Reborn since 1993

Chapter 1367 Self-reliance leads to abundance

"can!"

Wei Taining responded, then hesitated before adding, "But the budget might be exceeded!"

Before being weighed, it might not weigh four ounces, but once it's on the scale, its weight is no longer something Wei Taining can decide.

Previously, the initial cost of the Dongke Automotive production base was estimated at US$240 million. With the addition of the test track and testing center, the total cost was estimated at around US$700 million.

But that's just an estimate, the most ideal scenario. Just like new energy electric vehicles, they advertise a certain range in kilometers, but in reality, the actual range on the road is always less than that.

What is the ideal state? It is when there is no resistance, no wind resistance, and no road resistance, and no use of any functions other than the car's power. Perhaps it is possible to achieve this.

But is it actually possible?

Once the Dongke Automobile production base started operations, various hidden costs began to emerge.

For example, some foreign component manufacturers are unwilling to sell to Dongling High-Tech and can only look for alternatives. This alone can cause costs to soar by several percentage points, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars going down the drain.

In addition, Dongke Automotive Division does not only want to buy back the equipment, but also hopes to master the operation, technology, and maintenance. This requires recruiting people with these skills and sending employees abroad to study.

There were also various expenses, which actually gave Wei Taining quite a headache.

If Dongke Automotive Division had a different, more frugal major shareholder instead of being backed by Dongke, it might have already halted the project in the face of soaring costs.

Li Dongling glanced at Wei Taining. What is Dongling Hi-Tech's advantage in the automotive industry now? It's that it has no advantage other than money!
If Dongke Automotive Division lacks other things, then Li Dashan is truly powerless to help. As for things like technology and equipment, Li Dongling is helpless.

But Dongke Automotive Division lacks everything except funding, especially given that it just received so much funding from Silicon Valley's internet companies.

Why did Li Dongling initiate this inspection of Dongke's various departments and subsidiaries?
The goal is still to distribute the funds according to need!

This money, if it's just sitting in an account, will always just be a bunch of numbers, like hoarding grain. If it's just simple hoarding of grain and fodder...

But without weapons to protect the grain and fodder, in the end, it's not a case of "a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime," and they'll become a sitting duck coveted by all sides!
Even if Dongling High-Tech can remain safe and sound in its inland base, what if, in a few years, it is targeted by Onsa bandits and Hebrews, or if Dongling High-Tech cannot protect itself overseas? It might just be robbed!

Don't overestimate the nature of robbers. All talk of contractual spirit is nonsense. The more they lack something, the louder they shout slogans. When it really matters, those robbers can actually steal it by force.

Just like in the previous life, a domestic semiconductor manufacturer acquired a Dutch chip manufacturer. At the time of the acquisition, that chip manufacturer was already half dead and on the verge of collapse.

They spent a lot of money and resources to save it, but what happened?

In the Netherlands, a single order was issued without any reason, and the chip manufacturer was simply confiscated.

Therefore, aside from supplementing the cash flow of Dongke headquarters, Li Dongling planned to use the US dollars brought back from Silicon Valley to increase research and development funding for his departments.

In particular, some projects that used to require huge sums of money can now begin research and development.

"You don't need to worry about the funding. Headquarters can approve a special fund from the automotive department."

However, I hope to see the prototype of Land Rover as soon as possible, and that the first Land Rover trial production vehicle can be delivered on time! Li Dongling instructed Wei Taining.

Upon hearing Li Dongling's words, Wei Taining once again experienced what it was like to have a wealthy and powerful patron.

His concerns, such as overspending, were not issues at all. What the philanthropist Li wanted was for Dongke Auto to have the best R&D personnel and the best R&D equipment, and then develop the best domestically produced cars in mainland China.

Under this premise, Li Dongling could tolerate the financial burden; in this world, you always have to pay a price to get something.

Li Dongling looked toward the Dongke production base, where various mechanical vehicles were constantly moving around, and countless construction workers were shuttling among them.

Next year, the production lines at Dongke Automobile's production base will begin operation, which means that another of the boasts made by the philanthropist Li will come true!
Another major product will soon appear in Dongling High-Tech's product line: automobiles will become one of Dongling High-Tech's most important products after mobile phones and computers.

Of course, how well Land Rover performs after its launch can only be seen once the sales figures are released.

But whether it's good or bad, it has to be put to the test. A product can only be evaluated after it's launched; otherwise, it's just empty talk!
Of course, automobiles are not the end of Dongke's new product development. Dongke will continue to invest in many new products, many of which are quite expensive.

If cars can be sold well, Dongling High-Tech will have a new cash cow in its hands in the future, and things will be a bit easier.

As they descended the hill, He Jingsong and the people from MCC Construction continued towards the production base, while Lu Shengxi, the head of the Airport Economic Zone, followed Li Dongling.

Seeing this, Li Dongling knew that Lu Shengxi probably had something to talk to him about, so he invited him to get into the car together.

