The car giant started by marrying the daughter of the king

Chapter 347 Thunder on the Ground
"You have started developing automatic transmissions?"

Unintentionally, Jiang Hui gave Zheng Haiming another surprise.

He had heard before that the Capital Gear Factory wanted to challenge the 3AT automatic transmission technology, but after so many years, there seemed to be no movement.

Various international car models have gradually eliminated 3AT automatic transmissions and started to be equipped with 4AT and 5AT. Some companies are even researching 6AT.

In this case, the research and development of the 3AT automatic transmission by the Capital Gear Factory naturally becomes useless.

The Ministry of First Machine Industry was in a dilemma as to whether to support or not.

In this situation, it was definitely a huge surprise to suddenly hear Jiang Hui say that Nanshan Technology is researching 4AT and 5AT automatic transmissions.

According to Zheng Haiming's understanding, as long as China masters the 4AT and 5AT automatic transmission technologies, it will basically be sufficient to meet the needs of the passenger car industry for the next years.

Especially the 5AT automatic transmission technology, as long as it is done well, it is actually sufficient for most car models.

Further upgrading the gear position to 6AT or 8AT does not actually mean much in terms of the practicality of car driving.

These technologies can certainly further improve vehicle performance and reduce fuel consumption, but compared with the costs and prices paid, they may not be cost-effective.

Especially for China, economical and affordable things are sometimes more important than performance.

Just like the performance of the BMW Light of a BMW car, is it good?

That's definitely not that good!
But it sells very well because it is economical.

If the BMW X5 was equipped with all kinds of configurations but the price was raised to 200,000 or 300,000 yuan, the sales volume would definitely not be what it is now.

For the current Chinese automobile market, output is more important than price.

The same is true for BMW.

Without a certain level of production support, the research and development of many technologies will become unrealistic and very challenging.

Therefore, even at the risk of unfavorable factors that may affect the brand to a certain extent, Jiang Hui is still working hard to increase the sales of BMW Sunshine.

Judging from the current situation, the benefits of the increased sales of BMW Sunshine are beginning to show.

Not to mention anything else, the fact that BMW Sunshine’s monthly sales rank first in the country is enough to attract the attention of many people.

It is easier for people in the human resources department to poach people than before.

After all, some technicians change jobs not just for the money, you also have to make them attractive in other ways.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to find real talent.

"Except for the two key parts, the torque converter and the transmission control system, the structure of the automatic transmission is similar to that of the manual transmission."

"Having mastered the technology of 5MT manual transmission, whether we develop 4AT or 5AT, it is actually not as difficult as everyone imagines."

"The most difficult part at this stage is that there is too little research on transmission control systems in China, and many components need to be imported from abroad."

"But once we have completed the design of the transmission control system, the relevant components can be purchased relatively easily internationally."

"After all, the technology of automotive-grade chips is often behind that of consumer electronics. Intel and other mainstream chip manufacturers even look down on automotive-grade chips, thinking that the technology is too backward."

"As long as we are willing to spend money normally, it will not be difficult to find a trading company to help us purchase relevant components."

Given the current sweet relationship between China and America, even if Jiang Hui wants to purchase high-end chips, it will not be a problem once the money is paid.

What’s more, it is an automotive-grade chip with a bit “backward” technology.

“When do you expect your automatic transmission to go into production?”

Zheng Haiming asked a very critical question.

He had no doubt that Nanshan Technology could develop automatic transmission technology.

But if it takes ten or eight years to complete it, then it won’t have much significance, at least not for Zheng Haiming personally.

Ten years later he had retired.

But if he can achieve relatively good results in the next few years and make further progress smoothly, then his life pattern will be completely different.

Even after another ten years, we will most likely still be serving the people.

"The 4AT automatic transmission is expected to be developed and completed in the second half of next year, and mass production will begin in the first half of the year after next."

“The 5AT automatic transmission will be a little later, but it should be no problem around 1987.”

