2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 843 Opportunities Brought About by High-Profile Operations

Tan Jincheng held his daughter's one-month celebration in downtown Ningbo on Sunday, November 15th.

Compared to the time his son was born last time, Boss Tan was much more extravagant this time, booking a five-star hotel for two days under the name of ByteDance.

In addition, the company cafeteria will be providing extra meals on Monday and Tuesday next week.

"You little rascal, it's rare for you to treat yourself like this. Looks like men prefer daughters."

The first car company executive to arrive was Ying Jianren. After all, he had a close working relationship with Wei Lai recently, and he could also be considered a fellow townsman of Gu Qingqing, although no one from Yiwu would consider themselves to be from Huogan City.

"Hehe, it's because we invited a lot of people, and it's more convenient in the city. You've really made a name for yourself this year, brother."

"Hey kid, stop teasing me. Are you trying to make fun of your older brother? Who can steal the spotlight like you?"

"I'm not kidding, as long as we can make money, that's all that matters. Isn't that what we're after?"

Ever since Xia Bing unlocked the full potential of Zhongtai, the company has embarked on a path of no return, relentlessly pursuing imitation, and its performance has indeed improved significantly.

This year, Zhongtai continued its efforts and launched two models, the T700 and SR7.

The T700 imitates the Porsche Cayenne and can be seen as the predecessor of the once sensational and awesome Porsche Cayenne. The SR7 is simpler: its exterior is based on the Audi Q3, and its interior is based on Tesla.

In addition, there is the Z700, whose interior can be said to have been taken from the Audi A6L. There is also the X5, which has an ambiguous relationship with the Tiguan.

They're basically just exploiting the masses to the extreme.

"Haha, it's a bit embarrassing to say, but the company has no choice but to survive. We lost too much money in the past few years. Fortunately, President Xia pointed out a way for us. Sigh."

Ying Jianren didn't feel ashamed at all. The first priority for a company is to survive. It's just a pity that General Manager Xia, whom they spent several years recruiting, only stayed at Zhongtai for half a year.

"I understand, please come in and have a seat, brother. Please forgive me if we haven't been hospitable enough today."

It's not convenient to talk in detail right now, as there are quite a few guests coming today. In addition to the automotive industry, there are many of Tan Jincheng's old friends, such as those in the clothing and electric vehicle industries. Also, although the government can't come in person, they will send a representative.

"Okay, you go ahead with your work. We're old friends, let's chat again sometime."

Thanks to the gentle and patient approach of the boss, they had a good year in 2015. Besides relentlessly exploiting Volkswagen, they also did quite well in the new energy vehicle sector.

At the launch event for the Damai X5, not only did they openly compare it to the Volkswagen Tiguan, but a mid-level manager at Damai even declared on Weibo that they not only wanted to surpass Volkswagen, but also wanted to acquire it.

The key is that luck seems to be on their side this year. Volkswagen's sales have plummeted this year, and they've had a lot of problems to deal with, so they simply don't have time to deal with them.

In addition, in the field of new energy vehicles, Zhongtai, which specializes in A00-class vehicles, has also tasted great success and is having a great time.

How hot was the new energy vehicle market in 2015?

Smog and traffic congestion have led to restrictions on vehicle purchases and use, making new energy vehicles extremely popular this year. Sales of new energy vehicles not subject to these restrictions have surged, prompting major automakers to increase their investment.

Of course, the most important factor is the level of subsidies. With national subsidies plus local policy subsidies, automakers can receive up to 10 yuan in subsidies for every new energy vehicle sold.

Taking the new energy vehicles from Weilai as an example, the total sales volume of 4.12 vehicles would be an astronomical figure if all were based on the top-level subsidies.

Zhongtai specializes in A00-class new energy vehicles, and claims to sell two to three thousand vehicles every month. But everyone knows the truth: Zhongtai receives subsidies in the hundreds of millions every month.

The subsidies that Weilai and BYD can get are even more substantial, but Tan Jincheng is not afraid. While it cannot be said that Weilai's new energy vehicle sales data is entirely true, at least 90% of it is true.

