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Chapter 283 Data Fraud?

Cook wondered if he was wasting his time, wondering why he was being swayed by the other party's sincerity and coming to this little-known company for reference.

How could China possibly have a reliable lithium battery manufacturer? The right solution is to look to manufacturers like Sanyo and Panasonic.

At the entrance of the BYD factory, Cook's first thought upon getting out of the car was, "Are you sure this isn't a converted abandoned factory?"

The security booth at the entrance didn't even have a door. Several workers in blue overalls were squatting under the shade of a tree eating their boxed lunches. When they saw this blond, blue-eyed foreigner, they curiously waved their chopsticks at him.

The accompanying Shenzhen official quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Mr. Cook, BYD is a pragmatic company and doesn't like to engage in superficial work."

Cook rolled his eyes inwardly: This isn't about not liking to put on a show; it's about being too lazy to even do the bare minimum.

The moment Cook stepped into the workshop, he felt as if his worldview had been shattered; he could hardly believe what he was seeing.

He imagined a lithium battery production workshop to be filled with automated robotic arms and workers in protective suits in a cleanroom, but the scene before him was like stepping into a clothing factory from the last century.

Several female workers were gathered around a machine that looked like a sewing machine, their feet pedaling and turning it with a click-clack sound, while they were fiddling with rolls of battery cells in their hands.

Cook rubbed his eyes, afraid he was hallucinating. Was he doing winding? Was he sure he wasn't sewing clothes?

Not far away, something even more outrageous happened: a worker was using a stainless steel ladle to scoop gray slurry from a large bucket and pour it directly into the battery casing, his movements as practiced as if he were serving food in a cafeteria.

Using a spoon to scoop out the grout for pouring—I've never seen or even smelled this before. This is such a shoddy operation!

He forced himself to remain calm and asked the BYD management team around him, "Your production equipment, was it sourced from the African market?"

The other party didn't seem embarrassed at all. "Mr. Cook, this is our self-developed low-cost production equipment. Although it looks simple, it is very efficient."

What's the use of high efficiency? Can the quality be guaranteed?

According to Cook, BYD's technology is still far behind that of Japanese companies, and it will take at least five years to catch up with current Japanese lithium battery manufacturers.

The more he looked, the more disappointed he became, and his steps became perfunctory. He prepared to turn back home before even walking half a circle.

The BYD management team and relevant officials from Shenzhen who were accompanying Cook all looked ashen-faced. Even without Cook saying a word, they could tell from his expression that this deal was doomed.

Only one person seemed out of place: Wang Chuanfu, the founder of BYD. While everyone else looked worried, he had a beaming smile and enthusiastically came over to explain BYD's business and management philosophies.

Cook initially didn't want to pay him any attention, but the other man was so enthusiastic that he had no choice but to stop.

Wang Chuanfu pointed to the sewing machines and said, "In my opinion, the more advanced the equipment, the better. Those unmanned, lights-out factories look impressive, but the cost is terrifyingly high. A set of equipment costs tens of millions, which our small company can't afford, and there's no need for us to use them."

Cook raised an eyebrow. "So you're using these primitive tools to produce it?"

Wang Chuanfu waved his hand and said, "The essence of manufacturing is the best balance between cost, efficiency and quality. We cannot blindly pursue the replacement of people with machines."

"Take our winding machine, for example. It looks like a sewing machine, but it can wind 30 battery cells per minute, which is 5 times faster than some imported equipment. Moreover, it has a low failure rate and is cheap to repair if it breaks down."

Cook paused, then looked with interest at the direction of the coiling. He hadn't expected this thing to be so efficient.

Having worked in the technology industry for so many years, he has witnessed countless cases of companies blindly pursuing high-end equipment, driving up costs to exorbitant levels, and ultimately going bankrupt because they couldn't sell their products.

Wang Chuanfu's words hit a nerve with many of the manufacturing industry's pain points.

Cook appreciated his theory, but did not agree with it.

Appreciation is the insight of these words, and this theory is also suitable for the vast majority of companies. The core is the ultimate cost-effectiveness.

The disagreement stems from Cook's position; iTech makes industry-leading products, not just the most cost-effective ones.