Jiang Hui did not set a very demanding R&D time target for Nanshan Technology.

If you want to speed, you can't reach it.

Only by laying a solid foundation can Nanshan Technology go further in the future.

Besides, the 4AT automatic transmission technology solution provided by Jiang Hui now is a very classic design. Even after another ten years, it will not be considered outdated and can meet the use needs of most cars.

And from the perspective of the international market, although transmission technology will make great progress in another ten years, there are still a large number of models equipped with 4AT automatic transmissions.

So there is no need to worry that Nanshan Technology’s 4AT will have no market.

"Okay, when your automatic transmission goes into mass production, I will come over to congratulate you in person!"

After listening to Jiang Hui's introduction, Zheng Haiming was overjoyed.

This time is totally acceptable.

……

Zheng Haiming, Qin Hao and others went to inspect BMW. This news was no secret to all the automobile manufacturers within the system.

There is no need to even inquire specifically. Once the First Ministry of Machine Building’s own newspaper is published, everyone will be able to see it.

"Chief Engineer Ji, BMW is going to develop a 5MT manual transmission. You have been leading the R&D center to study it for several years, but there has been no progress on the 3AT and 5MT. What difficulties have you encountered?"

Li Nanhai looked at Chief Engineer Ji Hua with a unhappy expression.

As the director of the Capital Gear Factory, Li Nanhai has lived a very comfortable life in recent years.

Someone invites him to dinner almost every day, and it is estimated that he drinks more than 100 bottles of Moutai a year.

He was certainly unhappy to see that this happy life seemed to be broken.

Someone must be found to shoulder this responsibility.

Otherwise, he will be held responsible when asked by higher authorities later.

"Director, whether developing 3AT or 5MT, a series of tests are required, and the relevant technical personnel must have design capabilities."

"But what is the level of the people we have recruited in our factory in recent years?"

"Everyone is trying to get their own aunts and uncles in. Half of the technicians at the R&D center don't have the ability to draw independently, let alone design."

"Under the circumstances, there is no way I can develop a completely new gearbox relying on my own efforts alone." Ji Hua and Li Nanhai have been partners for many years, so they naturally know what the other is thinking.

Anyway, Li Nanhai couldn't do anything to him, so Ji Hua didn't want to indulge him.

He became even more unhappy when he felt that the other party was about to put the blame on him.

"You know how scarce college students are these days."

"Not to mention our factory, even the various departments in the city find it difficult to ask the human resources department to help assign a few college students."

“Where can we easily recruit college students?”

"Although the conditions are like this, we can also train technicians ourselves. What if the people we recruit can't draw? Can't we just teach them?"

Li Nanhai has always kept a tight control on the recruitment process and doesn't want other people to interfere.

Although he would certainly have to give up some of the quotas when it came to arranging personnel to enter the factory and it was impossible for him to have the final say on everything, he must hold the initiative in his hands.

Now that he felt that Ji Hua didn't seem to be so obedient, he naturally had to have a good talk with him.

"He who hasn't even graduated from junior high school has been placed in our R&D center. How do you expect me to teach him?"

"It is the result of great efforts that the quality of the 4MT produced in the factory has not declined at all."

Ji Hua and Li Nanhai started arguing in the office.

In the end, it can be said that they parted on bad terms.

"Boss, after you graduate next year, you'd better not come to our factory. I'll help you make the connection and go directly to Nanshan Technology."

When he returned home that night, Ji Hua discussed the issue of future work assignments with his son again.

As a senior student majoring in vehicle engineering at Capital University of Technology, Ji Xia will definitely not have to worry about not being able to find a job.

Whether it is FAW, Second FAW, or Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant, as long as he is willing, there are opportunities.

However, considering that his father is the chief engineer of the Capital Gear Factory, in order to have better development in the future, Ji Hua originally wanted Ji Xia to work as a technician in his factory.

