The car giant started by marrying the daughter of the king

Chapter 385 4AT's Major Breakthrough

Automatic transmission is not a new thing for the world's automotive industry.

The products of various automobile giants are already equipped with automatic transmissions.

Especially in places where the automobile industry is more developed, consumers will have a higher degree of acceptance of automatic transmissions.

After all, vehicles with manual transmissions are more troublesome to drive, and ordinary people still prefer vehicles that are easy to operate.

But for China, automatic transmission is a scar in the automotive industry that is difficult to uncover.

Not to mention 1985, even in 2000 or even 2010, there were no decent automatic transmission products in China.

It was after 2010 that the overall industrial level was greatly improved, and automatic transmission technology achieved a relatively big breakthrough.

It is conceivable how much impact Nanshan Transmission's announcement at this time that it has successfully developed a 4AT automatic transmission will have on the industry.

"Director Jiang, you skipped 3AT and developed 4AT this time. This is really beyond everyone's expectations."

After hearing the news, Lai Yongfeng, director of the Vehicle Engineering Department of Shenzhen University, immediately came to Nanshan Transmission, wanting to see with his own eyes whether the other party had really developed the 4AT automatic transmission.

As an industry insider, he knew that the Capital Gear Factory had been working hard to develop 3AT over the years, but had never succeeded.

Now Nanshan Transmission has developed the world's mainstream 4AT, which has a very different meaning.

This is not only a breakthrough in China's gearbox industry, but also a typical example of catching up with the world's advanced level.

So far, no transmission company has announced that it has successfully developed a 5AT or 6AT automatic transmission.

4AT is already the most advanced in the industry.

Of course, there are definitely differences between 4AT and 4AT of different companies.

Just like the engine, even if it is the same 1.5L engine, the performance differences between engines produced by different manufacturers are huge.

“First, we need to solve the existing problems, and then continue to accumulate experience and improve the design of the transmission control unit.”

"Our current 4AT is no worse than ZF and Aisin Warner in terms of structure, but there is still room for improvement in control logic."

Jiang Hui naturally doesn't have that much time to write code himself.

During the development process of 4AT, he could only provide an overall design plan, and the specific details still had to be implemented by the people below.

Otherwise, even if he could divide the work into two parts, there would not be enough time.

"Compared with manual transmissions, the most difficult part of automatic transmissions is indeed the TCU, which is our weakest link domestically."

"Fortunately, Nanshan Transmission has invested a lot of manpower and material resources, and also bought a lot of computers and related equipment from America. Otherwise, I don't know when a manufacturer will be able to produce 4AT."

Seeing that BMW Group has come up with another major achievement so quickly, Lai Yongfeng has become more confident about the development prospects of the Department of Automotive Engineering at Shenzhen University.

The rapid development of the Department of Vehicle Engineering at Capital University of Technology in the past few years is closely related to Zhu Jiansheng's successive hosting of a number of major projects.

4MT, BJ212, Hummer military vehicle, intercontinental ballistic missile launcher...

The potential impact these projects will bring to Capital University of Technology is beyond description.

"The computer industry is a promising industry in the future. We have set up Nanshan Software within our group to develop various industrial software. At the same time, we cooperate with BMW, Nanshan Transmission and Nanshan Engine to develop some control parts."

"For example, all gasoline engines in China so far are carburetors, and there is no electronic fuel injection engine."

"However, globally, electronic fuel injection engines have become a new trend, and high-end models are basically equipped with electronic fuel injection engines."

"To develop an electronic fuel injection engine, the most critical thing is the development of the engine control unit (ECU)."

“This not only requires reliance on various experience data accumulated in the past, but also requires a deep understanding of electronic components and software.”

"We are working hard now to develop an electronic fuel injection engine in the next few years."

When communicating with scientific researchers engaged in R&D, it is natural to paint a more rosy picture on the technology in order to attract them to the greatest extent.

By then, the teachers and students of Shenzhen University will all be resources of the BMW Group.

