Set sail1992

Chapter 1007 Preliminary Agreement

As a car designer, Michael Fink is really not good at hiding his emotions and feelings. Under the gaze of Michael Fink's slightly nervous expression, Liu Jiang smiled...

He didn't answer Michael Fink's question right away, but asked Michael Fink: "Mr. Fink, since you participated in the Huaxia Beijing International Auto Show last year, you should have some impressions of our cars, right? From the design Angle, what do you think of our products?"

Michael Fink frowned. He was not very happy to talk to Liu Jiang about these unrelated issues, because he felt that it was a waste of time, but since Liu Jiang had already said it, he was fine too. The answer is that Huateng Automobile Fengya left him a deep impression at last year's Beijing International Auto Show.

After thinking about it, Michael Fink said: "It's okay, I don't know how your car is, but just from the design point of view, I think it's not bad. Which car design company in Europe has your company cooperated with for a long time? of?"

In fact, in the eyes of Michael Fink, the design of Huateng Automobile and Fengya Automobile must not be described as "okay". To describe those cars as "amazing" is obviously a bit too high for them, but if it is used " It is not too much to describe it as "subtle elegance", especially their Huateng Excelle. Although it is only a compact car, the designer's grasp of future popular elements made Michael Fink As for the Fengya CLS concept car, its lines have been lingering in Michael Funk’s mind for a long time—if the design of the Fengya CLS is not so amazing, how could Michael Funk take such a big risk? Risk to "replicate" this design?
But the old Europe, what a pee, even if his legs have been softened by the shock, but anywhere on his body can be soft, but his mouth must be hard.

Michael Fink's reaction was not beyond Liu Jiang's expectation. He smiled and said to Michael Fink: "What if I tell you that all our products are produced by our general manager, Mr. Zhang Qihang?"

"What?!" Michael Fink suddenly widened his eyes and said in shock, "What are you kidding?!"

The reason why Michael Fink gave such a high evaluation just now is because in his heart, he firmly believes that only European car designers can design such a beautiful car, especially the C The graceful, smooth, and natural British traditional style of a mid-to-large luxury sedan can only be achieved by the top car design masters from the United Kingdom. He has even thought about which car design masters they are, but now , this Mr. Liu actually said that these products are all from their general manager, how did Michael Fink accept it? : General manager, that is the operator of a company. What does it have to do with design?
"I'm not joking." Liu Jiang spread his hands and said, "Besides, this kind of thing can be confirmed as soon as you know it. Is it necessary for me to tell such a naive lie?"

"..."

Michael Fink was dumbfounded. He felt that his entire cognitive system had been subverted: would the general manager of a company be an excellent car designer?

How can this be? !
Of course, there are not no people who are both masters of car design and excellent business managers, such as the founders of the three major European car design companies: Broadcom, Pininfarina and Giorgio Yarrow and their successors We are all such geniuses, but such people and things are born in Europe, why should they appear in China?Do you have the soil for the birth of such high-end compound talents in China?
Having said that, shock is shock, incredible is incredible, but Michael Fink also has to admit that what Liu Jiang said is reasonable: with his position in the car design circle, he wants to confirm whether this is true, but How difficult can it be to make a few phone calls?

But after such a long time, I haven't heard of any European car design company that has established a cooperative relationship with a Chinese company, and most importantly, Huateng Automobile and Fengya Automobile do not seem to advertise that their products are from Europe Which car design agency - based on their own understanding of Huaxia enterprises, this situation is almost unbelievable. If they hired a famous car design company or car designer in Europe and America, they would like to write this matter on the car body , let everyone know, but they just didn't do it.

So, what Liu in front of me said is very likely to be true?
Thinking of this level, Michael Fink even felt a little depressed.

Looking at Michael Fink with a frustrated face, Liu Jiang continued: "Our general manager is a proud person, and he is also very confident in his design talent, and he can even be said to be extremely conceited. Huaxia is also very famous in the field of car design, so, Mr. Fink, if it were you, do you think you would agree to this condition?"

Fuck your grandma, how could I agree? !
Michael Fink was so hung up on saying this, but he finally stopped it, and nodded: "Well, if this is the case, then my proposal just now is indeed an offense to your general manager... If we jointly It is announced that this design is jointly completed by the Mercedes-Benz car design team headed by me and the car design team headed by your general manager, and both parties can use this appearance and shape design?"

After speaking, Michael Fink looked at Liu Jiang nervously——if it doesn't work, then it's really troublesome.

Michael Fink's proposal was more in line with Liu Jiang's requirements. He nodded and said, "This proposal can be considered in principle, but I am a little curious. What price does Mercedes-Benz plan to pay for this condition?"

Michael Funk couldn't help clenching his fists: "What do you want?"

Liu Jiang shook his head and said, "The question now is not what I want, but what you Mercedes-Benz will give,"

Speaking of this, Liu Jiang made a "zipper" movement on his mouth, and said to Michael Fink with a smile: "Mr. Fink, you know, this is called hush money."

Michael Fink was particularly helpless: I didn't know you were asking for hush money?

He sighed and had a complete showdown: "Mr. Liu, I understand what you mean, but you have to understand that I am not a shareholder or a member of the board of directors of Mercedes-Benz, nor am I an executive of the company. I am just a car designer for Mercedes-Benz. It’s just a teacher, I can’t give much.”

The implication: My situation is like this, and it is impossible for you to squeeze too much oil from me, so you can figure it out.

