The car giant started by marrying the daughter of the king

Chapter 414: Speed ​​up and completely subvert the industry structure
"Director, if we are simply developing Land Rover's urban SUV, there shouldn't be any problem at this speed."

“After all, most of the parts don’t need to be redeveloped.”

"But aren't we going to develop three new models simultaneously this time?"

"By then, we might lose sight of one and affect the schedule of the other two models."

Hou Guoming mentioned a new problem point.

Although Jiang Hui has not yet said what the other two new models are like, expectations are definitely not low.

Although the BMW Group's R&D center now has a large number of staff, it is still far behind the R&D centers of giants such as General Motors and Toyota.

For example, Toyota has nearly 20,000 R&D personnel alone.

The situation is similar at General Motors.

However, the BMW Group has only about 2,000 employees and needs to continue to expand.

However, under the current domestic environment, it is extremely difficult to expand rapidly.

After all, there are only so many college graduates every year, and only a limited number of them enter the automotive industry.

Previously, there were not many technical personnel with R&D capabilities in various automobile manufacturers, and even if they wanted to poach people, they could not find many.

To put it in an exaggerated way, even if all the R&D personnel from FAW and Second FAW were poached, the number of R&D personnel in Toyota Motor alone would still not be as high as that of Toyota.

"Our three new models, the city SUV, will be launched next year."

"Mercedes-Benz is planning to launch the C-Class mid-size sedan next year."

"As for the new coupe-style model from Chitu Automobile, I plan to launch it in 1990."

"In this way, the evaluation schedules for different models can be staggered, so that everyone won't be exhausted."

After Jiang Hui said this, Hou Guoming felt a little relieved.

If he had to develop three models at the same time, he would be really worried that he wouldn't be able to handle it.

"After a period of testing and adjustment, our own CAD design software is now ready for initial use."

“The R&D center can officially start using NS CAD and NS 3D to draw drawings of new models.”

“Even some simulation experiments can be carried out on NS 3D.”

"We compared the differences between NS CAD and AUTO CAD, and found that they are so small that they do not affect the use."

“NS 3D has also reached the level of CATIA V1.”

Liang Difeng, as the head of Nanshan Software, was also scheduled to attend the meeting today.

Nanshan Software has been very low-key in recent years and burns a lot of money every year.

Compared with other companies, Nanshan Software has the highest proportion of overseas returnees among its R&D personnel.

General Manager Liang Difeng was also a former senior engineer in the software design department of General Motors. BMW Technology put in a lot of effort to poach him back.

However, all these efforts are worth it. In just a few years, Nanshan Software has launched its two most core parts, NS 3D and NS CAD.

At the same time, they also cooperated with Nanshan Equipment and Nanshan Mould to develop some professional industrial software.

Many people are still unaware of the value of these software.

Especially when you can buy all kinds of industrial software from America normally, isn't it not worth it to spend so much money to develop new software that is not as easy to use?

There are actually quite a few people who have this idea.

It’s just that Jiang Hui insisted on having his own way, and no one dared to object.

“All technicians in the company must be able to use computers, otherwise they will sooner or later fall behind the times.”

"We almost entirely relied on hand-drawing to develop the previous generation of models."

"This time, the three models will be developed by combining manual drawing and computer-aided drawing."

“When we design subsequent new models, I hope that 90% of the drawing work can be done on the computer.”

“Then slowly transition to 100% computer drawing, no longer needing to draw drawings by hand.”

Jiang Hui is well aware that in the future all automobile companies will use computers to draw maps, and no one will still draw by hand.

Even most engineers no longer know how to draw by hand and can only use software to draw.

Although manual drawing feels more appealing from a sentimental perspective, this efficiency obviously cannot meet the needs of future development.

Jiang Hui plans to make BMW Group one of the first automobile manufacturers in the world to use 100% computer-generated drawings.

As for comparing with other domestic OEMs, there is absolutely no need to do so.

We are no longer opponents of the same level.

Now, whether it is FAW or Capital Automobile Manufacturing, when setting goals, they have intentionally or unintentionally ignored the comparison with BMW Group.

Otherwise, there is no way to set that goal.

“If NS 3D and NS CAD can be used extensively, it should save a lot of time.”

"In particular, verifying assembly interference on a computer can minimize the number of part design changes."

Hou Guoming felt relieved after hearing what Liang Difeng said.

