My autobiography cannot be a tragedy

Chapter 563 Iron Pea

“Due to limited space, the remaining models will be displayed outside the venue for everyone to visit.

The test drive is allowed within a 10-kilometer radius around the International Expo Center. Friends who are interested are welcome to experience it on site later."

As the picture on the big screen behind Mr. Bao turned, the camera turned to outside the venue.

In the spacious square of the Expo Center, eight cars of various types were parked quietly in a row, like soldiers waiting for inspection.

After seeing that it was a real car instead of a PPT, the guests and colleagues present finally believed that Aido New Energy actually came up with eight new models at once!

"This is impossible. How can so many car models be designed at once?"

"Yeah, it takes others several years to release a new model, but your models are released as fast as dumplings. It's only been a short time since the last new car was released..."

"Dumplings can't be made that fast, right? Could it be that they are shoddy?"

"Crappy? Except for the pickup truck which is a bit different, everything else is in line with my aesthetic standards. It can't be considered shoddy, right?"

“Well! From the perspective of a professional designer, these models are stylish, and they incorporate many futuristic elements into their light luxury style.

There are even many design details that I have never seen on current mainstream models, which is refreshing! ”

“Excellent exterior design does not necessarily mean excellent performance. As far as I know, Aido New Energy has only made a few mini cars before, right?

A company that has no experience in hardware design for other mainstream models has come up with so many design plans at once. Are they sure they are seriously polishing the quality? "

“Hmm… Have you noticed that these models have many similarities in appearance? From a design perspective, they can indeed be considered to be from the same series.

But if it is just for the sake of creating a gimmick of the 'Eight Beans Series', such a linkage would be a bit redundant."

"Maybe the designer was too lazy to finish the design?"

"Design is one thing, and production capacity is another. With so many models on the market at the same time, can Aido New Energy's production line handle it?"

"Yes, although I heard that Aidou New Energy has been vigorously expanding its new production lines recently, it is still not enough to cope with the launch of so many models at once..."

"..."

Faced with the whispers of doubt from the audience, Mr. Bao smiled and opened another PPT.

“Some people may ask, how do we produce so many models at once?
The key to the answer is... modular design!"

The big screen began to display 3D deconstruction images of various car models. In the images, various parts were assembled one by one into small components, then large components, and then into the entire car...

“Different from the traditional automobile assembly line manufacturing method, our Badou series uses a large number of one-piece die-casting and modular component designs.

That is, the main components are highly integrated through one-piece die-casting, dispersed to different companies for manufacturing, and then the sub-modules are independently assembled.

Finally, Aidou’s automobile production line assembles these large sub-modules into a complete vehicle like building blocks.

The front and rear parts of the vehicle, the body, chassis, battery modules, etc. are treated as individual building blocks until the final assembly stage.

In this way, we compress the complex process into a few key steps, which is equivalent to splitting the automobile assembly line into multiple independent sub-assembly lines.

Thanks to the ultimate optimized design, although the Badou series consists of 8 models, 80% of the parts are common...

Our new process has been proven to be far superior to traditional automotive assembly lines in terms of cost and time.

The modular design not only reduces the huge resources and land requirements of the Badou series of models for new production lines, but also improves production efficiency.

At the same time, the product line can be quickly iterated to flexibly respond to market demand.

For example, our Badou series can replace certain modules according to the actual needs of users, making it a customized private model tailored for customers..."

"Sigh~"

There were bursts of gasps from the audience.

The flash lights kept flashing.

Many of our automotive competitors couldn’t help but stand up from their chairs, unable to hide the shock on their faces.

Integrated die-casting, 80% of the parts are universal, modular assembly like building blocks, plus private customization...

Unexpectedly, after the high-end intelligent driving software, Aido New Energy once again shocked the world with its subversive hardware design!
The typical example of integrated die-casting of parts is Tesla's Edamame series of models.

Compared with traditional body parts that require hundreds of processes to complete, integrated die-casting can achieve the same effect with only one process.