The subsidies are so generous that businesses have no choice but to be tempted.

If Tan Jincheng hadn't known that this subsidy fraud would be investigated and punished later, he would have been just as tempted.

This is much easier than simply selling cars. The huge subsidies that Wei Lai receives can be used to support the entire industry chain and offset some of the losses incurred in investing in the new energy industry.

Tan Jincheng had no intention of commenting on Ying Jianren's behavior. In the end, his series of actions with Zhongtai were just a drop in the ocean among the many car companies in the country.

There are many people who are even worse than him.

Just as Ying Jianren had expected, he was the first OEM owner in the automotive industry to arrive, but not the first, nor the last. By this time, the hotel was already filled with well-known figures from all walks of life.

Dong Jinggui and Zhang Congxun, the two major electric vehicle giants headquartered in Jiangsu Province, were already chatting familiarly with Tan Jincheng's family and a group of executives from Flash Technology in the lobby.

In addition, many prominent entrepreneurs from Ningbo who have connections with Tan Jincheng also came.

What appeared to be an ordinary full moon celebration actually looked like a high-profile event for Mr. Tan, showcasing his personal network for the first time in his private life.

The second car company executive to arrive was surprisingly Hiroshi Nagasawa from Mitsubishi.

After receiving the invitation, Yu Nagasawa made arrangements for his work and set off from Shanghai this morning.

"Nagazawa-kun, it's been a long time. Welcome!"

"Congratulations, Mr. Tan. I'm here today to have a drink with you."

Nagasawa Yu shook hands with Tan Jincheng with a smile. His secretary handed the red envelope to the staff member next to him and made a registration. Tan Jincheng glanced at it and then winked at Nagasawa Yu.

"Haha, when in Rome, do as the Romans do."

They really do follow local customs. I bet they'll receive a lot of red envelopes today. After Chang Zeyu, the next representative is Geely, another independent car company in Zhejiang Province. Then, the next representatives are car companies and supply chain companies from the Yangtze River Delta region, led by Chery.

As if by unspoken agreement, the representatives sent by these car companies are all highly influential figures who can make certain decisions on behalf of the company's founders or CEOs.

To put it bluntly, they didn't believe that the usually low-profile Tan Jincheng would extend such an invitation to his peers without a reason.

"I do have some ideas. We can discuss them in detail when Mr. Wang arrives."

The boatman promised to come today, and he should be arriving soon. The people sent to pick him up are already on their way back from the airport.

However, to Tan Jincheng's surprise, Zhang Li's car suddenly appeared at the hotel entrance.

"Mr. Tan, do you mind if I take a break and join in the fun?"

Zhang Li walked slowly toward Tan Jincheng, smiling as he greeted him.

However, Tan Jincheng's gaze did not linger on Zhang Li for long. Instead, he focused his attention on the middle-aged woman behind him who was somewhat overweight.

"Mr. Wang, what brings you here?"

Tan Jincheng had sent an invitation to Boss Wei, but he never expected him to come, let alone that this other key figure of the Great Wall would come in person, and in this way.

It's true that Wang Fengying is Zhang Li's wife, but her appearance in this way on this occasion is still somewhat unexpected.

Throughout 2015, if we were to say who Wei Lai competed with most fiercely, it would undoubtedly be Great Wall.

Under Wang Fengying's leadership, the new Haval series has become the strongest competitor to the Yuechi series, and is also the best-selling domestic SUV series besides the Yuechi series.

To put it simply, in the current SUV market, the Yuechi series and the Haval series occupy more than 15% of the overall market share.

The pressure is immense; joint venture brands and domestic independent brands alike are all being utterly defeated by these two.

"Haha, I came to see my husband and also helped out with some business for the company. Mr. Tan, you don't mind if I come uninvited, do you?"

"How could that be? Mr. Wang, please come in. Mr. Zhang didn't even tell me in advance so I could have arranged for someone to pick you up."

