Set sail1992

Chapter 1425: Attention from European Car Dealers

Thinking of this possibility, Zhang Qihang was extremely happy: "Thank you, leader. Leader, you still care about such a small matter?"

"A small matter? Haha... this is not a small matter," Deputy Director Kang laughed. "This is the first model in China to have a monthly sales volume of over 40,000. Even so many joint ventures have not achieved this. You are amazing! When I talked about this with Director Jiang, Director Jiang kept saying that you have brought honor to our automobile industry."

Zhang Qihang hurriedly said a few more polite words.

The leader was also busy with work. After a few pleasantries, Deputy Director Kang said, "Comrade Qihang, you should have guessed why I called you, right?"

Zhang Qihang didn't play dumb and asked, "Is there any result in the '10 Cities, 1,000 Vehicles Project'?"

"The draft is out. Next, we will solicit your opinions on it again. Comrade Qihang, congratulations. Your Huateng Automobile's pure electric car D1, plug-in hybrid Excelle, and Feiyan city bus with extended-range hybrid are all included in the draft's product catalog. As for the specific subsidy amount, you can read the document yourself.

I hope that Huateng Automobile will continue to work hard and provide more excellent products to consumers and the public.

Oh... by the way," said Deputy Director Kang, who paused for a moment, "and your 48V and 52V mild hybrid systems."

Mild hybrid system?

Hearing this, Zhang Qihang was immediately delighted and asked hurriedly: "Leader, what do you mean..."

  "Well," Deputy Director Kang responded, and said, "After reporting your two mild hybrid systems, the leaders were very satisfied with the fuel-saving effects of the two mild hybrid systems. It is planned that starting from next year, the state will 'recommend' that all new cars of major car companies be equipped with mild hybrid systems;

In addition, starting from the second half of next year, the first ten cities that enter the "Ten Cities, Thousand Vehicles Project" will issue local documents requiring that cars sold in the city must be equipped with 48V and 52V mild hybrid systems;

When it comes to the National IV stage, all new cars must be equipped with a mild hybrid system. "

Zhang Qihang sighed in his heart: This "suggestion" is very spiritual and not mandatory, but if some companies don't understand Mahayana Buddhism, the leaders also know a little bit of boxing...

Despite his feelings, Zhang Qihang hurriedly thanked Deputy Director Kang.

"You're welcome. This news will be distributed to all major automobile manufacturers along with the draft for soliciting opinions on the 'Ten Cities, Thousand Vehicles Project'. I guess everyone who needs to know it has heard it by now." At this point, Deputy Director Kang suddenly laughed and said, "Comrade Qihang, I heard that many people have been unhappy with you recently. With this incident, I guess you will be scolded again."

Zhang Qihang couldn't help but smile bitterly when he heard this.

Yes, the hot sales of Excelle have snatched the market share from others. Everyone knows that the 48V and 52V mild hybrid systems were developed by Huateng Industrial Group. Although this matter seems to be forced to be promoted at the national level, other OEMs are not stupid and they must think that Huateng Group played some disgraceful role in it.

The major OEMs are already unhappy about having their market share snatched away. In addition, the country is forcing the promotion of mild hybrid systems and Huateng Group is also pushing for it. Under such circumstances, it would be strange if Huateng Industrial did not get criticized.

A wry smile is a wry smile, but the necessary statement should be made. Zhang Qihang pretended to smile bitterly and said, "Just scold us. We have been scolded since the day our Huateng Group came to the city, and we are used to it. Having said that, being scolded by these friendly companies means that our Huateng Group has made some contributions to our country's industry. I will just take it as an alternative praise."

Upon hearing this, Deputy Director Kang laughed out loud: "Hahaha...you kid..."

He was very satisfied with Zhang Qihang's answer.

Why has the country vigorously supported the new generation of national automobile companies represented by Huateng Group over the years? Isn't it because the performance of the old generation of joint venture automobile companies, which were once highly expected by the country, was too disappointing?

At the beginning, the country felt the backwardness of the domestic automobile industry and decided to "exchange market for technology" through joint ventures, but how did those old generation joint ventures do it?

They handed over the market but got no technology in return.

In the face of disappointment from above, there has been support for the new generation of national automobile companies represented by Huateng Group, hoping that they can play the role of a catfish in activating potential.

From now on, Huateng Group is a very qualified "catfish". From this perspective, it is indeed as he said, the more it is scolded, the more it is a kind of alternative praise and recognition.

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

As soon as he hung up the phone, Liu Jianfeng reported a new situation to him: "Mr. Zhang, a British car dealer called Horn wants to be the agent of our D1 pure electric car. We hope that we can send them an invitation letter to come to our place for inspection."

  Zhang Qihang was a little surprised: There are actually European car dealers who are interested in his pure electric vehicles?

During the Olympic Games last year, the Huateng D1 and the extended-range Kaiyue taxis received very good reviews. However, despite such a good reputation for products, not a single European car dealer contacted Zhang Qihang to express their intention to cooperate during and after the Olympic Games. This made Zhang Qihang quite disappointed. Unexpectedly, now there is a turn of events and someone has contacted him on his own initiative.

  But...Horn?

Although Huateng Group does not have much business in Europe, since he is in this industry, he knows some of the larger automobile sales groups in Europe, but he has never heard of Horn. Could it be that this company is not large in scale?

However, it is precisely because of its small scale that it is possible to target Huateng Group's pure electric vehicle business.

After thinking for a while, Zhang Qihang asked, "What is the situation of this Horn Company? Did they introduce their own situation?"

"Yes," Liu Jianfeng replied, "Their information says that they are an automobile sales group headquartered in the UK with a sales network throughout Europe. They currently have 50 dealerships, 42 service centers, 7 accident repair centers and 3 parts centers, and sell more than 5000 cars a year."

Liu Jianfeng's words confirmed Zhang Qihang's guess that Horn Company was indeed just a medium-sized car dealer.

However, since old European auto sales giants such as Sitner, Arnold Clark, and Pendragon have not taken a fancy to the Huateng Group, it would be a good choice to talk to Horn first. In any case, why not contact them first?

Thinking of this, Zhang Qihang responded: "Then send them one... Oh, by the way, contact our country's overseas institutions in the UK and ask them to help find some information about this Holden company."