Lu Shengxi, who is only 35 years old this year, is not exactly in his prime in terms of his political career, but rather young. This means that Lu Shengxi has great potential for future career advancement. Currently, there isn't a ranking of the top 100 districts in China; otherwise, given Pingyang Airport's performance over the past two years, it would definitely deserve the title of the fastest-growing district in the country!

When the airport was established, it was just an empty shell. It was precisely because it was completely empty that it was easy to achieve results, since there was nothing to begin with.

With Pingyang Airport and Dongke Automobile Production Base now in the airport area, it is certain that Pingyang Airport Area is likely to experience explosive growth in the future.

Therefore, Lu Shengxi had no intention of leaving the airport area. Even though his achievements were enough for promotion, he still stayed in the airport area and gave up the opportunity for promotion.

Lu Shengxi knew very well that the opportunity at Pingyang Airport was a once-in-a-lifetime experience in his career. What he gained in the next year or two there was far more than what he would have gained from promotions in other places.

"District Chief Lu, we're all on the same side, so please speak frankly!"

Inside the car, Li Dongling looked at Lu Shengxi and said.

"Mr. Li, the power sector has approved the power plant project in Pingyang."

but……"

Upon hearing this, Lu Shengxi looked embarrassed. Previously, he had managed to bring the Dongke Automobile production base to the airport area for Pingyang, or more accurately, for Dongling High-Tech and the Dongke Automobile production base, to solve the problem of insufficient electricity.

Upon hearing Lu Shengxi's words, Li Dongling understood what he meant.

Lu Shengxi did indeed keep his promise. Through the connections and channels of the Lu family, he got the Beijing power department to approve the Pingyang New Power Plant project.

To be precise, it can only be considered half-agreement. There is a power shortage in various parts of the country, and power plant projects are under construction, but there must be an order of priority.

The Pingyang Power Plant project has been approved, but it will probably take another year and a half before construction can begin, as funds need to be allocated for its construction.

However, given Dongling High-Tech's current situation, it's definitely impossible to wait, which is what puts Lu Shengxi in an awkward position.

Li Dongling pondered for a moment, then said something that left Lu Shengxi speechless: "If Dongke, together with other partners, raises the funds for this power plant on its own, could it obtain the construction permit?"

Currently, many companies across the country are struggling with power shortages, and various giant companies are employing all sorts of ingenious methods to break free from these constraints.

State-owned enterprises like the three major oil companies, as well as Baosteel, Wuhan Iron and Steel, Continental Aluminum, and China Energy Group, all have their own power plants.

In addition, companies like Weiqiao in Shandong and several other private companies are also preparing to build their own power plants. As for cement, textile, and paper mills in various places, many have introduced hydropower or simply built their own hydropower plants.

Like the power plant built by Weiqiao in the previous life, which generated almost the equivalent of a province's electricity. It not only used its own electricity but also sold it to surrounding factories and residents. You can imagine how large its scale was.

Therefore, Li Dashanren's proposal is not outrageous even now; the only difference is how much funding it would cost.

In addition, Li Dongling does not intend to play the game too big as Weiqiao and compete with the power giant. The power plants built by Dongling High-Tech are basically for its own use. Even if there is surplus power in the future, it will be handed over to Hanxi Power for processing. He will not do this business himself.

However, the further we go, the greater Dongling High-Tech's demand for electricity will be, especially in the era of artificial intelligence, which is basically the era of computing power. In addition to AI chips, electricity is also needed. The end of computing power is electricity, which is not just an empty saying.

In the previous life, due to a power shortage, the major American giants were forced to fight tooth and nail for electricity, even engaging in activities such as wind power futures and buying the right to use nuclear power plants.

Having its own power supply is necessary for Dongling High-Tech, both now and in the future!

Lu Shengxi thought for a moment. If he wanted to stay in Pingyang, he couldn't do without the support of Dongling High-Tech. It would be more worthwhile for Dongling High-Tech to owe him a favor than for him to owe Dongling High-Tech a favor.

"As long as Dongling High-Tech can raise its own funds, I think the Yanjing power department will agree. However, this also requires approval from various departments such as the Economic and Trade Bureau, the Development and Reform Commission, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, and the Environmental Protection Bureau."

If Dongling High-Tech were to bear the main funding, the nature of the power plant would change, and it would definitely need to be re-approved. Lu Shengxi was confident that he could get the Yanjing power department to agree to the approval.

But the other departments are beyond the reach of the Lu family.

"As long as Yanjing Power agrees, Dongling High-Tech will submit the application through the economic and trade departments!"

Dongling High-Tech might not be able to get things done with other departments, but the Economic and Trade Commission is practically like Dongling High-Tech returning to its parent company; how could it possibly disagree?

"Dongling High-Tech is preparing to join forces with companies such as Hanxi State-owned Investment, Hanxi Power, and Hanxi Energy to jointly invest in and build this power plant!"

Li Dongling plans to gather a group of people and bring another key project to Hanxi to solve Dongling High-Tech's energy problem once and for all.

(End of this chapter)