in it in recent years, but it is still very difficult.
Because the application market for chips in mainland China is too small, overseas manufacturers are constantly suppressing prices, and the product quality is not as good as others. If Li Ye had not insisted on having enough money, he would have been shut down long ago.
Now speaking of heavy-duty diesel engines, the current heavy-duty truck market in the mainland is so small. Director Tan took out the bait of cost price and took it all in one gulp. The entire market is full of his diesel engines. What will users think?
People who grow flowers tend to recognize "old brands" and they will form consumption habits in a few years.
Even if Li Ye successfully develops the Kamaz engine in a few years, his competitor will be Steyr, which is equipped with a mature engine. At that time, will users buy Steyr or your Kamaz?
Trucks are not cars. They are used to make money. Users want durable products that can carry more loads and run faster. Your new product, Li Ye, has just been launched on the market, so it is bound to have various minor defects that are difficult to find in the laboratory.
Director Tan’s diesel engine has been improved many times on an industrial scale. It would be strange if Li Ye could be his rival.
So Li Ye decided to refuse politely.
He showed a puzzled expression and asked, "Director Tan, I'm going to say something I shouldn't say. Our Kamaz is actually a competitor to Jicheng Heavy Duty Truck's Steyr. You're providing us with engines at cost price. That doesn't make sense!"
Director Tan pursed his lips and looked at the guests at the banquet.
Li Ye smiled and waved his hand, and several colleagues who were accompanying him for drinks hurried out to "go to the toilet together."
After only Li Ye, Lu Zhizhang, and Director Tan were left in the private room, Director Tan said in a deep voice, "Of course I know that our two companies are competitors, and I also know that I might be criticized by Jicheng for doing this, but I believe that you will be the ultimate winner."
Lu Zhizhang exclaimed: "Do you believe we can win?"
"Yes, you will win."
Director Tan said confidently: "Because you not only have the most advanced management structure, but are also the most technology-oriented company. In addition, you also have the most comprehensive after-sales service network in the country. Most importantly, you have the ability to cultivate the market.
When your new light trucks were first launched on the market, everyone lined up at the factory gate with money in hand to pick up the goods. Even if the price was raised to 3,000, they were still not available. Everyone said that you were fools who refused to make money. But who still calls you fools now?
The Steyr is too expensive, more expensive than the three Geely 141s. What do you think of this? Can one car make more money than three?
But I think you won’t sell heavy trucks at such a high price, and then users will taste the sweetness of heavy trucks, so as long as Kamaz is on the market, you will win.”
Li Ye raised his eyebrows and smiled slightly.
A brilliant person is a brilliant person. He actually guessed his strategy.
However, Li Ye still smiled and asked, "Director Tan, since you know we will win, it doesn't make sense for you to support us in developing our own engine!"
"Hey, didn't I just say it? If you think it's not suitable, we can just part ways amicably. But what if you think it's suitable?"
Director Tan said frankly, "Mr. Li, you've also been abroad to understand the broader situation. Now is the era of global cooperation, and everyone believes that it's better to buy than to make. If you can buy something of good quality and low price, there's no need to make it yourself!"
Good! Director Tan was certain that Li Ye would be inseparable from him. In addition, Director Tan was also very smart. As long as he could help him increase production capacity, he didn't care whether he worked with Li Ye or Jiqi.
Director Tan is so magnanimous, honest, and open-minded that most people can't resist him and can't help but fulfill his wish.
Unfortunately, he met Li Ye.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Li Ye got Director Tan half drunk, but he still refused to give in despite Director Tan's repeated probing.
After sending them off, Lu Zhizhang asked Li Ye in confusion, "Li Ye, do you think something is wrong? If we use their diesel engine, we can conduct full-scale road tests this year and start production next year."
Li Ye shook his head and said, "Old Lu, we no longer have a planned economy in the mainland. The market economy isn't a life-or-death struggle, but it's still about ability. We can't rely on the reputation of others for our survival."
Lu Zhizhang blinked, as if understanding something, but still asked worriedly, "But from what Director Tan said, they have the most advanced equipment, which only three companies in the world have. The cylinder strength requirements for heavy-duty diesel engines are too high."
"We are developing the fourth one," Li Ye said calmly. "Last year, some companies in mainland China started developing similar large-scale equipment, so you don't have to worry."
"Hey, I was worried for nothing."
Lu Zhizhang was completely relieved.
Ever since he and Li Ye started working together, they always encountered various "good things".
When a branch factory needs a certain kind of accessories, there "happens" to be a mainland enterprise that has just introduced overseas technology or has spent huge sums of money on research and development breakthroughs to provide the branch factory with the most suitable components.
You have to know that these suppliers were all "working in a thankless job" at the beginning. They invested huge amounts of money to produce excellent products for the small output of a branch factory. If the cars of a branch factory were unsaleable in the end, they would all go bankrupt.
After a long time, Lu Zhizhang also figured out what was going on. Li Ye was a family fighting a war, with help coming from all directions. Everyone around him was his own people. On the one hand, they would fully support Li Ye, and on the other hand, they would never allow others to choke them.
Just like the casting equipment that Director Tan is very proud of this time, last year, Wen Leyu took the lead and domestic manufacturers began to independently develop public relations.
Although the performance of the equipment developed may not be as advanced as that of Austria due to various limitations, all the profits go into the pockets of our own people.
This is actually the same as "industry scale".
As long as there are R&D tasks, those mainland engineers who are satisfied with only a few hundred yuan a month will not sell tea eggs or set up small stalls for a few taels of silver, and ultimately waste their talents in the mud.
(End of this chapter)
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