He had long seen the benefits of computer-aided drafting.

It’s just that Jiang Hui has always wanted to use products developed by Nanshan Software rather than purchasing software directly from abroad.

For designers, the ideal situation would be to finish drawing the drawings once and then not need to modify them again, so that they can be used directly to guide the factory to produce parts.

But with so many parts on a car, only a few can achieve this level of perfection.

Basically, the drawings need to be modified in one way or another at every stage.

For supporting manufacturers, constant changes in parts design not only easily lead to management problems, but also cause a huge loss in costs.

For example, I have already made the mold and am ready to deliver samples on a large scale, but you tell me that this part will interfere with the parts next to it and that the shape needs to be adjusted.

Then the mold is likely to be scrapped directly.

This scrapping cost cannot be ignored, whether it is borne by the supporting manufacturer itself or reimbursed by the OEM, and will ultimately affect the cost of the entire vehicle.

If the design defects in this area are minimized during the design phase, the cost in this area can be reduced to a minimum.

The key is to reduce the process of constantly changing various parts, which naturally saves development time.

This efficiency is very critical.

"Director, what is the specific positioning of our Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan and Chitu coupe?"

Compared with Hou Guoming's focus on the development of new models, Chen Chenxing is more concerned about the positioning and competitiveness of model models.

If a car is not competitive, there is no point in producing it quickly.

The more brothers you have, the easier it is to fight a war.

This kind of thing may not be suitable for the current automotive industry.

At least in Chen Chenxing's opinion, it is not suitable for BMW Group.

Only by continuously launching popular models and continuing the popularity of the BMW Group can it gain a firm foothold in the international automobile market.

Otherwise, if we produce a few failed car models, future sales will be difficult.

"The engine of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class will use the current 2.5L version, and the gearbox will also be the current 4AT and 5MT."

"However, the appearance will be significantly adjusted to make it a new direction for the development of mid-size sedans."

"I will draw the exterior rendering as soon as possible, and then the R&D center will start making the clay model simultaneously."

"Compared to the Land Rover city SUV, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan requires completely new development of chassis parts."

“The body and interior and exterior trim will naturally also be redeveloped, but the electronic functional parts will be shared with the Land Rover City SUV to the greatest extent possible, reducing development and production costs.”

"This car is used to enhance our influence in the car market, with a global sales target of more than 2 units per month."

Jiang Hui quickly shared with everyone some of his key points about the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan.

First let everyone have a preliminary impression of this car, and then combine this requirement to complete the market positioning analysis report and car model design.

The mid-size sedan market is a segment that cannot be ignored in the current sedan market.

Toyota's Camry and Honda's Accord are typical representatives.

Their outstanding performance in the American market is an important contributor to the continuous expansion of Japanese automakers.

Jiang Hui pays more attention to SUVs, but will not completely ignore sedans.

After all, in today's global automobile market, sedans are the largest-selling segment.

For a long time, sedans will be the main type of official vehicles in China.

Today's Mercedes-Benz sedans are relatively large in size and are considered to be high-end sedan products.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan is preparing to enter the mainstream sedan market and contribute to the sales growth of Mercedes-Benz cars.

"In addition to our Mercedes-Benz sedans, the current domestic sedan market is mainly dominated by Shanghai Volkswagen's Santana, FAW Toyota's Crown, Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant's BJ310, and FAW Volkswagen's upcoming Jetta model."

“Nothing else is a concern.”

"If we mass-produce the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in the future, it would be best if we could directly reduce the price to less than 20 yuan, and directly eat up the market share of our competitors."

In order to achieve Jiang Hui's goal of selling 2 vehicles per month, Chen Chenxing has now begun to set his sights on competitors.

In the international automobile market, competition for sedans is very fierce, and it is extremely difficult to emerge as a leader.

Therefore, domestic sales cannot be ignored, and efforts must be made on both sides.

Otherwise, Chen Chenxing would still be under pressure to sell 2 vehicles a month.

On the other hand, for Land Rover's urban SUV, if the global sales target is also 2 units per month, Chen Chenxing feels that there is a good chance of achieving it.

"It's unlikely that it will be eaten completely."

"I heard that Capital Automobile Manufacturing is developing a sedan priced under 5 yuan, hoping to expand the market by taking the low-price route like the BMW Sunshine."

