Set sail1992

Chapter 1344 Too much selfishness

Will the Corolla equipped with the first-generation THS hybrid system be introduced into China?

Kobayashi Zhengming's words made the executives of the Oil Otter Stealer fall into deep thought.

Watanabe Yuzhi's eyes lit up as well, and he nodded and said, "Kobayashi-kun, tell me your reasons."

"Hai!"

Kobayashi Masana bowed vigorously, then nodded to everyone present, and then continued: "As you all know, the Prius we sell in China now is equipped with the second-generation THS hybrid system. In addition, the hybrid version of Corolla and hybrid version of Camry we sell in Japan and North America are also equipped with this THS hybrid system.

Compared with the first-generation THS hybrid system, the second-generation THS is more compact, more efficient, more fuel-efficient, and has more advanced technology.

Of course, there are disadvantages, that is, the overall manufacturing cost is relatively higher, but on the other hand, it also means that the overall manufacturing cost of the first-generation THS hybrid system is lower.

  The Chinese market is a market that is highly sensitive to price and cost. If we install the second-generation THS hybrid system on the Toyota Corolla, on the one hand, it will cause the manufacturing cost of the whole vehicle to rise sharply, and it will lose the meaning of direct competition with the hybrid version of Huateng Excelle;

On the other hand, another partner of ours in China is communicating with us about introducing the hybrid version of Camry, which is equipped with the second-generation THS hybrid system.

As a mid-size sedan, it is understandable that the hybrid version of Camry is equipped with the second-generation THS hybrid system, but Corolla is a compact sedan. If it is also equipped with the second-generation THS hybrid system, it will be a harm to the hybrid version of Camry.

But if the hybrid version of Corolla produced in China is equipped with the first-generation THS hybrid system, and the hybrid version of Camry is equipped with the second-generation THS hybrid system, then there will be no problem at all.”

"Very good," Watanabe Yuzhi was very satisfied with Kobayashi Masanagi's answer. He turned to Higashimura Kunihiro and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Higashimura-kun, your cost accounting department should quickly calculate how the cost of Corolla will change if it is equipped with the first-generation THS hybrid system."

Higashimura Banghao nodded quickly: "Okay."

Kobayashi Masana hesitated for a moment, but still said, "Mr. President, can I add something?"

Watanabe Yuzhi looked at Kobayashi Masanori with some surprise, but still nodded: "Of course, please go ahead, Kobayashi-kun."

Xiao Lin Zhengming said: "I remember that when the first generation of THS hybrid system was discontinued, the production equipment was sealed. These equipment were used for a very short time, and many of them were specially customized at the time. The price was quite high when they were customized."

No one knows the situation of the production equipment and related molds of the company's first-generation THS hybrid system better than Watanabe Yuji. As Touyou Otter had completely stopped the production of the first-generation THS hybrid system a few years ago, those production equipment, molds, special tooling and fixtures and other equipment are now all piled up in the warehouse gathering dust. Even just two months ago, during an internal meeting of the group, they were still discussing whether to sell these things as scrap metal.

  Now that Kobayashi Masamichi had spoken, Watanabe Ariyoshi instantly understood what he meant: Kobayashi was planning to sell those junk that had been sealed at a high price, and take this opportunity to make a killing on the big brother in the north!

But Watanabe Yuzhi was not unhappy about Kobayashi Masanagi's suggestion. Instead, he nodded with satisfaction: "Kobayashi-kun's reminder is very good. If it weren't for your reminder, I would have almost forgotten this... Higashimura-kun, do you know what to do?"

Higashimura Kunihiro was not stupid, how could he not understand his president's intention? He nodded immediately: "Yes! President, I will take into account the inflation factors and customization factors over the years."

Watanabe Yuzhi frowned and said, "It's okay to add a few more appropriately. After all, we have spent so much effort to keep these devices in a highly professional manner."

Higashimura Kunihiro nodded vigorously.

Kobayashi Masanagi sighed in his heart: I am still too kind.

However, other senior executives of the company who were present at the meeting were very pleased with Watanabe Ariyoshi's approach: President Watanabe is really a good president, this is what should be done.

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

Since it concerns his own interests in China, the oil-stealing otter acts quickly.

Two days later, Satoshi Nakata knocked on Tani Akitoshi's office door again.

Seeing Nakata Satoshi, Gu Mingjun was somewhat expectant: "Nakata-kun, what are you doing..."

Facing Gu Mingjun's expectant gaze, Nakata Satoshi nodded with a smile: "Yes, Gu-kun, I have good news to tell you."

Gu Mingjun became excited instantly: "Really?" In the past few days, Gu Mingjun was extremely anxious looking at the orders received and the year-on-year and month-on-month comparisons on the OA system every day. Today, Nakata Satoshi finally came and made it clear that he had good news to tell him. At this moment, Gu Mingjun felt that a stone in his heart had finally fallen to the ground, as if Yifeng had won the next competition with Huateng Group.

