The journey starts from the Titanic

Edsel’s full name is Edsel Ford, Henry Ford’s son and vice chairman of Ford Motor Company, the successor of Ford, and an excellent car designer. The famous Type A is Edsel. Searle designed it.

I have to sigh the talent of the Ford family in the automotive field. Henry Ford is famous for the Model T. His son Edsel designed the Model A to make Ford regain its glory. If history does not change, Edsel After Ford's untimely death, his son Ford II will lead Ford to move on.

Now Henry Ford has delegated more and more tasks to his son, such as handling the production line of the Model T car.

Song Zian found Edsel again and offered to buy a production line for Ford cars.

Edsel Ford has no feelings for Model T cars. He has long disliked Model T cars with a simple black painting structure that has remained unchanged for ten years. Americans need Model A cars that are better, faster and more beautiful, and more luxurious. Car, such as General Motors’ Cadillac or Chrysler’s Lincoln.

Someone was willing to take over the old production lines in the warehouse. He couldn't ask for it, and there was no big talk. The two parties quickly reached a deal.

SAIC Motor has obtained the T-model license, and Ford Motor will also send engineers to Shanghai to help SAIC Motor to manufacture Model T-cars, including improvements to Model T-cars. It is estimated that SAIC Motor will have an annual production capacity of 10,000 Model-T cars within two years. Ability.

If the cooperation works well, SAIC Motor will purchase more production lines and pack up the remaining T-car production lines of Ford Motor.

The signing of the agreement was very low-key, and the location was at Ford's headquarters.

"Edsel, I wish us a happy cooperation and hope you have the opportunity to come to China."

Song Zian signed the contract and exchanged the contract with Edselford, and the two shook hands enthusiastically.

"Thank you. I will if I get the chance."

Edsel Ford laughed enthusiastically, hoping that this is a good start. If Shanghai Automotive is successful, then after they cultivate the Chinese car market, Ford will also occupy the Asian car market in the past, and now let the Chinese take the lead. "Break in"!

As if they knew that Song Ziwen and the others were more anxious, Edsel Ford said, “In one week, Ford will be able to send technicians to Shanghai to give instructions on the construction of the automobile factory. The Lens River enters the Atlantic Ocean, crosses the Panama Canal into the Pacific Ocean, and is guaranteed to arrive in Shanghai within two months."

After obtaining Edsel's assurance, Song Ziwen left Ford Motor Company freely.

Then I rushed to meet with a few Chinese engineers hired from Chrysler. Chrysler Motors is the company that welcomes Chinese engineers among the three major American auto giants.

As early as a few years ago, Situ Nan consciously went to Chrysler Motors to Serve Chinese engineers to train Chinese automotive technical personnel. When Zhang Xiaoruo came to Detroit last time, Dasheng Motors took away a dozen Chinese automotive engineers from Chrysler Motors. This time Song Zi'an was no exception.

This is the most precious treasure Situ Nan prepared for Song Zi'an!

"I've been waiting for Manager Song's call!" a Chinese engineer laughed.

"My classmate Lao Zhou returned to China with Dasheng Company President Zhang last time, and we were greatly stimulated! Now we have to return to China to compete with them!" Another Chinese engineer laughed.

"Fortunately, the Meihua Foundation did not lie to us. It is worth staying in the United States for a long time." Another humanity, this person seems to have management experience, reminded Song Zi'an to pay attention to the lack of domestic auto talents and speed up the training of auto workers.

...

You say me, everyone will soon take on the role and discuss how to build a car factory.

Most of these people were supported by the US-China Foundation, or benefited from the US-China Foundation, and were able to study in the United States and enter the Chrysler Automobile Company to learn to make cars.

In the United States, there are about 5 international students or intellectuals who are directly or indirectly influenced by the US-China Foundation. Eighty percent of them are talents in science and engineering. After learning technology in the United States, they were guided back to China and South China to join Major industrial complexes of the US-China Department.

In the 1920s, Chinese = Chinese, all have a Chinese heart.

After meeting with Song Zian, those Chinese engineers readily agreed to return to China to start a business, join Song Zian's auto entrepreneurial team, and make Chinese own cars!

(If Situ Nan had instructed the American China Foundation to appease the remaining Chinese engineers, Zhang Xiaoruo would take away all the Chinese automotive engineers last time, and would not leave Song Zi'an as a technician.)