After pondering for half a minute, Liu Jiang finally said: "Huateng Industrial Group is going to send a chassis tuning team and NVH team to Mercedes-Benz to learn, and Mercedes-Benz promises to teach chassis tuning and NVH tuning as much as possible. How about it? "

Michael Fink raised his head suddenly, looked at Liu Jiang in shock, and asked, "That's all?"

Looking at the shocked Michael Funk, Liu Jiang smiled: "What else do you want?"

As long as Mercedes-Benz agrees that Huateng Industrial Group will send two teams to learn how to adjust the chassis and NVH, the vision CLS can be used as a new car jointly designed by both parties?

Michael Fink stopped talking, he bit his lip hard, and his heart was turbulent - Liu Jiang's request was beyond Michael Fink's imagination, not that Liu Jiang's request was too high, but that his request was too low.

Taking a deep breath, Michael Fink said to Liu Jiang: "I don't guarantee that the bosses will agree, but I will try my best to convince them."

Hearing what Michael Funk said, Liu Jiang smiled: It seems that Mr. Michael Funk is still too innocent.

He shook his head and said seriously to Michael Fink: "Mr. Fink, maybe I didn't express clearly enough, so let me put it this way: this request is not for Mercedes-Benz to consider, but Mercedes-Benz must agree! It must be agreed! "

"Mr. Liu, let me tell you clearly, it's impossible," Michael Fink shook his head.Said to Liu Jiang: "I don't know what you plan to do, but I know that the directors will not accept threats from anyone."

"Then just try it." Liu Jiang's face was very calm, and there was no sign of nervousness at all: "However, there is one thing I can say in advance: our group has prepared 1000 million US dollars in the direction of Europe and North America. If we can't reach an agreement with Mercedes-Benz this time, our President Zhang is actually a little curious about how much impact the 1000 million public relations expenses will have on the sales of Mercedes-Benz."

Michael Fink's complexion suddenly changed: If this is the case, then the problem is really serious.

As a European, he is very aware of the power of capital, and he also knows that if what Jiang He said is true and Huateng Industrial Group is really willing to spend 1000 million US dollars, then although the sales of Mercedes-Benz will not be fatally affected, the sales Michael Fink believes that this move may even cause hundreds of millions of dollars in economic losses to Mercedes-Benz.

It was also at this moment that Michael Fink suddenly realized that the Chinese sitting across from him was not a Chinese from Outong, but a large-scale manufacturing company whose annual profit was also calculated in units of "[-] million US dollars". Vice President - this is difficult.

Just when Michael Fink realized the seriousness of the problem, Liu Jiang continued on his own: "In the past few years, Mercedes-Benz has developed very well in the North American market. Lincoln and Cadillac, the two local luxury brands in the United States, have been You guys can't breathe, if the news of 'Mercedes-Benz is a company of thieves' spreads in North America, I wonder if GM and Ford will take this opportunity to make some trouble for Mercedes-Benz?"

At this moment, Michael Fink only felt that his head was starting to hurt. He rubbed his temples and said, "I need to make a call."

"of course."

Liu Jiang nodded with a smile and made a "please" gesture at the same time.

....................................

In the afternoon, Davis McAllister, director of Daimler, sat in front of Liu Jiang.

However, unlike the scene where Liu Jiang had to sit in the temporary rest area behind the booth when he met Michael Fink in the morning, this time, the two met in the hotel where Liu Jiang stayed.

Seeing Liu Jiang, Davis McAllister was very polite and polite: "Liu, we meet again, so glad to see you."

"Yeah, the last time we met was a year ago," Liu Jiang nodded with emotion, "Time flies so fast, it feels like a few days have passed, but I didn't expect it to be a year."

Liu Jiang's words were indeed made out of feeling.

Speaking of which, the last time the two met was during the organizing committee of the Beijing International Auto Show. At that time, the organizing committee held an auto industry summit. Not only executives from domestic auto manufacturers attended the meeting, but also Mercedes-Benz, GM, and Ford. Waiting for the executives of these international giants, let alone how arrogant the executives of these foreign companies are at the summit, these are not the point, the point is that these foreigners still said something true at this summit.

Huateng Industrial Group, as a local company in China that does not rely on external cooperation but lives more nourishingly than everyone else, has naturally received a lot of attention. Davis McAllister also met at this summit. Liu Jiang, and showed great interest in Huateng Industrial Group, and even offered to go to Huateng Industrial Group for investigation and visit.

The executives of Daimler Group offered to come for a visit. Huateng Industrial Group attached great importance to it. While sending an invitation to Davis McAllister, it also extended an invitation to Davis McAllister during the visit. Callister asked some questions such as brand building, and for these questions of Huateng Industrial Group, Davis McAllister answered as much as he could, showing great sincerity.

It can be said that after discovering that Michael Fink had stolen Zhang Qihang's design, Huateng Industrial Group did not act very violently, but instead showed an attitude of willingness to negotiate with Daimler. Davis McAleese The special role is indispensable.

In addition, I am afraid that it is the directors of the Daimler Group who know that Davis McAllister has a good relationship with Huateng Industrial Group, so they entrust Davis McAllister to negotiate with Liu Jiang, Deal with this trouble.

"Yeah, it's really too fast, but it's really embarrassing to meet because of this kind of thing," Davis McAllister shrugged and said to Liu Jiang: "Liu, don't care Anyway, I want to say thank you."

Thanks for what?
Of course, it is thanks to Huateng Industrial Group for being willing to cooperate with Daimler and not to make this matter a big deal. Mercedes-Benz, if this matter is a big deal for a century, where will Mercedes-Benz's face be put?
From this perspective, Davis McAllister would like to thank Huateng Industrial Group for its generosity.

(End of this chapter)