This means significantly reducing the factory's floor space requirements and freeing up more resources for expanding production.

At the same time, the investment in manpower, equipment and time is greatly reduced, and the cost also drops sharply!

Compared with the integrated die-casting technology that has attracted widespread attention, the more critical "modular design" is even more amazing.

This concept is not the first of its kind.

In the late stage of World War II, Germany's modular military design demonstrated its great advantages in improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs, and was first applied to warship manufacturing.

It was later imitated by the Soviet Union and used extensively in tank and firearms manufacturing.

In recent years, many people have noticed the future application prospects of this design in the automotive industry chain.

However, such a design means that the original supply chain system needs to be completely broken.

The automotive supply chain involves almost every aspect of the entire industrial system. As the saying goes, one move can affect the entire body, and the interests involved are too great.

Therefore, traditional automobile manufacturers, who are resting on their laurels and constrained by the traditional supply chain, have no motivation to carry out such thankless disruptive innovations.

Unexpectedly, it is now being used first by a new energy vehicle manufacturer in new car manufacturing!

The advantages brought by modular design are obvious.

If you have ever been to the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, you will be shocked by the huge industrial chain of the automobile industry.

The giant factory cluster covers an area of ​​650 million square meters, which is equivalent to the combined area of ​​three principalities of Monaco.

The factory produces 84 vehicles every year. It has a total of 110 production workshops and 6000 industrial robots. About 7.2 workers work here. It even has its own power plant and a huge road and rail network.

However, in terms of investment and efficiency, this centralized way of making cars has gradually become unable to adapt to today's increasingly rapid product iteration speed, and will also lead to overall industrial rigidity.

The marginal benefits generated by extremely long industrial chain clusters are decreasing.

The miracles created in the pre-industrial era will eventually be eliminated by the post-industrial era.

In the future, car factories will only get smaller, not bigger.

In modern society where supply chains are becoming increasingly diverse, a global supply system like that of fruit, which highlights the advantages of local industries, can achieve ultimate cost reduction and efficiency improvement, as well as more flexible product updates and iterations.

The mobileization of the automotive industry chain will be the inevitable industrial development path for future automakers.

It is obvious that this disruptive manufacturing process is tearing down the industry's inherent barriers.

It will not only bring about an improvement in internal efficiency, but will also have a devastating impact on the global automotive manufacturing industry!

Of course, behind all these advantages is the technical gap in modular vehicle design...

"Excuse me, which design master created the design of this Badou series of models?"

A foreign colleague finally couldn't help but asked the question that everyone was most concerned about in somewhat broken Chinese.

In the blank period of the industry, designing a whole set of modular concept car models from scratch requires an investment of money, energy and time that is difficult for ordinary people to imagine.

They all wanted to know which genius master had created this design!

"Haha! Regarding this question, please allow me to keep it a secret for now and reveal the answer later.

If you are interested in design, you can download all the car design drawings of the Badou series from our company's official website and take them home to study them carefully. "

"What? Are you saying... these designs can be made public?"

"Of course, the business philosophy of our company's top management is open source and sharing. We welcome all colleagues to learn from us!"

"Wow~"

Without paying any attention to the waves of disbelief and exclamations from the audience, Mr. Bao changed the subject.

"Next, I would like to introduce the prices of various models in the Badou series..."

Everyone immediately fell silent.

In addition to excellent performance, price is naturally also a focus of people's attention.

“For the Badou series this time, we will sell it globally through pre-orders on the official website.

First up is the flagship model, 'Acacia Beans', priced at ￥88! ”

"Wow~"

The whole audience was in an uproar, everyone had different expressions, and many of their colleagues breathed a sigh of relief.

"No way, nearly 89... this price is not affordable."

"Yeah, I originally wanted to buy one with a budget of around 50..."

Internet users who were watching the live broadcast also started to flood the screen with comments.

"Boss Bao, are you getting carried away? Even if it's a high-end smart car, 700,000 is about the maximum price, right?"