"Mr. Tan, you're too kind. I decided to come at the last minute, and my husband didn't know beforehand."

"Yes, yes, welcome, welcome. Mr. Zhang, please entertain him for me. Mr. Wang from BYD will be here shortly."

Tan Jincheng was greeting guests at the hotel entrance when news of Wang Fengying's arrival spread into the hotel lobby, causing many car company representatives to whisper among themselves.

Goodness, nobody expected this person to come. This year, the competition between the Yuechi series and the Haval series is truly fierce.

The all-new Haval series, under the leadership of Wang Fengying, is coming on strong and is undoubtedly targeting the Yuechi series. Everyone is speculating how the Yuechi series, which has been on the market for eight years, will respond.

It is quite a miracle that a car can still sell well after eight years, especially for domestic brands. Currently, apart from the Geely Emgrand series, there seem to be very few models that have achieved such results.

"Mr. Wang, would you like to come sit at my place for a while?"

At this moment, Gu Qingqing, the hostess, also rushed over upon hearing the news. She knew that her husband had always wanted to poach this key figure from the Great Wall. The last time, she decided not to mention it to Zhang Li, mainly because she was considering Zhang Li's feelings.

Wang Fengying glanced at Zhang Li, who nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Alright then, let's go see our little princess."

This was the first time Wang Fengying had met Gu Qingqing. Gu Qingqing, who had not fully recovered after giving birth, appeared somewhat plump compared to her image in front of the media, but this added a touch of elegance to this usually gentle woman.

"You're not completely out of postpartum confinement yet, are you alright?"

"It's alright, it's only a day or two away, so I guess I can say I'm out of confinement by now."

"Yes, but you still need to be careful. Women need to be very careful during their postpartum recovery period. But you are still young and in good physical condition."

Wang Fengying glanced at Gu Qingqing from time to time, while secretly recalling her husband's description of her. Whether a woman is doing well or not can be discerned from her complexion and expression; it was clear that this young woman, only 28 years old, was quite satisfied with her life and had a good relationship with her husband.

It's quite interesting, actually. She and her husband work for different car companies, which are also their most direct competitors.

The couple usually try to avoid discussing work-related matters when they chat, otherwise they might accidentally leak information. Zhang Li is just the manager of the manufacturing department. Although he is a senior executive, he is still somewhat inferior to her.

In terms of leaking secrets, she was definitely the one who suffered. It would be a lie to say that the couple didn't have the intention to find out about each other's activities.

They are husband and wife, but now in their forties, they have long lost the passion they once had for each other. They are family members as well as rivals.

"I've often heard Lao Zhang say that President Gu and President Tan have a very good relationship. Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, it seems that Lao Zhang wasn't lying to me."

"Haha, really? How did you figure that out, Mr. Wang?"

"The way you looked at President Gu just now, and the way President Tan looked at you. Now I believe what's in the media. It seems to be true."

"Mr. Wang, you flatter me."

The most impressive person always makes their appearance last. With the arrival of the boatman, all the guests at today's banquet had gathered, and his arrival brought the atmosphere to a climax.

"The rumors are true. It seems that President Wang and Xiao Tan have a very good personal relationship, otherwise he wouldn't have come in person."

"That's true. Although I heard that Xiao Tan intends to reach some cooperation agreements with various parties this time, there is no need for her to attend in person."

"That's right. Speaking of which, Xiao Tan is quite interesting. Both of the two most competitive companies have sent important figures to the event. I wonder what will happen in the automotive industry this time."

"Where Xiao Tan is, there's a hot topic, haha, let's just enjoy the show."

The person who can speak so frankly about Tan Jincheng must be an old friend of Tan Jincheng.

"Hehe, are you two thinking back to when Xiao Tan dominated you in the electric vehicle circle?"

Zhang Xupeng, always eager for a good show, was there when Tan Jincheng was speaking on stage. Today, he was responsible for entertaining some of Tan Jincheng's old friends from before he officially took over management, as well as some supplier friends from Ningbo.

