Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 534 Trying out a right-hand drive car

Seeing that Xiang Guowu had gathered 20 workers and acquired the equipment,
Chen Luyang put on her coat, found Cao Qinghang, and the two of them went to the final assembly workshop together.

Wang Qingzhou repeatedly asked him to devise strategies for the import and export pre-exhibition, and he also needed to get a feel for the situation in the final assembly workshop before he could offer his opinions.

At this moment, in the final assembly workshop, several cars were slowly moving forward along the assembly line.

Cao Qinghang led Chen Luyang along the assembly line, explaining as they went.

"This batch of cars is different from those that came off the production line before."

"First of all, it's about the appearance. Import and export exhibitions are all about first impressions. The paint on the previous batch of cars would darken over time. This time, we specially used a new formula of metallic paint, which has improved both brightness and weather resistance."

Chen Luyang nodded, reached out and gently tapped the paint surface; indeed, it felt much smoother.

Walking to the front, Cao Qinghang pointed to the engine compartment: "The power system has also been adjusted. The original engine had difficulty starting in the cold winter, but this time we installed an improved heat pipe. Even at minus twenty degrees Celsius, it can start on the first try."

An older worker nearby chimed in, "And the oil system too. This time we added a heating ring to the oil pump inlet, and the cold oil flowed much more smoothly than before during the test run."

Chen Luyang hurriedly wrote down all these details in her notebook.

Continue walking, and you'll reach the interior decoration section.

Several young workers are installing trim panels inside the car doors.

When the young man from the design department saw Chen Luyang, he took the initiative to explain: "This time we changed to new materials. The seats and interior trim are all made of polyurethane foam. The seats are much more comfortable than the old hardboard cushions."

As they continued down to the chassis section, Cao Qinghang said, "This is the key."

"The original shock absorbers had many problems, so this time we specially replaced them with improved prototype parts, which significantly improved their durability. The brake system has also been improved; the structure of the brake push rod has been adjusted, making the pedal feel more sensitive."

A worker standing nearby added, "We've been working overtime these past few days to recalibrate the dynamic balance of the drive shaft. When we test drove it, the vibration was noticeably less than before when the speed exceeded 80."

Chen Luyang listened attentively, and even squatted down and crawled to the back of the car to carefully examine the taillights, trunk latch, and even the rubber seals and wiper angles.

The notebook was filled with page after page of densely packed notes.

He finally breathed a sigh of relief after walking the whole circle.

This batch of vehicles has definitely been well-made.

The exterior is more eye-catching, the powertrain has been improved, and the chassis is much more stable.

Cao Qinghang looked at him and said, "Xiao Chen, you deal with malfunctions every day at your repair shop, so feel free to give me your opinions."

Chen Luyang pondered for a moment, his eyes sweeping over the car.

In his view, the improvements to the car itself are visible, but they are still far from sufficient for an import/export preview.

First of all, the exhibits are unremarkable in appearance.

Although the paint is shinier and the seats are more comfortable, at first glance, it doesn't look much different from cars from other domestic manufacturers.

If you actually put it at an exhibition, it will be difficult for foreign merchants to remember it.

Secondly, the promotional materials are not systematic.

To this day, no one has produced a complete instruction manual.

There are some scattered improvements, but no one has compiled them into a document that a layperson can easily understand.

If someone asks about it later, I'm afraid I can only rely on a few words spoken on the spot, which won't achieve any demonstration effect at all.

Another issue is that people are completely unfamiliar with the procedures for foreign trade.

In the past, the machinery factory mainly focused on domestic planned orders, and its dealings were with the Ministry of Industry and the Municipal Economic Commission.

When we hold meetings at the factory, everyone is used to reading from the script and speaking in clichés.

If you were to actually introduce your products at an exhibition, you'd probably just use the same old clichés like "my country's automobile industry is developing rapidly" or "all the workers in the factory are working together," which would only leave foreigners confused.

Most importantly, no one has studied the usage scenarios in the Hong Kong and Macau markets.

The streets there are narrow, parking is scarce, and the climate is hot and humid.

The factory didn't conduct any investigation; it was just wishfully pushing domestically produced cars out of the country.

No one was sure whether the car was suitable for their environment.

Chen Luyang hesitated for a moment before speaking:

"Mr. Cao, I have an idea, but I don't know if it's appropriate."

Cao Qinghang looked at him and said, "Xiao Chen, just say it."

Chen Luyang held up the small notebook in his hand: "This batch of cars is indeed much better than before, and the domestic market will definitely like it."

“But if we look at import and export previews, simply saying ‘better than before’ isn’t enough.”