"That's right, those advanced intelligent driving and modular design are just gimmicks. Who can afford them when they are so expensive?"

"Yes, we strongly demand a price reduction. This price is totally unreasonable!"

"Tsk, what's wrong with 89? I think this price is very reasonable. This is the first fully autonomous driving model. Isn't it worth a premium of more than yuan?"

"You think all these disruptive innovative technologies are free? I guess they have invested tens of billions in research and development alone, right?"

"Yeah, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are all over a million yuan, and you don't think it's expensive, but this good domestic car is only 89 yuan, and you think it's expensive?"

"Don't even mention those luxury cars. Tesla's high-end Edamame series models are also over 800,000 yuan, and no one who bought them complained that they were expensive."

"My family hired a driver, and the price would be more than this over five years."

"I am poor, so I'd better drive my Wuling and earn the driver's money."

"The wool comes from the sheep. Although I am proud of the new technology, in the end it is the consumers who bear all the consequences..."

"My impression of Aidou New Energy has plummeted..."

"..."

There are many rich people, but only a few can afford eight or nine hundred thousand to buy such a luxury car. So once the price was exposed, it immediately attracted all kinds of complaints and dissatisfaction from netizens.

Mr. Bao ignored everyone's discussion about the price and immediately listed the quotations for the remaining seven models one by one.

“French beans, one price of 58!

Luohan beans, one price of 48!

Iron pea, one price of 38!

......"

With the flagship model as a base, people became much calmer about the pricing, but they just started to talk about it.

Compared with similar models on the market, these eight models in the Badou series are generally about 8 to 10 yuan higher than the average price, which can be said to be not cheap.

This has disappointed old users who are accustomed to the low-price strategy of the "Saint Bean" series of models, and some of them have even turned from fans to haters.

But in fact, this pricing strategy was the result of Gao Yuan's careful consideration.

Even if more efficient modular production is adopted, the capacity increase will be extremely amazing, but the strong product power is based on disruptive technology.

Gao Yuan believes that for a long time, the new cars in the Badou series will be in short supply worldwide!
If a low-price strategy is adopted, the market price may not necessarily be low. Instead, a large number of scalpers and middlemen will make a profit from the difference and make a lot of money.

This not only damages the company's interests and is not conducive to establishing a high-end brand image, but will even have a devastating impact on domestic competing companies of the same price, triggering malicious intent and counterattacks from domestic capital.

Imagine that the flagship phone of Ju factory is sold for 3000 yuan. What role does rice have in that?
What will be offended is a large number of domestic capitals.

However, if the initial target customers are high-end users, the negative impact will be much smaller and the impact on the domestic industrial chain will be limited.

After all, there are basically no high-end brands in China...

Such a pricing strategy actually directly impacts BBA joint venture cars and luxury imported cars, while giving domestic car brands a buffer period.

Overseas, it mainly competes with high-end car brands for market share.

As we all know, this area has the most lucrative profits.

No matter what era it is, the money of the rich is always the easiest to make!
As for whether to engage in a price war with competitors after the production capacity is increased, it is up to you to decide...

"Mr. Bao, is this fixed price you mentioned the price of the bare car?"

A reporter did some research and found something strange about the published price, so he couldn't help but ask.

When other manufacturers release prices, they generally use the bare vehicle price.

What is the price for this?

"Haha! This is another thing I want to explain to you next." Mr. Bao said with a smile.

"The so-called fixed price is the final price after adding all the costs including purchase tax, vehicle and vessel tax, license plate, insurance, etc.

We at Aido New Energy have obtained a special insurance license issued by the state, and can provide exclusive Aido auto insurance for our models.

One price, no tricks, no markup, what you see is the actual purchase price!
If any of our smart driving models encounter any accidental scratches or collisions during the autonomous driving process, as well as other safety issues, they will be fully compensated by our own insurance company!"

"What……"

Everyone's eyes lit up.

