The car giant started by marrying the daughter of the king

"Mr. Jiang, someone from Toyota's purchasing department contacted us, and they also mentioned the cooperation on the 6AT automatic transmission."

"I'm a little undecided about how to discuss this with them."

Ji Hua would definitely welcome the order that came out of nowhere.

However, considering that Nanshan Transmission's biggest competitor, Aisin, is a parts company under Toyota Motor, this matter is more sensitive.

If the other party comes here purely with the intention of stealing our skills, Nanshan Transmission will share all kinds of information with the other party, which may provide additional support to Aisin.

After all, this kind of thing has happened in the industry before.

Of course, even if you know there is such a risk, you don’t necessarily have to choose to refuse directly.

Sometimes, using certain technologies in exchange for orders is also an option that many suppliers will consider.

Especially those parts companies in Europe and the United States often have advantages in technological innovation.

So when cooperating with Japanese car companies such as Toyota Motor and Honda Motor, they will still consider choosing them even though they know that after one generation of cooperation on car models, the next generation may be replaced by related manufacturers within their own systems.

After all, the profit of a first generation of models is also considerable.

And technology is constantly evolving.

After a few years, the original technology is no longer so advanced.

"Has Toyota said they are going to cooperate with us on projects related to those models? What is the annual volume?"

Jiang Hui has a relatively thorough understanding of the problem.

There are no eternal enemies or eternal friends in the world.

When 5AT was launched, Nanshan Transmission also had some cooperation with Toyota.

It is not impossible to continue cooperating on 6AT now.

However, the current Nanshan gearbox is no longer the same as it was back then.

The conditions for cooperation will naturally change.

“The specific model is still under discussion, but it should be a project for Lexus.”

"At least that's how it was at the beginning."

"As for the number of units, the other party will clarify it in the quotation conditions sent out next week."

"It is expected that there will be more than 10 units per year."

There is relatively little information at the moment, so Ji Hua can only tell you what he knows.

For the rest, we'll take it one step at a time.

"Toyota Motors is aiming to become the world's number one car. It currently has sales of more than four million units a year."

"Although 6AT is unlikely to be fully popularized so quickly, 10 vehicles is obviously too conservative."

"You can tell them that Nanshan Transmission is willing to cooperate with all customers and provide products to all customers."

"However, the production capacity of our first phase factory is arranged in combination with the orders that have been obtained or are under negotiation."

"I hope Toyota Motor will confirm the number of units for the cooperation project as soon as possible."

"And considering that we will invest a lot in the production of 6AT automatic transmission."

"So we need to sign a quantity guarantee agreement with the customer. If the agreed quantity is not reached, compensation will be incurred."

Jiang Hui also doesn't want Toyota to cooperate with Nanshan Transmission for two years, and then replace Nanshan Transmission after Aisin's 6AT comes out.

This is something that absolutely needs to be avoided.

Therefore, it is necessary to sign a unit quantity agreement.

If Toyota has nothing to hide, it should not be too sensitive about this kind of unit quantity agreement.

After all, whether it is signing 10 units, 20 units, or even more, they have the strength to achieve it.

The premise is that they want to achieve it.

"A guarantee agreement for the number of units?"

Ji Hua's eyes lit up, "This is a good plan."

"As long as the number of units is locked, our interests will be guaranteed to a certain extent."

"Even if Aisin develops a 6AT automatic transmission by then, they can't switch to ours, or they'll have to pay for it."

In the past, when Nanshan Transmission dealt with various OEMs, its attitude could not be said to be humble, but it was definitely the second party.

Jiang Hui's statement now made Ji Hua realize that Nanshan Transmission can actually be the second party just like it is the first party.

Your attitude can be good, but you cannot compromise on any of the conditions that should be proposed.

Otherwise I would rather not cooperate.

After all, apart from Nanshan Transmission, no other manufacturer in the world can provide 6AT automatic transmission.

Even if there is a plan, it will not be implemented so quickly.