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the vehicles being assembled in the workshop.

“Foreigners, especially businesspeople from Hong Kong and Macau, have completely different habits from us. They want something that is eye-catching and distinctive.”

Cao Qinghang was taken aback: "Differentiation?"

“Yes.” Chen Luyang nodded.

“I suggest that, in addition to the exhibition vehicles that conform to domestic customs, we should also make a separate ‘special edition’ prototype specifically for the Hong Kong and Macau markets.”

"For example, traffic over there drives on the left, so right-hand drive is necessary."

"For the paint, use a bright metallic paint, preferably a high-gloss metallic color. In the hot and humid climate of Hong Kong and Macau, the car should not become dull after being parked in the sun."

"Furthermore, the car logo, dashboard, and instruction manual are all labeled in both Chinese and English, so that people immediately feel that we understand their needs."

Cao Qinghang frowned as soon as he heard "right-hand drive".

"Right-hand drive? Xiao Chen, are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"On our country's roads, the driver sits on the left and the car door is on the right. If you want to move the steering wheel to the right, the driver has to stick their arm out the window to wave, right? Isn't that just creating more trouble?"

The older worker standing nearby scratched his head, saying, "This is the first time I've ever heard of a steering wheel that can be installed on the right side. Wouldn't it be incredibly awkward to drive that thing?"

Chen Luyang patiently explained: "Engineer Cao, what you're talking about is the situation in mainland China. But in Hong Kong, Macau, and the UK, they drive on the left, and the steering wheel must be on the right. Otherwise, the driver would have to walk out from the middle of the road to get out, which is both dangerous and against the rules. In their country, right-hand drive is normal, and left-hand drive is strange."

The group exchanged glances, half believing and half doubting.

Chen Luyang patted his chest and said, "These are all things that Songting Hotel taught us; the information is guaranteed to be true!"

The worker wondered, "If we really make it right-hand drive, will it still be able to drive on our roads when we come back?"

“Of course we can’t travel within the country,” Chen Luyang replied with a smile.

“But we’re going to an import and export preview, not a domestic exhibition.”

"The exhibition is for foreigners. As long as they find it appealing, that's enough."

Cao Qinghang frowned: "You just said the car paint should be a bright metallic color, and it also needs sun protection?"

Chen Luyang couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Engineer Cao, think about it, the sun is blazing all year round in the South and Hong Kong and Macau, and the humidity is also high."

“Dark paint will darken when exposed to sunlight and will peel off faster over time. Bright metallic paint reflects heat, is not easy to fade, and looks clean and bright.”

“People from Hong Kong and Macau like things that are bright and clean at first glance; that’s their taste.”

Upon hearing this, Cao and his master did not react, but several young workers nodded: "That's right, I went to the Canton Fair last year and saw foreign cars on the street with shiny silver paint, they looked so stylish."

Cao Qinghang raised his eyebrows. Although he didn't quite agree, he still copied Chen Luyang's opinion into his notebook.

Chen Luyang continued, "Besides the steering wheel and paint, there are two other things that can make our car stand out at the exhibition."

"The first thing is the taillights. Our current taillight covers are all one-piece red, but traffic regulations in foreign countries and Hong Kong and Macau require that brake lights be red, turn signals must be orange-yellow, and reverse lights must be white. If we take a one-piece red taillight to an exhibition, people will immediately notice that something is missing."

The old worker was stunned: "Why divide it into such details?"

"Wouldn't a lampshade be sturdier?"

"Besides, we only have one set of blueprints for this lamp. If you want to change the color separation, we'll have to make more molds and mix more materials. It might look fancy, but the brightness at night might not be as good as this one big red one."

Cao Qinghang frowned as well: "Yes, the lamp molds are all set. If we really want to change them, is it too late?"

Chen Luyang said easily, "Actually, it's not difficult. Domestic motorcycle factories have long made orange and transparent lampshades, and they have the technology."

"As long as we find a light factory to press a set of two-color masks, it can be used immediately."

"Even if we can't mass-produce it this time, making a pair of samples will be fine."

The group exchanged glances, remaining silent, but their expressions clearly softened.

Chen Luyang continued, "The second is the trunk."

"Foreign customers are very particular about after-sales service and spare parts support, especially tools and spare parts."

"I suggest putting a toolbox in the trunk of the display vehicle, even if it's just a simple wrench, jack, and spare tire, all neatly arranged."

The old worker blinked: "Isn't this just the kind of gadgets we use to fix cars? You have the nerve to show it off?"

Chen Luyang shook his head: "That's the difference."

“We take it for granted, but they use it as a selling point.”