"You little rascal, you really have a sharp tongue, but what you said isn't wrong. Xiao Tan really gave us a hard time back then."

Having lost its leading position, Xinri has now moved to fourth place in national sales, but every advantage has its disadvantages.

Without the pressure of being the leader, Zhang Congxun appeared more relaxed. He learned from Flash Motors' focus on developing overseas markets, producing high-profit, high-end electric vehicles domestically, and exporting lower-profit, low-end products abroad.

The company develops both domestic and overseas markets. Although it has lost its former glory, the annual profit margin is still quite good.

Keep quiet and make a fortune.

"Hehe, that's right. Xiao Tan has so many tricks up her sleeve when it comes to marketing. Compared to Xiao Tan, you're a bit lacking. If it weren't for the foundation Xiao Tan laid for you, I dare say we would definitely have surpassed your sales."

Dong Jinggui's Yadi has developed rapidly in recent years. After completing the accumulation of original technology, both sales and reputation have risen, and it now firmly holds the second position.

Zhang Xupeng curled his lip: "Give me a break. No matter how bad I am compared to Xiao Tan, I'm still better at marketing than you guys."

In the two-wheeled electric vehicle industry, when it comes to marketing capabilities, besides Flash, Aima is also a top contender. As for Yadi, if it weren't for their superior products, their marketing capabilities wouldn't be able to compete with Aima.

"Mr. Dong is right. The three spokespeople that Xiao Tan left for you are enough to make Flashcar very rich, especially Jay Chou."

Chun Ge holds a very high position in the mainland music scene. Since her debut in 2005, she has had a large number of fans. Although the Flash series is a low-end brand, a low-end brand does not mean that the products are also low-end.

Over the years, with product iterations and upgrades, the Flash series products have become quite good and are still loved by many fans of Brother Chun.

In addition, Liu Yifei's endorsement of the Feiyi series, which targets women, also has a high appeal among her female fans. As for Zhou Pangzi, he is always the focus of attention.

Flash has consumed a lot of his traffic over the years.

"Hehe, that's because I'm lucky. Xiao Tan and I are good brothers. Also, your ability to find spokespeople is really not good, especially you, Mr. Zhang. You guys are really lucky."

Zhang Xupeng wasn't angry at all at the two men's taunts, but Zhang Congxun was almost brought to his knees by their comment about having a tough life.

The room was filled with distinguished guests, and glasses clinked, but everyone who came to the full moon celebration was very restrained, knowing that the main event was not the banquet itself.

Shortly after the banquet began, Gu Qingqing took her son and daughter back to Beicang, as the children were not comfortable staying in such a setting for too long.

Tan Jincheng booked the entire hotel, and the security was taken over by Wei Lai's security department. There were places to rest in the hotel, and people like Zhang Congxun and Dong Jinggui, who were just there for a get-together with old friends, were drinking happily.

After the banquet, Zhang Xupeng and his group went off to enjoy themselves.

As the CEO of Flash Group and a childhood friend of Boss Tan, their relationship is closer than blood ties. It's not impolite for him to entertain his old friend on behalf of Tan Jincheng, and Zhang Xupeng is also very familiar with this group of people.

People like Zhang Haiping, Cheng Yongjun, and Zhang Mingcan have been friends for nearly ten years.

"Hehe, guess what big thing President Tan is up to this time?"

Inside the KTV room, Zhang Haiping, who had just grabbed the microphone, chuckled. He was now one of those who had benefited from the success of others, and as a member of Jinpeng Supply Chain, he held a certain position in Beicang.

"Don't guess, it's definitely not a small matter. Let's sing a song."

This is no small matter; Horizon Robotics is about to launch a financing round and accept new shareholders!
As for new energy vehicle license plates, these are minor issues. Once the financing is completed, with the GA department leading the effort and major automakers cooperating, there will be no problem at all.

"Everyone, 2015 is about to end. You've all seen the money invested in the food delivery war and the ride-hailing war. There's hardly any profit left in this industry."