This is very important for promoting the improvement of BMW Group's R&D level.

"Electric fuel injection engine?"

“Have you started research and development yet?”

Sure enough, when talking about these things, Lai Yongfeng's eyes brightened a lot.

"Yes, but it is estimated that it will not be developed in a short period of time. We will have to wait until at least the year after next to see any progress."

Control parts are still the weak link in China's auto parts industry, even in later generations.

Whether it is ECU, TCU, VCU, ABS, ESP and other components, almost all of them are produced by foreign-funded component companies.

Even for domestically produced cars, the parts they use are produced by foreign auto parts giants such as Bosch, Continental, Denso, Delphi, and Valeo.

It was not until the era of electric vehicles that a large number of Chinese local manufacturers of various control parts began to emerge.

BMW Group is now starting to work on these parts, and Lai Yongfeng is naturally very aware of the difficulty involved.

Not to mention other things, the chip alone is a stumbling block.

“Let alone the year after next, even if we can achieve results in four or five years, it will be very remarkable.”

“I don’t see any hope for other domestic manufacturers.”

Lai Yongfeng's words really came from the bottom of his heart, which further strengthened his determination to cooperate with BMW Group in the future.

Even if he did not have this relationship with Zhu Jiansheng, he would have become a staunch supporter of the BMW Group.

He had no reason to object to something that was beneficial to both the public and private sectors.

"Everything is difficult at the beginning. There are too few talents in China who are proficient in engine control management and computer technology."

"I think Shenzhen University can consider offering a graduate program in automotive electronics, or directly establish a software engineering program, so as to grasp the development direction of the industry as soon as possible and become a leader in this field in China."

BMW Group now regards Shenzhen as its base camp, and naturally hopes that the strength and scale of Shenzhen University can be greatly improved.

This is the only way to enjoy the benefits to the greatest extent.

"I'll go back and research it, and then bring it up with the principal."

"In terms of developing new majors, the school has ideas in this regard, but it lacks relevant resources and teaching staff, so further efforts are needed."

There is no teacher who doesn't want his or her school to become better.

Only when a person is on a large platform can he or she exert his or her strength to the greatest extent.

Otherwise, the personal influence is very small. …

Lai Yongfeng is not the first person to visit Nanshan Transmission to see the 4AT automatic transmission.

In order to verify the authenticity of this information, the First Ministry of Machine Building specially arranged a team of experts to come for inspection and exchange.

Li Nanhai, the director of the Capital Gear Factory, naturally found an opportunity to join the expert team to personally confirm whether Nanshan Gearbox had any fraud.

He couldn't believe that the other party could develop a mature 4AT automatic transmission in such a short time.

"Director Li, your factory needs to work harder. Otherwise, if you only rely on 4MT as your flagship product, your life will not be so good in the future."

The expert team this time are of high level and are directly qualified to take the plane.

Li Nanhai and Qin Hao sat next to each other, so naturally they would inevitably talk about the topic of this inspection.

"Director Qin, many of our technicians have been poached by Nanshan Transmission in recent years. It will be difficult for us to do it even if we try hard."

Li Nanhai must have found some excuses for the Capital Gear Factory, otherwise wouldn't it be considered as his poor leadership?

Even if this is the truth, he absolutely cannot admit it.

"From what I understand, most of the technicians and engineers who left your factory did so because they wanted to retire early to make room for their children."

"If your factory develops fast enough and can completely consume these family members and children, then there will be no problem of staff loss."

Qin Hao obviously stood on the side of Nanshan Transmission and directly helped Jiang Hui refute Li Nanhai's statement.

This is not the first time he has dealt with the South Capital Gear Factory. How could he not know the actual situation?

In today's factories, few will actively develop new technologies unless they are assigned R&D tasks by their superiors.

Of course, for most factories, objectively speaking, when there are no tasks from superiors, there will be no research and development funds.

Without funding, it is naturally unrealistic to get anything done.

