Siheyuan: I eat melons while doing scientific research

Chapter 1398 The Idea of ​​Each Getting What They Need (3k)

On the banks of the Seine, representatives of what should be considered the major automotive industry players in Gaul gathered together, but none of them seemed particularly enthusiastic.

Presumably to welcome the new year, they gathered together as usual, but for them, there was not much good news.

"The number of gentlemen is decreasing..."

A bearded man looked at the crowded party, but there wasn't much real interaction, and felt a pang of emotion.

Those who truly have influence must represent at least one car company; therefore, the size of the networking circle at a cocktail party depends on the number of car companies represented.

However, that's where the problem lies.

For the French automotive industry, things haven't been going well since the end of S2.

As a typical example of someone who got up very early but failed miserably, their automotive industry started very early, but its development has been declining.

Around the end of S2, the Gallic automotive industry encountered a very famous bill, which was a typical example of a bill that had good intentions but ended up doing bad things.

Putting aside the complicated entanglements and origins, the core content of this bill is actually just one thing—to build cars that ordinary people can afford.

This is a good thing in many ways, except for one bad aspect.

—The Gauls took this statement very radically and turned it into "We only build cars that ordinary people can afford."

All I can say is that the Gauls truly live up to their reputation as an old-fashioned region; they get things done with such efficiency and drive.

It seems they've forgotten the simple truth that they build cars that ordinary people can't afford and sell them to foreigners so that ordinary people can afford to drive cars.

This whole ordeal completely changed the nature of the situation. They essentially gave up the luxury car market and merged some niche luxury car companies with large automotive groups, while the rest went bankrupt, such as Bugatti, which was later revived.

This caused French car companies to essentially lose their dominance in the high-end car market almost overnight.

In addition, they did something quite characteristic of the dirty business practices of the British colonies—they restricted the main business direction of the few remaining car companies, making one make small cars, another make mid-size and large cars, and so on.

This constraint, reminiscent of the caste system, completely eliminated the possibility of diverse development for Gallic car companies. There is a significant difference between concentrating resources on major undertakings and concentrating resources on only two major undertakings.

With the unique characteristics of two major empires at its disposal, how could the future of the Gallic automobile industry be anything but promising? Under the dual influence of the Gallo-Johns, the Gallic automobile industry suffered a severe setback and gradually declined. Entering the 21st century, when attempting to reclaim the luxury car market, they made the ridiculous claim that a certain French luxury car line boasted a 1.6T engine as its highest-end model.

Of course, it's still better than its century-old neighbor, John Bull, who completely abandoned the automotive industry, except for Aston Martin, a relatively niche sports car brand that was barely kept afloat, and sold off everything else.

“Sir, I’m sure there will be fewer and fewer people here over time. You know, I mean the ‘people’ who actually make the decisions.” This might sound a bit impolite to the others at the party, but in their hearts, it was the truth.

"What have you discovered this time? Why are you so pessimistic?" The bearded man turned to look at him, and in his heart, he had a feeling that "it's already like this, how much worse can it get?"

The phrase "to give up entirely" is an example of this.

"You should know about the punitive tax on large-displacement engines, Mr. Baker..."

"Shh..." The bearded man looked around.

This was a tactic proposed by that man to promote thrift. Generally, imposing punitive taxes on large-displacement luxury cars is to protect domestic auto industries and to impose corresponding tariffs on imported vehicles.

But that man did the opposite. He levied taxes on his own domestically produced cars, which meant that their few remaining large-displacement models could no longer even try to compete with the "people's car" label. Forget about exporting them, they were too expensive to even sell to their own people.

However, Beck, the bearded man in charge of the automotive industry under that man, naturally dared not respond to such a topic. He was very clear about who his boss was and whose job he was on.

“Mr. Baker, I don’t mean any disrespect, but I feel we must do something to save our automotive industry. Those beautiful, luxurious works of art shouldn’t just die like this.” The man opposite Baker had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, and he was determined to use it to fully express his thoughts.

The phrase "died under mysterious circumstances" perfectly describes Gaul's high-end automobile industry, as voluntary suicide is truly rare. In this respect, Gaul and its centuries-old neighbor across the sea can be considered equals, like the legendary Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix.