"With the BAT monopoly and companies like ByteDance and Meituan having grown up, it's no longer possible to invest in cheap internet companies. In a sense, the winter of internet investment has arrived."

"Next, we'll be investing in the hard technology industry. Although hard technology has a longer cycle and lower returns, it's the future trend. Horizon Robotics is a hard technology company, and we'll be starting a fundraising round soon. I wonder if any of you are interested?"

Tan Jincheng, who had drunk a little wine, was flushed and, after a few passionate opening remarks, began to introduce the Horizon team.

Horizon Robotics' team is not just Yu Kai alone, but rather quite impressive.

The team includes Yang Ming, one of the founding members of Facebook's AI division, who is in charge of software; Huang Chang, the former chief architect of Baidu, who is in charge of algorithms; and Fang Yi, the former vice president of Nokia Greater China, who is in charge of hardware.

With outstanding talent in all aspects, and in an era where there is still little market space for advanced intelligent driving and the application rate of L2 intelligent driving is less than 10%, Weilai Intelligent Driving and its founding team, which appeared at last year's Internet Conference, are the most impressive.

Everyone has seen the performance of WILAI Intelligent Driving in the market.

"Does President Tan and President Yu mean to open up Horizon Robotics' equity? Or, to put it another way, open up W3D?"

I knew it wasn't just about license plates. After looking around at the representatives of various car companies, I knew it wasn't just a simple matter of license plates.

Good lad, he's going to lead the entire intelligent driving market.

Yu Kai nodded: "Yes, our first round of financing is open to both financial investors and major car companies. We welcome all interested investors."

Wang Fengying's eyes flashed: "We're opening up to us too? President Tan isn't afraid of competition?"

Tan Jincheng smiled and said, "Competition is what drives us. If it weren't for a strong competitor like Haval, we wouldn't be able to keep upgrading the Yuechi series and keeping it competitive in the market."

This statement was somewhat of a slap in the face to the representatives of other car companies, but everyone remained calm, realizing they indeed couldn't compete.

"Has Mr. Tan considered that once Weilai Intelligent Driving opens up to us, your market share in the new energy vehicle market will drop rapidly?"

"Uncle, you don't need to test me. Since I said it's open, it definitely is open. As for the decline in market share..."

檀锦程顿了顿：“10万辆的30%跟100万辆甚至1000万辆的10%是能比的吗？”

"Awesome, President Tan is so domineering. I believe what President Tan says. If he says it's open, then it's definitely open. I've been working with him for so long, and he's never lied to me on any major issues. All we can do is think about how to get some benefits out of him."

As the host manufacturer that has cooperated with Weilai for the longest time, Ying Jianren's words still carry some weight.

"How exactly will the investment be made? Mr. Yu, could you please explain the plan?"

The person who asked this question was a representative from SAIC, and as expected of a leading domestic automaker, they certainly have the guts.

His question to Yu Kai was also very meaningful.

Yu Kai looked at Tan Jincheng, who nodded. Tan Jincheng had already finished his opening remarks, and it would be more convenient for Yu Kai to elaborate on the specific terms of cooperation.

"This is our first round of financing. Thanks to the efforts of our CEO Tan, in order to facilitate the company's growth, he has persuaded the national team to give up 10% of its shares. In addition, he himself will contribute another 10% of his shares for this round of financing. Any car company may participate."

"Of course, there will also be investment institutions involved. In the future, Horizon Robotics hopes that while you become our suppliers, you will also become important shareholders of the company."

Although Mr. Tan values ​​shares highly and only offered 20% of his shares for financing in the first round, he was also very generous to his founding team. Their shares would not be diluted in any way during the financing process until the IPO was completed.

Apart from this round of targeted financing, he will personally make up for any future financing needs.

The SAIC representative nodded: "Understood, I'll call the company right away."

They managed to persuade the national team to give up 10% of their shares. Keep in mind that the national team only holds a total of 20% of the shares, so diluting it by half in one go is quite impressive.
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Furthermore, what does this represent? Who among the shrewd people here doesn't understand?

(End of this chapter)