"You know how many educated youth have returned to the capital in recent years."

"Except for the Chaoyang Motorcycle Factory, is there any other factory that can fully absorb the families of its employees?"

"The current situation of our factory is relatively good. Everyone's wages and benefits can be paid on time, and at the end of the year we can pay a certain amount of profit to the superior department."

"Many factories can't even guarantee basic wages now."

Li Nanhai's statement basically represents his true inner thoughts. After all, to a certain extent, it is also true.

"You know best how your 4MT technology came about."

"It means Nanshan Transmission showed mercy, otherwise you can still live the good life you have now?"

After Qin Hao said this, Li Nanhai felt unhappy.

“So many domestic manufacturers want to produce 4MT. In the end, except for our factory, have other factories succeeded?”

"It's not that Capital University of Technology doesn't consider providing technology to others, but they need to have the level to implement the technology."

Li Nanhai didn't dare to confront Nanshan Transmission.

After all, if the other party really starts producing 4MT, the good days of Capital Gear Factory will be over.

However, Li Nanhai still feels no pressure when it comes to stepping on other gearbox manufacturers.

"Director Li, if we give you the automatic transmission technology now, can your factory implement it?"

Zhou Jian, who was sitting in the front seat, naturally heard the conversation between Li Nanhai and Qin Hao.

Of course he knows that the 4AT automatic transmission is of great significance.

However, Zhou Jian still hopes to make a comparison on how high its value is.

If no other company in China, except Nanshan Transmission, has the ability to produce this kind of product, the meaning will be even more different.

"We can produce most of the parts on the automatic transmission, but for the TCU and the matching torque converter, we still need the support of the department to introduce various new equipment and talents."

Li Nanhai didn't dare to speak out in front of Zhou Jian.

If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't work.

Don’t be afraid that if someone really puts the technical information of 4AT in front of him, he will be in trouble.

"The most critical parts of an automatic transmission are the TCU and the torque converter. If you can't produce these two parts, what's the point?"

Qin Hao interjected from the side, obviously ready to stand completely on the side of Nanshan Transmission.

"The production of these two parts is indeed very difficult. I only saw this kind of production line once when I visited Japan last year."

"To be honest, Nanshan Transmission said that it had completed the development of 4AT. I am a little worried that they only made a few samples and there is actually no way to install them for mass production."

"After all, the automatic transmission relies on the TCU to control the various gear changes inside. If the TCU is not designed well, the transmission will be damaged by accident."

Li Nanhai began to criticize Nanshan Transmission.

Anyway, it's just a guess. Even if Jiang Hui knew about it, he wouldn't be able to accuse him.

“Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean Nanshan Transmission can’t do it.”

"In order to develop TCU and other control parts, Jiang Hui specially established Nanshan Software to develop various industrial software systems. Their core engineers have already started working on computers."

Qin Hao couldn't bear to hear Li Nanhai saying bad things about Nanshan Transmission.

This company is a core subsidiary of the BMW Group and is likely to become another major export earner in the future.

Unlike the Capital Gear Factory, it can only provide supporting services to domestic manufacturers, and the amount of supporting services is constantly decreasing.

"Industrial software is not something that can be developed by just a few people. Just buying computers will cost a lot of foreign exchange. By the time you spend a lot of money but still can't develop a product, it's better to buy it directly from abroad."

As the director of the Capital Gear Factory, Li Nanhai also witnessed the role of industrial software in design work when he was in Japan.

In his opinion, using the same software as others to develop products is the right way to quickly catch up with others.

Otherwise, I have to develop the design software myself, but that would be a waste of time.
He is definitely not the only one who has this idea.

"We will know the quality of the 4AT developed by Nanshan Transmission tomorrow when we go to the site."

When Zhou Jian saw that Li Nanhai and Qin Hao were about to get into an argument, he stepped in to smooth things over.

Both of them are his old subordinates, so trying to smooth things over is the best solution.

(End of this chapter)