“It is estimated that some other automakers will also consider similar paths.”

"At that time, different consumers will definitely buy different products according to their needs."

"But in the sedan market of around 20 yuan, it shouldn't be a problem for us to grab the cake from all our competitors."

After Jiang Hui said this, Chen Chenxing immediately asked, "Director, if Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant really develops a car priced under 5 yuan, I estimate that the sales volume will not be very low."

"Should we consider asking BMW to develop a sedan product with a similar positioning to the BMW Sunroof?" Currently, the best-selling car of BMW Group in China is the cheap BMW Sunroof.

The sales of other products in China are far from comparable to those in the international market.

"As a product that drives the automotive parts industry chain, the historical mission of the BMW Light has almost been fulfilled."

"If we continue to develop cheaper models, the sales of BMW cars will increase in due course."

"But the sales of Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover and Chitu will be affected."

"Once consumers are left with the impression that the products produced by the BMW Group are low-end and cheap, it will be difficult to reverse the situation."

Jiang Hui had mentioned this view before, but this was the first time he had made it clear in such a high-level formal occasion.

In the future, it is highly likely that the BMW sub-brand will only sell one product, the BMW Light, for a long time.

Wait until the time is right in the future to launch new models.

At that time, whether to follow a route similar to the historical MINI car or SMART will be considered again.

Anyway, in recent years, the development focus of the BMW Group has been on Mercedes-Benz sedans and Land Rover cars. As a high-end car model, Chitu Automobile is not the main sales support.

"The positioning of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is lower than that of current Mercedes-Benz sedans. Even if some parts need to be redeveloped, the difficulty should be within an acceptable range."

"But we have never had similar development experience with the coupe from Chitu Automobile."

“That’s probably what takes the most time.”

"Director, I think you should set the time for the mass production of Chitu Automobile's first product to be 1990."

"By then, should we wait until Nanshan Engine develops the V8 engine and then install it directly on it?"

Compared with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan, Hou Guoming is now more concerned about the brand new Chitu coupe.

He had a feeling that the development difficulty of the Chitu Coupe was the greatest among the three cars, even more difficult than the previous two cars combined.

A coupe, with the word "sports" in its name, must have very high power performance requirements.

This means that there will be very high requirements on the engine, chassis and other aspects.

"That's right. For Chitu Automobile's first coupe, I plan to use a V8 engine directly, and pair it with the 5AT automatic transmission that Nanshan Transmission is developing, making it the most powerful model in the group."

"This power configuration can compete with other models even in the international automobile market."

After Jiang Hui said this, Hou Guoming couldn't help but gasp.

Although the V8 engine project has been approved before, its development difficulty is much more difficult than that of the 3.5L V6 engine.

The precision requirements for parts are also much higher.

Not to mention the 5AT automatic transmission at the back.

According to the information he has learned, there is currently no car model in the world equipped with a 5AT automatic transmission.

Although it is uncertain whether any model will be equipped with 5AT earlier than Chitu Automobile in the next three years, it is conceivable that the technological advancement of 5AT is absolutely beyond doubt.

He is worried whether Nanshan Transmission can successfully develop 5AT.

In addition to the engine and gearbox, many chassis designs must also face great difficulties.

Whether it is the design of the front and rear subframes, or the design of parts such as brake discs, calipers, and steering knuckles, everything needs to start from scratch.

There is no reference answer to what design is most suitable for Chitu Automobile.

This means constant trial and error, which is extremely costly and time-consuming.

"Director, if Chitu's coupe has such a powerful powertrain and a stunning exterior design, I think it will be worth looking forward to in the international market."

Compared to Hou Guoming who had a big headache, Chen Chenxing was more excited.

People who work in sales are most afraid that their products do not have any compelling promotional points.

Obviously, there will be plenty of promotional points for this product of Chitu Automobile.

This is great news for the sales department.

"The domestic market for coupe products will definitely not be very large, at least not in the next few years."

"But the demand in Europe, America, the Middle East and other places is still worth looking forward to."

"We can even use this opportunity to test our products in the Japanese and Korean markets."

Jiang Hui plans to use Porsche's classic Panamera design.

Judging from the classic status of this car in later generations, since Chitu Automobile produced it in 1990, it is estimated that there will be no need to make major adjustments to its appearance in the next 20 years.