Anyone who buys a car knows that there is basically a gap of about 10,000 to 20,000 yuan between the bare car price and the landing price.

There are many tricks involved in things like licensing and insurance, and many consumers who are unaware of the situation have been cheated.

As for Aido New Energy...although the price is a bit high, at least it is clearly marked and there is no room for tricks, which makes consumers feel at ease and is equivalent to a discount of 10,000 or 20,000 yuan.

The phrase "full compensation" shows Aido New Energy's extreme confidence in its own products.

In recent years, there have been many car accidents caused by failures of intelligent driving products, including battery spontaneous combustion incidents. The division of responsibilities and subsequent buck-passing have made many consumers feel uneasy.

If car companies have control over the backend data, it is equivalent to having control over the right to speak.

This makes users very passive in the process of protecting their rights and also damages the safety reputation of new energy vehicles.

In the end, the safety guarantee responsibility that should have been borne by the car manufacturers has become a heavy burden for the insurance companies.

This has led to high insurance costs for new energy vehicles, and even insurance companies are unwilling to provide coverage.

Many netizens also complained that the fuel money they saved from driving electric cars over the years was all given to the insurance company.

And now... looking at the car insurance prices listed on the big screen, they are basically only about 30% of the mainstream market prices, which shows full sincerity!
With such favorable car insurance, who would want to be taken advantage of?

Our own company guarantees the safety of our own cars...

"I am responsible for the safety of my products!"

This kind of responsibility that is taken for granted but rarely seen by companies makes their fellow train companies look pale in comparison and puts them under great pressure...

……

Across the ocean.

Elon Musk was watching the live broadcast on the Internet with a frown on his face.

At first, he didn't have much feeling about Aido New Energy as a competitor.

Only because more and more colleagues suggested that he pay more attention to this company did he find time to get up late at night to watch the live broadcast.

However, today, the other party brought him so many shocks and surprises that for a moment, he had deep self-doubts about the development of new energy vehicle technology in the world.

Have I fallen so far behind the times?
This world...why has it become so different that I can hardly recognize it?

Putting aside the intelligent driving system that surpasses his own, the modular car design concept coincides with his future strategic planning!

On the other side of the world, someone actually got ahead of me...

Moreover, the other party also chose open source design drawings!

He sees further than others.

Once the modular design concept is successfully accepted by major automobile companies around the world, everyone will have to follow this design concept.

Then these modules will quickly become standardized!

This is the huge advantage of disruptive innovation.

First-rate companies set standards, second-rate companies create brands, and third-rate companies make products!

Aido New Energy...this is a big game.

What’s worse is that the opponent made his move before him!

At this time, the live broadcast screen was again given to the 8 new models outside the venue, with a long shot close-up.

Unlike the general public who were more interested in various stylish models, his eyes were immediately attracted by the pickup truck that was quite out of tune with the other models...

It seems to be called...Iron Pea?

If other car models seem to come from the "future city", then this Iron Pea looks more like it comes from the "future wasteland".

The stainless steel body is corrosion-resistant and damage-resistant, which can maintain the integrity and appearance of the body for a long time.

The lines are so simple that they seem a little sharp, and are full of cyberpunk-style designs similar to those in Halo...

No matter how he looks at it, it seems to be similar to the "Cybertruck" he is still designing.

But how is this possible? His entire project is still kept secret...

Thinking of the future positioning he envisioned for this car, his brows furrowed even deeper.

It has a sturdy and durable body, a minimalist design that is both cost-effective and has a comprehensive passenger and cargo carrying capacity that is highly applicable.

There is also the ability to promote large-scale manufacturing brought by modularization...

This strange-looking vehicle is not designed to seize the mainstream consumer market, but to serve in extremely harsh environments under certain circumstances...

That's right!

It is completely tailor-made for the battlefield!

He received a hint from the Kuroko to focus on a dual-use military and civilian product.

So what about the other party?
Is it also preparing for a day in the future?

(End of this chapter)