"Think about it, if people only see a bare car, they will worry about what will happen if the car breaks down in the future."

"But if you see that the car comes with all the necessary tools, you'll feel more at ease buying this car."

"Even if it breaks down halfway through the trip, the driver can open the trunk and start fixing it immediately, which is convenient and reliable."

Cao Qinghang shook his head as he listened.

"Xiao Chen, your idea is really fresh."

"In all these years of car manufacturing, who has ever thought that putting a set of tools in the trunk could be a 'selling point'?"

A young worker nearby couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Director Chen, if we really do as you say, shouldn't we also plate the wrench with chrome, make it shiny, so it looks presentable?"

Chen Luyang chuckled, "Actually, you're right."

"Exhibitions are for foreigners; they not only need to have products, but also need to be impressive."

"Whether it's chrome plating or storage, the key is to make people's eyes light up when they open it, so that it's different from other cars at first glance."

The old worker shook his head and said, "Hey, in our eyes, what's the use of chrome plating? As long as the wrench works, that's fine."

Chen Luyang closed the notebook and said seriously, "You see, this is a difference in perspectives!"

“What ordinary Chinese people value is ‘being able to run, transport, and use,’ while foreigners value ‘details, service, and convenience’ more.”

"When they buy a car, they don't just look at how big the engine is, they also look at whether the accessories are worry-free."

He paused, then added, "Now that we're going to take our cars overseas, we have to learn to think from their perspective."

"Even a small toolbox or a color-coded lampshade can reflect the level and attitude of our factory."

Cao Qinghang stared at him for a while, then suddenly laughed: "You rascal, no wonder Director Wang keeps asking you to come up with more ideas."

“We’re all stuck in the workshop working on parts every day, we never really think about anything else.”

Chen Luyang said, "Actually, nowadays, all the small car factories across the country are making engines, transmissions, and chassis. To put it bluntly, everyone's technology is pretty much the same."

"Our machinery factory has pushed the automobile to the fourth generation in just two years. Technologically, we are much ahead of others, and we have already taken the lead in hardware performance."

"To move forward, if we want to gain the approval of foreigners, we need to focus on the details."

"Don't underestimate a lampshade or a toolbox. Maybe it's just that one glance that makes them realize that our car is different from others."

Cao Qinghang lowered his head and drew two lines on his notebook, listing the points Chen Luyang had mentioned, and pondered them as he looked at them.

"Right-hand drive..." He looked up at the workshop, hesitatingly beginning to speak.
"This change is too big, involving the entire structure of the steering column, dashboard, brake and accelerator."

“If we were to start from scratch, it might take one or two months to complete. But if we were to make just one exhibition vehicle, it’s theoretically possible, but the process department would have to do research first, and the risk is quite high.”

The old worker clicked his tongue: "Time is tight, it's uncertain."

Cao Qinghang nodded and drew a question mark next to the right-hand drive section with a pencil.

"Let's talk about the car paint."

He frowned and thought for a moment, "We've prepared small samples of the bright silver metallic paint in our lab, but we haven't sprayed it in large quantities yet."

"If we really want to use it on a display vehicle, we can just spray one of them once, and the effect should be good. That's feasible."

A young worker chimed in, "If it were silver, it would really stand out from those black and blue cars in China."

"What about two-tone taillights?" Cao Qinghang asked again.

The old worker shook his head: "It's probably too late to make the mold."

Chen Luyang quickly explained, "It's not necessary to open a new mold. We can just find a light factory to temporarily press a pair of two-color covers and install them on the sample car. We can make changes gradually after mass production. Right now, we're just showing people what it looks like."

Cao Qinghang pondered for a while, then nodded and wrote: "It's worth a try."

“The toolbox in the trunk…” Cao Qinghang looked at the worker.

The old worker chuckled: "This is the easiest."

"Just pack up any set in the workshop and we can easily produce the finished product. If you want chrome plating, we can just find a plating workshop to spray it on."

Cao Qinghang slammed the notebook shut and concluded, "Okay, then it's settled."

"Let the process department study the right-hand drive option first, and try to see if we can test one."

"Contact the design department and light manufacturing plant immediately to get the design ready for the paint and taillights."

"The toolbox is the easiest to install; it can be installed on the prototype within three days."

The workers nodded in unison: "Understood!"

Chen Luyang breathed a sigh of relief.

My suggestions have been accepted; the next step is to implement them.

Cao Qinghang put away the notebook, smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "Little Chen, you've done another great service this time."

Chen Luyang quickly waved his hand: "It's everyone's business, I just mentioned it a few times."

(End of this chapter)