Reborn in 2011, 985 missing from two copies

Chapter 741 Porsche BBA: The sky has fallen!

The thunderous applause lasted for a long time until Wang Yi waved his hand, at which point the crowd quieted down.

Wang Yi continued, "Although the intelligent driving capabilities of the Xingyi S5 Smart Edition have been greatly improved, the cost has also increased significantly, by 20 yuan."

"After all, a 64-line semi-solid-state lidar costs 20!"

The 64-line semi-solid-state lidar has just been developed, and the supply chain for various components is not yet mature, requiring R&D investment. These costs result in high production costs, exceeding 4.

Mechanical production costs are higher, requiring around 10.

More importantly, the research and development costs are too high!

Semi-solid-state LiDAR has just been developed, with low production volume and sales, resulting in high R&D costs.

After all, Xingyi Technology spent 10 billion yuan developing LiDAR.

If the annual shipment volume is 10,000 units, the R&D cost per unit would be 100,000 yuan.

Adding in material costs, packaging costs, production costs, etc., the total cost of Xingyi semi-solid-state lidar is about 15. Wang Yi selling it for 20 per unit is not excessive at all, and is even very cheap.

When the sales volume of lidar increases in the next year or the year after, reaching 100,000 units per year, the R&D cost can be reduced to 10,000 units per unit, and the total cost can be reduced to around 50,000 units.

In five or six years, when the lidar industry chain matures and annual sales reach 500,000 units, the production cost can be reduced from 40,000 to 10,000 or even 5,000 yuan.

The research and development costs can be spread down to a thousand yuan, or even a few hundred yuan.

At that time, the total cost of lidar was only about six thousand yuan, and the selling price could be less than ten thousand yuan.

But now, none of that is realistic.

In the first half of 2015, the total global shipment of LiDAR was only five or six thousand units, and the total shipment for the whole year was just over ten thousand.

Low sales volume, an immature supply chain, high production costs, and even higher R&D costs spread across the entire supply chain. Even if we assume annual sales of 10,000 units, each unit would cost 100,000.

Wang Yi had no choice but to sell them for 20 each!

We can't afford to lose money!
Besides, mechanical lidar is so outdated and costs 50 yuan per unit, while Xingyi semi-solid lidar is so advanced and only costs 20 yuan per unit, which is already very cheap!

It has already revolutionized the lidar industry!
Especially the outdated mechanical lidar, which costs 500,000 yuan per unit, is simply unsellable!

Li Yan, the former chairman of Baidu, felt as if the sky had fallen:

"It's over! We just spent 500 million to buy 10 mechanical lidar units from Velodyne, and now Xingyi Technology has launched a generation-old, semi-solid-state lidar!"

"Not only does it not require frequent calibration, but it also has a longer lifespan, and it only costs 200,000!"

"What a big loss!"

"Damn it, we've lost a fortune!"

"Quick! Ask Velodyne if we can return it!"

"???" The subordinate looked completely bewildered.

Wang Yi continued, "The cost of semi-solid-state LiDAR has led to a much higher price for the smart version."

"Star Express S5 Smart Edition, priced at 76.88 yuan!"

"Lifetime free highway NOA, free L2.5 level assisted driving!"

"Even after government and local subsidies, it only costs 70.58!"

The Smart Edition uses LiDAR, which increases the cost by about 20 yuan, but its intelligent driving capabilities are very powerful.

Equivalent to Tesla's level around 2019!

Its most distinctive feature is this semi-solid-state lidar.

Although it only has 64 lines, it can still achieve high-speed NOA when combined with powerful visual algorithms, which is quite impressive.

Subsequent OTA updates to upgrade the NOA (No Access Registry) of urban expressways are also not a problem.

Sure enough, the live chat exploded:
"It's only 20 yuan more expensive than the premium version, that's really a good deal."

"This is truly generous; a semi-solid-state lidar costs 20 yuan, which is practically free for intelligent driving systems!"

"I thought it would cost 900,000, but it's only 700,000. It also has a lidar, high-speed NOA, and smart summon. What more could you ask for?"

"Buy it, we have to buy it! It's unbeatable not only within a million, but also within five million."

"That's right, even a five million yuan car can't use the high-speed NOA intelligent driving system, nor can it be intelligently summoned!"

"Technology is priceless. Before the Enjoy Edition sold over 10,000 units, we were selling it at a loss. Xingyi Technology invested heavily in developing the semi-solid-state LiDAR!"

"I originally planned to spend 50 to subscribe to the Premium Edition, but now I'm going straight for the Smart Edition with 70!"

"For the high-speed NOA, 20 is just a drop in the bucket."

"Great! The Smart Edition Highway NOA means I'll never have to worry about long-distance highway driving again!"

"Chairman Wang, how do I buy it? The money is ready, and I can buy it anytime!"