To put it bluntly, they were all cut from the same cloth. They couldn't adapt to the dismantling of the colonial system, and their response was completely inept. They had lived comfortably on the blood and sweat of the colonies for so long, and now they couldn't function without them. Apart from making a brief appearance in the Oil Bay and Pharaoh's Canal War in 1956, they accomplished almost nothing of real value.

Ultimately, they didn't even get a chance to make a fuss in the Oil Bay Pharaoh Canal War, as they were quickly strangled by the combined forces of the US and the White Bear. Although the latter two had different starting points in this matter, their ultimate demands were surprisingly consistent.

"So what are your thoughts? I believe you came to me specifically for more than just a few empty sentiments, right?" Baker raised his glass of champagne and smiled.

The other party clearly came prepared, and was inspired by other industries.

"Easterners! We want to cooperate with Easterners! Just like in the civil aviation industry," the other party said excitedly.

"Easterners? What's the benefit of cooperating with them? They can hardly even sell their cars here, let alone to the camp behind us." Baker expressed strong disdain for the other party's words.

However, the other party did not give up, clearly having given it considerable thought: "We will not engage in full-scale cooperation, but only in the parts that we cannot do. Moreover, the market for cooperation will not be domestic, but only in our half of the world."

Baker seemed intrigued: "Hmm, tell me your thoughts in detail."

As long as it doesn't conflict with that man's ideas, he's willing to listen to his opinion. After all, the gradual decline of luxury cars is something he finds embarrassing.

“They have the basic technology to make good cars, Mr. Baker, you should know that very well.”

“Hmm…they do have a few unique features,” Baker nodded.

Even with his pride, he had to admit that Easterners had a unique advantage in car engines; their small gasoline engines even helped his team easily win the car race championship.

In this era, the engine was practically everything in a car; everything else depended on the engine.

Better performance requires sufficient engine power; more luxurious trim requires a sufficiently good engine to move those extravagant decorations without affecting the car's performance; and more functions require enough electricity to achieve them...

The Gaul who offered the advice didn't correct him for his stubbornness; it didn't matter. Both of them knew the basic truth of the matter, and there was no need to worry about what rhetoric they used to cover it up.

"Yes, Mr. Baker, they have excellent engines and some very interesting technologies. They have the most basic foundation for a luxury car. But they lack a market! They can only sell their cars in the other half of the world, and the purchasing power in that half is not as great as in our half."

Baker didn't speak, but simply nodded at the other person, signaling him to continue.

"We have access to half the world's market, but we lack the license to manufacture luxury cars..."

This lack of permission is a national policy that has been in place for over a decade and has not changed even with changes in leadership. It can be said that they are completely powerless to change this situation.

“You mean, we have the market, they have the conditions to build cars, and both sides have some of the technology needed to make luxury cars, while they also have all the technology and environmental conditions needed to build cars…” A glint began to appear in Baker’s eyes.

He had half a sentence left unsaid, which would indirectly allow him to gain access to the other party's market.

It seems to make a lot of sense. As long as luxury cars aren't manufactured domestically and don't go against that man's ideas, he's still willing to try making some changes.

“Yes, Mr. Baker, that’s exactly what I think, and you’ve thought of it even more thoroughly than I have.” The other party didn’t take any credit for himself and even gave up the credit for initiating the idea.

Baker thought for a moment, then frowned and said, "Why not find a partner within our camp?"

At this time, the European princes had not yet thought about globalization, and they were completely lacking the high spirits they later displayed when they spearheaded the proposal of the World Trade Agreement. Their approach was more conservative.

"Because they can easily create homogeneous competition with us, Mr. Baker. After all, their environment and geographical conditions are the same as ours. When the two sides cooperate to a certain extent and the technology and other conditions are basically the same, a lot of variables will arise. After all, everyone wants to gain a larger share. But it's impossible for Easterners. They, like us, find it difficult to enter each other's world."

"Hmm..." What the other party said seemed to make a lot of sense. Both sides were keys to each other, but at the same time, these keys could also close the doors that opened to each other. Cooperation with strong rules was more likely to last, and Mr. Baker understood this very well.

“I’ll think about it and give you a formal response.” Baker pointed to the ceiling of the reception area.

(End of this chapter)