He pursues high premiums. While cost is important, quality, stability, and technology are the bottom line.

However, his disdain lessened somewhat. Based on Wang Chuanfu's clear-headed words, he was willing to give the other party more time, at least until the end of the sales meeting before leaving.

Upon arriving at the meeting room, Cook was once again slightly shocked. This was hardly a meeting room; it was clearly a corner of the warehouse with a few yellowed product posters on the wall, a solid wood table with peeling paint, and chairs that creaked when you sat on them.

He doesn't care anymore; he's already had enough surprises today.

After everyone was seated, Li Ke, the sales manager of BYD, stood at the back, while Wang Chuanfu personally went to the front to give a speech, demonstrating sufficient sincerity and attitude.

"Although AIT is a new company, I know a little about your founder, Mr. Garfield. I know that he is a businessman who has an extreme pursuit of product quality, just like BYD."

Cook remained expressionless in the face of his flattery; what he needed to do was be responsible to iTech, not to flattery.

These things are not a negative factor for him; in fact, they can sometimes be a negative factor.

He judges a company's quality by its products. If the products are excellent, why would he need to flatter them so much?

Fortunately, Wang Chuanfu stopped there and laid the groundwork by saying, "Although BYD is a young company, we have invested a lot of effort in battery research and development and production, and like AI Technology, we have extremely high requirements for our products."

"Our low-cost advantage is not achieved at the expense of quality, but through innovative production models and strict cost control. For example, the cathode material we use is developed in cooperation with domestic suppliers, which is 20% cheaper than imported materials, but its performance is no worse."

"I also believe that our lithium batteries can fully meet the high standards of AIO Technology and provide AIO Technology with a more cost-effective solution, helping AIO Technology to further reduce costs and enhance product competitiveness in the fierce market competition, while gaining greater profits."

Cook frowned. Cost is a major advantage for BYD, but just as he disagreed with the other party's statement, AI Technology is playing the high-net-worth game.

Quality, stability, and technology are the three factors he values ​​most, followed by cost.

Wang Chuanfu knew exactly what Cook valued, and immediately pulled out a test report. "We all know that Japanese companies' battery cycle life is 300 cycles, but our product can already reach 500 cycles."

"What?" Cook wondered if he had misheard. He took the report and stared at the results, his eyes widening in disbelief.

The report clearly states that the cycle life is 502 cycles, and the testing agency is the internationally authoritative SGS.

"That's impossible," Cook retorted directly. If BYD's technology is more advanced than that of Japanese battery manufacturers, then why is it in this situation?

Thinking back to the factory I just saw in the workshop, this is it? More advanced than Japanese lithium batteries?

"Nothing is impossible. If you don't believe me, Mr. Cook, you can test it at any time."

Wang Chuanfu's smile was full of confidence. "I hope AIO Technology can give BYD a chance, and also give AIO Technology a chance."

Cook glanced at him, remaining silent, while everyone in the conference room nervously focused their attention on him.

After a long silence, Cook finally spoke, "I need to conduct random inspections of the lithium batteries produced in your workshop right now."

Wang Chuanfu and all of BYD's top executives looked delighted. Cook's statement indicated that the deal for BYD to become a supplier for iTech was basically done.

Because they knew that Wang Chuanfu was not lying, and that the test data was real.

However, some people looked ashen-faced, namely the officials from Shenzhen who accompanied them.

BYD's lithium battery technology is even better than that of Japanese battery manufacturers? How is that possible?

They felt that BYD had falsified its data, especially in front of foreign businesses.

When it's exposed, it will be a huge scandal.

Not only Shenzhen's industry and commerce, but the entire China will face a crisis of confidence as a result.

They have some nerve, daring to cheat and fabricate things right in front of us. Just wait until they get their comeuppance.

"No problem, anytime is fine."

After Wang Chuanfu finished answering, Cook turned to his entourage and gave instructions in front of everyone.

"Go and collect twenty samples, and have them tested by a separate testing agency. I don't want these samples out of your sight until the test results are in. You understand what I mean, right?"

The accompanying team nodded. "Don't worry, boss, no one can bribe us to forge documents."

It was so blatant, right in front of everyone.