If you work hard for a few years, you can slowly take over your own business.

If the chief engineer’s son doesn’t even become chief engineer, how can other technicians get the chance?
It’s just that the relationship between Ji Hua and Li Nanhai is a little strained now, and the 5MT incident at BMW has also come up, which makes Ji Hua realize that the future of the Capital Gear Factory may not be so bright.

So after weighing the pros and cons, he felt that it might be more appropriate for his son to go to Nanshan Technology.

He has already found out that Nanshan Technology and BMW Automobile are both subsidiaries of BMW Technology, and in the future Nanshan Technology will separate its gearbox business.

Ji Hua can almost foresee that the independent Nanshan Transmission will become the most technologically advanced and largest-scale transmission company in China in the future.

No other gearbox manufacturer can be its rival.

After all, Ji Hua is very clear about the current situation of Capital Gear Factory, the number one factory in China. Other manufacturers are not as good as theirs. How can they compete with Nanshan Gearbox?
That's simply like throwing an egg against a rock.

"Dad, why did you suddenly change your mind?"

As a student majoring in vehicle engineering at Capital University of Technology, Ji Xia naturally knew about BMW and Nanshan Technology.

After all, Jiang Hui is the most legendary senior in their department, and his stories are often told by teachers in class.

Even the cases about gearboxes in the book "Automobile Structure" that they usually study are based on the 4MT product developed by Jiang Hui during his graduation project.

In addition, my family is in the automotive industry, so I naturally pay more attention to related matters.

"This is what happened..."

Ji Hua quickly told Ji Xia the latest situation.

As his eldest son, Ji Hua has very high expectations for Ji Xia.

There are no good opportunities to develop within the system now, so it is not unacceptable to go to Nanshan Technology.

Especially since Nanshan Technology is a foreign-funded enterprise, it is very convenient for employees to go abroad and the treatment they receive is also very good.

If college students go there directly, they can get their own house in just a few years.

Although you only have the right to use the house but not the property rights at the beginning, it is enough to be able to live in it.

How many of the houses allocated by work units in this era have property rights?
"Dad, did Senior Brother Jiang really come up with a 5MT manual transmission?"

Influenced by his father, Ji Xia knows more about the gearbox industry.

Because of this, he can feel the impact of the successful development of the 5MT gearbox.

"Yes, the leaders of the department have already gone to the site to personally confirm it. It is estimated that it will be installed on the second model of BMW next year."

"You also understand technology. The advantages of 5MT over 4MT are very obvious. By then, the prospects of 4MT will definitely become bleak."

"The products that our factory can show off now are mainly 4MT and AMT gearboxes for Hummer military vehicles."

"The key is that as long as Nanshan Technology is willing, we can produce these two gearboxes at any time."

"When the time comes, their products will be better and cheaper. How can Capital Gear Factory compete with them?"

After Ji Hua said this, Ji Xia could understand.

No wonder my dad told me not to go to the Capital Gear Factory. Even though that place looks glamorous now, it won't have many good years left.

Once I went to the Capital Gear Factory, my future would be worrying.

It would be better to join Nanshan Technology as a college graduate when it is just starting out and become a veteran.

In the future, we may be able to achieve some success in China's gearbox industry.

"Okay, then I'll listen to you and go to Nanshan Technology!"

"It just so happens that I have always wanted to learn about gearbox-related technologies from Senior Brother Jiang. It would be great if we could develop a more advanced gearbox based on the 5MT."

Ji Xia had no objection to going to Nanshan Technology.

His father had previously given him a thorough analysis of the situation in the domestic gearbox industry.

Now that this change has occurred, the answer to what to choose basically becomes apparent immediately.

This is the benefit of having elders in the family providing directional guidance for the future.

Many times, choice is more important than hard work.

Graduates without any background often have no way to make the right choices at critical moments in their lives.

Most of the time, they don't even have a chance to choose.

(End of this chapter)