"In addition to the agreement on the number of units guaranteed, the relevant technical data descriptions must also be subject to certain restrictions."

"After clarifying the development schedule of the specific model, we should not easily provide 6AT samples to the other party before reaching the assembly and delivery node of the prototype vehicle."

"Otherwise, these samples will definitely be given to Aisin for disassembly and research."

Nanshan Transmission's 6AT will eventually flow into the market and be disassembled and analyzed by competitors.

But at this time, Jiang Hui wanted to delay it as much as possible.

To a certain extent, this can also slow down the development progress of similar products by competitors.

After all, with the reference of successful products, many problems that were not well solved before may be solved easily.

"Okay, I will communicate this information with Toyota."

"In addition, we will not provide detailed structural drawings of the gearbox, only an assembly drawing."

Through this communication, Ji Hua has roughly understood Jiang Hui's attitude.

Cooperation is definitely possible.

After all, people have come to us, and Toyota's global development will get better and better in the future.

Whether it is Nanshan Transmission or Nanshan Technology, there is still room for cooperation with Toyota Motor.

There is no need to close the door early.

However, during the cooperation process, the interests of Nanshan Transmission must be fully guaranteed.

I think Toyota is also mentally prepared to some extent.

……

Nanshan Transmission has many customers.

Secrets between clients must be kept confidential.

However, there is obviously no problem in appropriately revealing that they have reached some cooperation with major automakers such as Toyota, General Motors and Ford.

Ji Hua, whose mind was gradually becoming clearer, naturally would not miss this opportunity.

For example, Volkswagen learned this information very quickly.

"Lucas, I think it's necessary to report to the headquarters. Nanshan Transmission's 6AT project is already in contact with General Motors and Toyota."

"It is estimated that their new models will be equipped with it soon."

As Volkswagen's representative at FAW-Volkswagen, Wilman is also very concerned about market changes in China.

In particular, the various movements of the BMW Group are the focus of attention.

Volkswagen's current sales volume is not much greater than BMW Group's production volume.

If you are not careful, you may be surpassed in the future.

"General Motors and Ford have cooperated with BorgWarner Nanshan Transmission, which I can understand."

"After all, when Nanshan Transmission chose to establish a joint venture with BorgWarner, it was definitely targeting American automakers."

“But why did Toyota choose to cooperate with Nanshan Transmission?”

"Don't they have their own gearbox manufacturers?"

Lucas asked, a little confused. "Who knows, maybe Aisin's 6AT can't be launched so quickly, and Toyota can't wait."

"It is also possible that they want to take this opportunity to learn some new technologies from Nanshan Transmission."

"But Toyota is discussing the installation of 6AT with Nanshan Transmission, so this news should be reliable."

After Wellman said this, Lucas also realized the seriousness of the situation.

From a global perspective, Volkswagen's main competitors are General Motors, Ford and Toyota.

If these three manufacturers start launching new models equipped with 6AT, Volkswagen will be the only one left.

It will definitely have a certain impact on sales.

They must report this matter to the headquarters in a timely manner.

After all, Nanshan Transmission is in China.

"I'll try to arrange for someone to inquire and see if there's more information."

"At the same time, I also asked the purchasing department of the joint venture to take the initiative to contact Nanshan Transmission to see if they can get more information."

Soon, the two of them reached a consensus.

Sort out the situation in China and report to the headquarters as soon as possible.

In this way, even if Volkswagen fails to make the right choice in time in the future, the blame cannot be placed on them.

……

"Director Li, Nanshan Transmission's 5AT has been in mass production for several years, and the 6AT will soon be released."

"However, you can't even produce 4AT smoothly. How can we support you?"

At the Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant, Chen Qi felt a little helpless when he saw Li Nanhai, the director of the Capital Gear Factory, who came to the plant.

Originally, all the products of Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant were equipped with gearboxes from Capital Gear Factory.

Their 3MT and 4MT manual transmissions previously had certain advantages in the country.

However, after Nanshan Transmission developed 4AT, the domestic automobile industry quickly entered the era of automatic transmissions.