"Of course," Nakata Satoshi nodded with a smile, "The headquarters also attaches great importance to the fluctuations in the Chinese market. The president, chairman and heads of various departments immediately held a meeting to discuss how to respond..."

At this point, Nakata Satoshi paused deliberately, fully enjoying Tani Akitoshi's expectant and somewhat worried expression, and then continued with satisfaction: "After careful analysis and discussion, the president rejected your previous idea of ​​a substantial price cut for the Prius, but preliminarily agreed to your suggestion to introduce the THS hybrid system. Next, the headquarters will send an adaptation and testing team to adapt and debug the THS system and the Corolla produced by Yifeng..."

Gu Mingjun didn't think about why the Otter headquarters had to send an adaptation and testing team to China to adapt the vehicle and the THS hybrid system when the hybrid version of Corolla was already sold in Japan and North America. He subconsciously thought that this adaptation was similar to the localization improvement and adjustment of the model. He quickly asked, "Great, Mr. Nakata, when will the team arrive?"

Satoshi Nakata said: "The testing and adaptation team can set off at any time, but before that, there is a very important situation that we need to confirm with you."

Gu Mingjun quickly said, "What's the matter, please tell me, Nakata-kun."

"According to our calculations, the cost of a Corolla equipped with a hybrid system will be about RMB 3 higher than that of a regular fuel-powered Corolla. This means that with the same configuration, the price of a hybrid Corolla will be about RMB 3.5 higher than that of an automatic fuel-powered Corolla," said Nakata Satoshi, looking at Tani Akitoshi and saying seriously, "Under these circumstances, do you still insist on introducing this hybrid system?"

"This……"

As Satoshi Nakata expected, after hearing what he said, Tani Mingjun indeed hesitated.

In Gu Mingjun's vision, the hybrid version of Corolla produced by Yifeng in the future, even if it cannot achieve "same price for oil and electricity" like Huateng Group, the price difference between the hybrid version and the ordinary fuel automatic transmission model should be within 2 yuan. Only in this way will it have sufficient market competitiveness.

  This is not only Gu Mingjun's opinion, but also the consensus of the entire Yifeng Huaxia management. But now, Nakata Satoshi actually said that there is a price difference of almost 3.5 yuan between the two?

This made Gu Mingjun a little unacceptable. The price difference was too big.

After hesitating for a while, Gu Mingjun couldn't help but asked Nakata Satoshi, "Nakata-kun, is there really no way to reduce some of the costs?"

Nakata Satoshi sighed, with an expression that said "I know you very well": "Mr. Gu, I understand what you mean. I have also watched how Huateng Kaiyue has gradually gained an advantage in the Chinese market. But you also have a good understanding of the difference between our THS hybrid system of the Oil Otter and the extended-range hybrid system of the Huateng Group. The difference in structure means that the cost of our THS hybrid system of the Oil Otter cannot be reduced at all."

"..."

Gu Mingjun stopped talking, he also knew that what Nakata Satoshi said was the truth.

When Huateng Industrial Group launched its own hybrid system, in order to more closely understand the technological level of its competitors, Yifeng purchased several hybrid Excelles, disassembled and analyzed Huateng Group's hybrid system, and compared Huateng Group's hybrid system with its own THS hybrid system. At that time, Yifeng and Touyouta both despised Huateng Group's hybrid system, including Gu Mingjun.

At that time, I sneered at the crude extended-range hybrid system of Huateng Group, thinking that this system was too crude and had no technical content at all compared with the THS hybrid system of Oil-Thieving Otter. But now, the boomerang has fallen on me: the structure of the extended-range hybrid system of Huateng Group is shockingly crude, but its overall manufacturing cost is also low; the THS hybrid system of Oil-Thieving Otter is advanced, but its cost is also high.

For a moment, Gu Mingjun hesitated:

There is such a huge price difference between the two, should Yifeng introduce it or not?

If it is introduced, with such a big price difference, will it be recognized by the market and consumers?

  If we don’t introduce it, how can we deal with the competition and pressure from Huateng Group?

At this moment, a thought suddenly popped up in Gu Mingjun's mind: Oh, it would be great if the Oil Otter had the extended-range hybrid technology of the Huateng Group.

However, Gu Mingjun forgot that, let alone whether the Oil Otter would be interested in the "low-tech" extended-range hybrid, even if the Oil Otter really had it, it would be impossible for it to achieve "the same price for oil and electricity" - previously, Huateng Group decided to "set the same price for oil and electricity", but it suffered losses for several consecutive months.

Looking at Gu Mingjun who was full of confusion and hesitation, Nakata Satoshi said considerately: "Mr. Gu, how about you discuss it among yourselves first?"

Gu Mingjun, who was struggling, heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this and nodded hastily: "Okay, let's discuss this internally first, and I'll communicate with you later."

(End of this chapter)