Wang Yi continued:

"In addition to the range-extended Xingyi S5, we also launched the pure electric Xingyi S5e at the same time!"

"The Xingyi S5e Enjoy Edition, equipped with a 60kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, has a range of 400 kilometers and is priced at 56.88 yuan. Pure electric vehicles with a range of over 250 kilometers are eligible for a national subsidy of 5.4 yuan and local subsidies of up to 5.4 yuan, bringing the Enjoy Edition's price down to as low as 46.08 yuan after subsidies!"

"The Xingyi S5e Premium Edition, equipped with an 80kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, boasts a range of 500 kilometers and is priced at 66.88 yuan! After subsidies, the lowest price is 56.08 yuan!"

"The Xingyi S5e Smart Edition, equipped with an 80kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, intelligent driving package, and a range of 500 kilometers, is priced at 86.88 yuan! After subsidies, the lowest price is 76.08 yuan!"

The pure electric version has the same configuration as the corresponding range-extended version, except for the power and battery. However, due to the larger battery, the cost is 100,000 yuan higher.

Unfortunately, the cost of batteries is currently much higher than the cost of the range extender and fuel tank.

However, the government provides higher subsidies for pure electric vehicles, up to 108,000 yuan. Overall, the price difference is only about 60,000 yuan.

The pure electric version cannot compare with the range-extended version in terms of range, but it has more advantages for urban driving. The larger battery makes it suitable for commuting and traveling within the province.

"These are all the products of our Xingyi Auto S5, which have been launched simultaneously."

"Unlike the traditional 4S store franchise model, Xingyi Auto adopts a direct operation model in China."

"Our Xingyi S5 is on display in many stores across the country, including Xingyi flagship stores, Wujie flagship stores, Meiyou flagship stores, and Xingyi City commercial complexes."

"Interested users can search for nearby stores to experience and purchase the products."

"In addition, although Xingyi Auto is a new brand, it is also a large enterprise."

"Prior to the launch, we had already opened over 300 Xingyi Auto Experience Centers, integrating test drives, purchases, deliveries, and after-sales services. These centers cover all first-, second-, and third-tier cities nationwide! We will expand to more cities in the future."

"Welcome everyone to the Xingyi Auto Experience Center for a test drive and purchase."

"You can also search for Xingyi Auto APP or chat on the mini-program to place an order. Or search for Xingyi Auto direct store on Douyin Mall, Xingyi Mall, or Meiyou Mall to place an order."

"Xingyi cars are all officially sold directly, with unified pricing and sales. There are no hidden tricks, no mandatory decorations, no mandatory purchase of expensive car insurance, and no mandatory installment loans."

"Once the order is placed, the user can choose the nearest delivery center, go to the store at the appointed time to inspect the vehicle, make payment, and pick up the vehicle."

"That's right, it's in stock right now!"

"Six months before the launch, we had already started production and stockpiling, and distributed the products across the country."

"Order now and you can pick up your car as early as today!"

"Limited stock available, so act fast if you wish to purchase."

"The final surprise!"

"Customers who order the Enjoy Edition this month will receive a free Starry Sky Tablet 2nd Generation, plus a Switch and Starry Sky Legend bundle!"

"Customers who order the Premium Edition this month will receive a free Starry Sky Tablet 2nd Generation, a Switch and Starry Sky Legend bundle, and a Starry Sky X2 flagship smartphone!"

"Customers who order the Smart Edition this month will receive a free Starry Sky Tablet 2nd Generation, a Switch and Starry Sky Legend bundle, a Starry Sky X2 flagship smartphone, and a Starry Sky S1 Pro ultrabook!"

"The number of extra gifts is limited and only available this month, first come, first served."

"What? They're also giving away a Switch bundle, the Starry Sky flagship phone X2, and the Starry Sky ultrabook S1 Pro!"

The barrage exploded:

"Wow! Chairman Wang is so generous! BBA cars have to be sold at a premium, but Xingyi Technology gives away tablets, phones, computers, game consoles, and all sorts of other freebies when you buy a car!"

"The Premium Edition comes with a free Switch gaming kit and a Starry Sky X2 laptop! That's equivalent to a discount of over 10,000 yuan! The Smart Edition also includes a free Starry Sky S1 Pro ultrabook, which is equivalent to a discount of 20,000 yuan!"

"Fine, fine, if you do it this way, it would be unfair of me not to buy it!"

"This kind of big promotion probably only happens this month, so hurry up and buy the phone before it's too late!"

"I've placed an order for the Xingyi S5 Smart Edition. The order has been generated, and I'm going to pick it up now!"

"Wow, that fast? I can pick up the car today?" "I guess I placed the order early, and there's a delivery center just five kilometers away."

"I also placed an order for the Xingyi S5 Premium Edition, and I picked it up today."