Song Zian gave the auto team the task to improve the Ford Model T according to China's national conditions.

After dealing with the affairs in Detroit, Song Zian flew to New York to report to Situ Nan. He generously walked into the apartment on Situ Nan's Fifth Avenue.

Laura's emotions were handled well, and Song Zian was not embarrassed, and she warmly welcomed Song Zian.

After Xihan asked warmly, Liqun walked away, leaving room for Song Zian and Situ Nan to talk.

"How does the first international purchase feel?" Situ Nan asked with a haggard face, but with excitement in his eyes.

"The $250,000 fund was gone with just one stroke, and I felt pressure." Song Zian said honestly, explaining the transaction situation and his thoughts to Situ Nan.

After all, the growth line is backward, and it costs 10,000 US dollars, but the entire technology and technical authorization of the T-car cost more money, including five American engineers sent by Ford to Shanghai to instruct the Chinese to make cars.

The cost of training, training, wages, etc. of raw materials for plant construction, workers, etc., roughly add up, and it costs at least US$50,000 to build a car company.

As the cooperation deepens, there will be a second and third more funds.

"Auto factories are really gold-swallowing beasts. They have to invest large sums of money before they can produce. The domestic conditions are not good, and the supporting industrial base is still thin. The cost of investing in the automobile industry is even higher.

Unlike the original investment in the match factory, I guess it will take at least three to five years."

Song Zian said.

Situ Nan nodded. Song Zi'an was still sober-minded and had a clear understanding of the domestic automobile industry environment. He was not optimistic or discouraged, and he was prepared to face difficulties. This is rare.

"Speaking of it, I have to thank my brother-in-law for helping me a lot behind your back. I didn't expect you to prepare automotive talents for me long ago. Haha. With them, I am not afraid that the technicians sent by Ford will take their own skills. Up."

Song Zi'an smiled.

"It's not for you, your kid is lucky and just built a cheap one."

Situ Nan smiled, and then asked Song Zian how to develop the T-car technology he bought from Ford Motor.

"You know the domestic situation. Although the T-car is lagging behind in the United States, the domestic car is still a luxury item. It is a thing for the rich. A car imported from the United States, for example, Chrysler, has no price lower than 3 For those under RMB, even Ford’s Model T will cost at least RMB 2 in Shanghai.

However, the manufacturing cost is now that the price of Ford Model T in the United States has dropped to $3!It is only 6 yuan of legal currency to change into legal currency.

Even if the freight is added, imported cars will have at least double the profit.Of course, T-cars have not sold well in Shanghai, and Shanghai auto dealers have a better relationship with Chrysler Automobiles."

Song Zi'an smiled. Their Song family is the largest auto dealer in China, and he knows the import costs of various cars.

On the automobile sales network, SAIC Motor will have the advantage of Dasheng Automobile Company.

"I am confident that the cost of domestically-produced cars will be controlled below 1 yuan, or even below 1 yuan. It is possible to learn from Ford Motor's strategy of small profits but quicker sales, and the price of the car will not exceed 15 yuan."

Song Ziwen said, "Of course, we will improve the Model T to make it look better."

"15 yuan? If you can keep the price so low, I think some of the rich middle class will be able to buy cars."

Situ Nan's eyes lit up, smiled, and asked Song Zi'an, "Do you agree with Henry Ford's car philosophy? Do you really want to learn from Ford to build cheap national cars?"

"It seems that we don’t have many choices, don’t we? Dasheng Motors has a better technical force than us, and sufficient funds. It has introduced Chrysler’s more advanced airflow technology. The cars they manufacture must be higher than the T-cars. , A mid-range car must compete with imported cars for wealthy domestic customers.

And if we take the public route, we can avoid competition with Dasheng."

Song Ziandao, of course, he also recognized Ford's philosophy, cheap T-cars are also suitable for the initial domestic car market.

"Of course, the T-car is a very mature and diverse automotive technology. We have developed trucks, sports cars and pickup trucks on the original site. We also have a production line that specializes in manufacturing trucks to meet the domestic road freight demand. After all, this market is also very strong. prospect."

Song Zian said.

"Yeah. Pickup trucks developed from T-cars are indeed very popular in the United States. They take on most of the urban freight tasks. You have a good idea."