Things were beginning to get tough at the Capital Gear Factory.

Because our largest customer, Capital Automobile Manufacturing, has begun to switch the gearboxes of some of its models to Nanshan gearboxes.

As this trend develops, Capital Gear Factory will receive fewer and fewer orders for manual transmissions.

Li Nanhai, who has already felt this impact, naturally hopes to reverse the situation.

Otherwise, their factory will be on the verge of bankruptcy.

Since 1989, all factories have entered a state of comprehensive reform.

If you are always in the red, you will most likely be abandoned by your superiors.

This is obviously not the situation that Li Nanhai wants to see.

He still wanted to support his son's development in the factory so that he could take over his business in the future.

"Mr. Chen, our 4AT automatic transmission, although its technical maturity cannot be compared with that of Nanshan transmission."

“But the price is cheaper.”

"With time, some of our minor problems can be improved."

In order to develop the 4AT automatic transmission, Capital Gear Factory directly asked Nanshan Technology to produce TCU.

Finally, I managed to get the product out.

But without comparison there is no gap.

Compared with the 4AT produced by Nanshan Transmission, the quality of Capital Gear Factory is quite disappointing.

Therefore, even though Capital Automobile Manufacturing is sensitive to cost, it is unwilling to use it.

It is only useful on a small number of car models.

"You also know the situation of our group."

"The pressure is very high now, and our competitors are developing very fast."

“The pace of development of the capital’s auto industry lags behind cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen, and the higher-ups are already very dissatisfied.”

"I can't take the risk of using your substandard product."

“Unless your performance can reach the same level as Nanshan Transmission.”

Chen Qi felt that he was already overwhelmed by his own difficulties and naturally did not want to continue supporting the Capital Gear Factory.

Although we have had a close cooperative relationship in the past, we are actually two units.

Everyone's administrative level is the same.

Even in the early days, Capital Gear Factory did not consider itself as the second party at all. Its attitude cannot be said to be bad, but it has nothing to do with good.

I always feel that we are just partners and are all completing tasks assigned by our superiors.

Chen Qi also kept this situation in mind.

"Mr. Chen..."

Li Nanhai still wanted to fight for it, but Chen Qi said he had to attend a meeting.

Left the office directly.

Obviously, what awaits the Capital Gear Factory is not a very optimistic outcome.

Unless the transformation can be completed in time.

Otherwise, there will be no future in the gearbox track.

……

"Boss Jiang, Li Nanhai from Capital Gear Factory contacted me and asked if our company is interested in acquiring them."

At Nanshan Transmission, Ji Hua hung up a phone call with mixed feelings and went to find Jiang Hui.

Capital Gear Factory was his former employer, and he had been working there since graduating from university.

Until I changed jobs and came to Nanshan Transmission.

At that time, the Capital Gear Factory was considered an enterprise with very good treatment in the capital's automobile industry street.

It is well-known throughout the capital region.

But more than ten years have passed, and now it has fallen to the point where it has to ask others whether they are willing to acquire it.

Ji Hua had never thought of this situation before.

"If the Capital Gear Factory is to be sold, I'm afraid it's not Li Nanhai who has the final say, right?"

Jiang Hui saw it very clearly.

For a factory with a long history like the Capital Gear Factory, the greatest value is the land on which it is located.

After all, those places are considered urban areas according to later standards.

However, the current land value is not fully appreciated, and the value of the Capital Gear Factory's factory buildings and equipment is limited.

On the contrary, the historical burden of personnel and other aspects is heavier.

So Jiang Hui was a little undecided about whether to acquire the company.

"Although it's not Li Nanhai who has the final say, if we were to acquire it, our superiors would probably approve it in the end."

"It's just that among so many people in there, not many can actually be used."

Ji Hua expressed his views.

He definitely wants to acquire it.

It feels great to return home in glory.

Of course, the issue must be made clear.

Otherwise, it will be troublesome if Jiang Hui is dissatisfied. (End of this chapter)