"I've added one more Xingyi S5 Premium Edition. The delivery center is right near my home. I've already set off and will be live-streaming the car pickup in a bit!"

"I was at the Xingyi flagship store, I saw the car, it's very good, very good, but I can't afford it."

"Seriously, are you guys all this aggressive? No test drive, just take the car right away?"

"Test drive what? I trust Chairman Wang."

"I've been a long-time fan, watching Xingyi Technology grow all the way, and watching my idol go from being the boss of Meiyou to Chairman Wang of Xingyi Technology. I can doubt anyone but my idol!"

"Realistically speaking, I still had to take a test drive. It was worth it to be the first one to test drive it, having waited outside the experience center so early in the morning."

"How is it? How does it feel?"

"Great, very good, excellent. The only downside is that I originally planned to buy the Enjoy version, but after test driving the Premium version, I'm now desperately wanting to buy the Premium version!"

"Haha, bro, me too. 40 without a test drive, 50 after a test drive!"

"How about the Smart Edition? Is nobody buying it?"

"Well, I'm still a little worried about the intelligent driving feature; the premium version is enough."

"Worried? I'll buy the premium version too."

"What are you worried about! I trust Xingyi Technology's technology and LiDAR. There's no need to wait for the Smart Edition. I've already test-driven it. Although it was a simulated highway, it was incredibly smooth and completely contactless. I've already decided to buy it."

"By the way, the press conference just ended, how come you've all finished test driving?"

"What's the big deal? It's an old practice to stake out Xingyi Technology's press conferences in advance."

“Our Xingyi Auto Experience Center has been under renovation for several months, and we noticed it a while ago. Sure enough, when we arrived today, they offered test drives and explanations right at the start of the launch event, and we were able to pay a deposit to reserve our car. After the price was announced at the launch event, we could pay the full amount or arrange installment payments, and then inspect and pick up the car.”

"That's right, those who arrive early don't need to queue at all."

"6, you guys are really something else!"

"I really enjoyed the delivery and purchase process of Xingyi Auto. There were no tricks. I placed the order online, inspected the car at the nearby delivery center, and picked it up. The whole process was smooth. Insurance is also available, with several options to choose from. The Enjoy Edition is only eight or nine thousand yuan, which is very cheap."

"Holy crap, a new car worth 400,000 to 500,000 yuan, and insurance for only 8,000 to 9,000 yuan? How is that possible? If it were a BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Audi, the first year's insurance would cost at least 20,000 yuan! You'd also have to pay a three-year renewal deposit to the dealership, and they'd force you to spend 20,000 to 30,000 yuan on accessories! Xingyi Auto is so damn conscientious!"

"Actually, new car insurance isn't that expensive; most of it goes to the dealership's commission. I bought car insurance from the dealership before, then canceled it as soon as I left and bought a new one from an independent insurance company. It saved me several thousand or even tens of thousands of yuan, but I was likely to get yelled at by the sales consultant!"

"Wow! I've learned something new. No wonder my Mercedes E-Class insurance cost 18,000 yuan at the dealership in the first year, but only 6,000 to 7,000 yuan outside the dealership in the second year!"

"4S stores have too many tricks, but Xingyi Auto is much better, no tricks at all! It's also very convenient to apply for installment payments directly with Xingyi Bank, which offers extra subsidies and super low interest rates. Other banks are also fine, but the interest rates are slightly higher."

"The Xingyi Auto Experience Center is huge, offering a one-stop service for test drives, after-sales service, and delivery—it's very convenient. I even got a tablet, phone, game console, and ultrabook! Hahaha!"

"Other people's car purchase gift packages include umbrellas, suitcases, keychains, and thermos cups. Xingyi Auto's car purchase gift package includes a Switch, a mobile phone, a tablet, and a laptop. I'm so moved I could cry!"

"I'll buy it! Just for this great gift package, I have to buy the Xingyi car! After the subsidy, it's only 400,000 to 500,000 yuan, which is cheaper than the BBA E56."

The press conference ended, but sales quickly took off.

The price after subsidies is much lower than expected, making it extremely cost-effective.

With its superior performance and excellent quality, even the freebies include flagship smartphones, tablets, ultrabooks, and Switch sets. You can easily take home a device costing tens of thousands of yuan!
Many users are so captivated by the car that they can't tear themselves away.

And then there are those valuable bundles of phones, tablets, laptops, and Switches—it's simply irresistible!
I placed an order without hesitation.

Not only do they buy things, but they also share their purchases and show off on Douyin, chat, and the Meiyou forum.

This led to friends and family around them becoming aware of Xingyi Auto, starting to pay attention to it, and even buying it.

This led to a rapid increase in Xingyi Auto's sales.

Not long after, the car delivery time changed.

In the beginning, you could usually pick up your car on the same day.

But soon, the pick-up time became one day later, two days later, three days later...

Many people expressed their incomprehension about this.