It is enough to just upgrade the electronic and electrical systems every few years and slow down the interior style.

So even if the monthly sales volume was only a few thousand vehicles at the beginning, it would be a very scary figure over time.

The key is that such a long-cycle production model is also very beneficial for cultivating the loyalty of supporting factories.

Most suppliers have several customers.

They can't treat every customer the same way.

For example, when production capacity is insufficient, production for a major customer must be prioritized.

When we are unable to arrange staff, we will prioritize the needs of key customers.

BMW Group wants all its suppliers to treat themselves as major customers.

To achieve this goal, in addition to making oneself the main sales target of most supporting factories, some other factors are also needed.

For example, producing parts for the BMW Group is relatively easy and can generate good profits.

For example, BMW Group has a better attitude towards suppliers and focuses more on long-term cooperation.

Anyway, after considering all aspects, the supplier's boss will definitely make his own judgment.

Once people treat the BMW Group as the company's most important customer, this culture will gradually be formed from top to bottom.

This is also very beneficial for improving the stability of the quality of parts of the BMW Group.

For example, I have 100 regular workers and 100 temporary workers.

For parts of the BMW Group, they may arrange regular workers to produce them.

For other less important customers, temporary workers will be hired to produce.

Even if the structures of two parts are almost the same, there will be differences in the final production quality.

This is a common situation among many parts manufacturers in later generations.

"Director, our V8 engine has been under development for more than a year."

"However, many parts used on the V8 are different from those on the V6, 2.5L and 1.5L."

"Some of our existing equipment is unable to produce parts that meet the requirements of the drawings."

"The next step is to introduce large-tonnage forging and die-casting machines, and further introduce high-precision five-axis CNC machine tools, so that the quality of key parts such as cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, and camshafts can meet the requirements."

Hu Shuiwen saw that many people's eyes were turned to him, and he knew that he had to stand up and say something at this time.

The V8 engine is definitely the most critical link for whether Chitu Automobile's coupe can roll off the production line smoothly.

As for the gearbox, if there is really a problem with the 5AT, the worst that can happen is that the 4AT version or the 5MT version will be launched first.

But as for the engine, it is unlikely to be replaced with a 3.5L one.

That won't achieve the purpose of impacting everyone.

Even if it is eventually to be equipped with a 3.5L engine, that will have to wait until this coupe performs very well in the market.

In order to further increase sales and lower the purchasing threshold for consumers, it will be considered.

"In terms of equipment, we will also actively communicate with various factories and strive to produce it ourselves."

"However, the various factories in the group now require a wide variety of equipment, and we can only prioritize some of the needs."

Lin Qiaosheng, the general manager of Nanshan Equipment, also added his own opinions.

Nanshan Equipment is highly valued by Jiang Hui, but its scale is not particularly large.

It is unrealistic to grow fat in one bite.

Therefore, it is an inevitable choice for each factory to purchase part of the equipment needed from outside and produce part of it by itself.

"Our 5AT automatic transmission is being developed with the goal of mass production before 1989."

"Currently, all schedules are progressing as planned."

"If there are any new situations later, we will report them to the group in a timely manner."

Ji Hua, the general manager of Nanshan Transmission, also spoke out at this time.

With the development experience of 4AT, the development of 5AT automatic transmission is relatively easier.

The reason why international transmission companies have been slow to launch 5AT automatic transmissions, in addition to technical issues, is more because the current 4AT production capacity is relatively large.

If new products are launched, then this production capacity will be left unused.

The structures of 4AT and 5AT are quite different, and there are not many places where the parts can be completely interchangeable.

The assembly line is also very different.

For transmission giants such as ZF and Aisin, they are certainly reluctant to abandon their existing production lines all at once.

Of course, as the competitive landscape of the automotive industry changes in the future, the situation will slowly change.

"We have three models being developed together, and all departments need to speed up."

“The next few years are the best time for our group to completely disrupt the automotive industry.”

"After that, the opportunities will become fewer and fewer."

Jiang Hui looked at everyone and prepared to add more pressure to them.

If the BMW Group wants to grow and develop, it cannot miss the window of opportunity in the next few years.

In a few years, it will be difficult to import some high-end equipment from international markets.

So in the past few years, we have imported what should be imported, and developed what should be independently developed.

After entering the 90s, we tried to be self-reliant in all aspects.

(End of this chapter)