Some people thought that the Xingyi S5 was sold out and sales were in dire need, which is why delivery times were being extended.

Unexpectedly, the next day, a piece of news shocked the entire internet:
The Xingyi S5 achieved nationwide sales exceeding 15,000 units on its first day of launch, topping the June car sales charts!

This isn't the kind of large deposit that only requires paying a deposit and is refundable in seven days; this is real sales volume!
Sales volume of purchases made in full or in installments!
1.5 vehicles in 24 hours!

Such a trading volume is terrifying, not to mention now, even ten years from now!

Let alone 1.5 vehicles a day, even 1.5 vehicles in half a month would be a sales record!
Moreover, the price of the Xingyi S5 is not that of a domestic car costing tens or hundreds of thousands of yuan, nor a joint venture car costing two hundred thousand yuan, nor an entry-level luxury car costing three hundred thousand yuan!
Instead, they are high-end luxury cars priced between 40 and 70!

It's still a new energy vehicle!
The whole country was in an uproar.

Everyone was shocked!

"Selling 1.5 cars in one day! That's terrifying, absolutely terrifying!"

"Such terrifying sales figures would make even BBA (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi) green with envy!"

"With new energy vehicles selling 1.5 units a day, has the era of new energy truly arrived?"

"It's not that the era of new energy has arrived, it's that the Xingyi S5 is just too good, too powerful, and the key is that it's not expensive!"

"That's right, the configuration and experience that BBA (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi) models costing millions can't offer, you can get for 40 yuan with the Xingyi S5 Enjoy Edition, so which one do you choose?"

"It's useless. New energy vehicles are just for show; the three main components are all subpar. When it comes to reliability and the three main components, you still have to look to BBA (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi)."

"The three major components of BBA (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi)? Do you mean engine oil consumption? Or transmission jerking?"

"It's laughable. BBA engines burn oil and cost 60 or 70 cents per kilometer. Can that compare to new energy vehicles costing 10 cents per kilometer? And the jerky transmissions, how can they compare to the smoothness of electric cars?"

The historical problem of excessive oil consumption by BBA (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi) has not been resolved in recent years; it will only be completely solved in new cars after 2017!

"Um... okay, even if BBA's engines and transmissions aren't superior, what about the chassis? How can Xingyi Auto S5's chassis tuning compare to BBA's?"

"BBA chassis tuning? BBA cars under 70 yuan don't even have air suspension, and you're telling me about tuning?"

"That's right, the Xingyi S5 Premium Edition with air suspension and car insurance costs only 53.5 yuan on the road."

"The E56 comes standard with air suspension, but you have to buy the top-of-the-line model which costs 900,000 yuan. Even if you add air suspension for 50,000 yuan, it will still cost over 700,000 yuan! You can't add it for under 700,000 yuan, so how can it compare to the Xingyi S5?"

"In terms of the three major components (engine, transmission, and chassis), BBA (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi) has no advantage. In terms of operating costs, BBA also has no advantage. In terms of intelligent driving, it's not even worth mentioning. In terms of interactive experience, it's far inferior. Even its price-performance ratio is much worse than Xingyi Auto. What can BBA compare with?"

"I've already placed an order for the Xingyi S5 Premium Edition. I'll add air suspension for 20,000 yuan, plus car insurance, and the total price will be 535,000 yuan! Plus, I'll get a gift package worth 15,000 yuan, so it's only 520,000 yuan!"

"Wow, this is such a great deal! The base model E200L would cost about the same after all the taxes and fees!"

"With 15,000 Xingyi S5s sold in a single day, how much inventory can they possibly have? They'll probably sell out very quickly!"

"Yes, place your order now, don't hesitate!"

Unsurprisingly, this news caused sales of the Xingyi Auto S5 to surge once again.

The next day, the national daily sales still reached 8000 units.

On the third day, daily sales still exceeded 4000 units.

On the fourth day, 2000 units were produced.

It took five days for the number of units to drop below 1000.

30,000 units sold in five days!
The delivery centers are extremely busy.

The more than 300 Xingyi Auto Experience Centers across the country, which integrate purchasing, delivery, and service, have been packed with people for the past five days.

Every day, hundreds of people line up to inspect their vehicles, pay for them, and pick them up.

Thousands of people lined up to see the cars, test drive them, and place orders.

The sales consultants are busy from morning till night, without even having time to drink water.

But each and every one of them was genuinely happy!

This isn't about spending time, it's about spending money!
In just one month, you can earn tens of thousands!

Even at night, large trailers loaded with Xingyi S5 cars drove into the Xingyi Auto Experience Center to unload batches of new vehicles.

The delivery was completed the next day, and everything was picked up.

Another batch of new cars was delivered that evening, and they were picked up again during the day...

This cycle continued, making Porsche and the German luxury brands feel like the sky was falling!
(End of this chapter)