2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 280: He's Famous!
"The ultimate winner of this design competition: FlashTech! FlashTech has also automatically been selected as the designated electric vehicle supplier for the 2008 Olympic Games. Congratulations to FlashTech!"

Aesthetics are paramount. The Guan Neng series incorporates its own unique aesthetic philosophy, from color and appearance to the overall quality of the vehicle, following a low-key luxury route and showcasing innate beauty.

Putting aside other factors, in terms of appearance alone, the Crown Energy series designed by FlashTech is definitely the most eye-catching. When all the cars are put together, its appearance is always the first thing that is noticed.

As the judges finished speaking, applause rang out in the hall; whether they wanted to or not, they had to congratulate the other party at this moment.

Tan Jincheng, who was sitting in the second row, quickly stood up, put his hands together, and bowed to the judges on the stage and to those around him to express his gratitude.

Although Zhang Congxun, who was sitting in the same row as him, had a smile on his face, he could not hide his disappointment.

After so much preparation, spending countless human and financial resources, and hiring a superstar to endorse the product, it was ultimately snatched away by someone else just two weeks before the announcement.

But that's just how business is. Even though they used a sneak attack, they won fair and square. In terms of design, they were no less capable than you, and the spokesperson they hired was just as influential.

Even the government's support is stronger than our own, everything is fair and just, and all the operations are traceable. Even if we lose, it won't be unfair.

Zhang Congxun had seen his share of ups and downs and knew that a loss was a loss. He was ashamed that this young man had disregarded martial ethics and had ambushed him.
But the real reason for this failure was that I got too cocky!
Last year, we became the industry leader, and the whole company, including myself, got a little cocky. We accepted the invitation from Xishan District to move the company headquarters from Beijing to Wuxi, even though it would be beneficial for the company's long-term development.

However, at the same time, we completely lost the support from the capital. Looking back now, we were a bit too hasty. At the time, we thought that there were no competitors in the high-end market, and with the support of Xishan District, Yadi, which focuses on the mid-range market, would not be much of a threat.

Who would have thought that a Cheng Yaojin would suddenly appear out of nowhere?

ChipSun did pay attention to Flashpoint Technology; in fact, they were the first company in China to take notice of it. ChipSun's marketing department gave Flashpoint Technology sufficient attention.

However, it seems that the company has not paid enough attention to the market. After rapidly expanding its production capacity, the company launched the new brand Fengchi series after its low-end brand and entered the mid-range market. Now, it has once again unexpectedly entered the high-end market.

Moreover, they rose to prominence by stepping on Xinri's success. Although their high-end brand Guanneng series has not yet appeared on the market, it has undoubtedly attracted great attention. At the exhibition, some terminal merchants pre-ordered their products.

After this press conference, FlashTech, which can sell under the title of exclusive Olympic Games supplier, will be even more difficult to deal with.

When we get back, we need to thoroughly analyze this failure. Since we missed out on being the exclusive vehicle supplier for the Olympics, we'll have to prove ourselves in the real market.

Even without the brand influence of the Olympics, ChipSun cannot give up on the high-end market and must adjust its marketing strategy as soon as possible.

Although the Olympic Games exclusive supplier is a Tier 4 supplier, since it is exclusive, the level will not be too low. After the winners are announced, the signing ceremony will be held in the afternoon.

The press conference in the morning and the signing ceremony in the afternoon were covered by reporters at the CCTV level, and will be broadcast on CCTV-1 and CCTV-5 respectively.

Tan Jincheng also has to give an interview to a CCTV reporter; that's mandatory!
That's how it works. Now, even if Tan Jincheng wanted to keep a low profile, he couldn't!
"Perform well when you're on stage, don't embarrass our colleagues. Don't be afraid, you're young and haven't done anything wrong, it's okay to speak a little more freely." Seeing that Tan Jincheng was a little nervous, Dong Jinggui patted his fellow townsman on the shoulder and said softly.

"Okay, thank you, Mr. Dong, I understand," Tan Jincheng said, taking a breath.

To be honest, I was a little nervous. I had never experienced such a big event before. In the past, I did want to keep a low profile, but I was also a little scared. After all, in my previous life, I was just an ordinary businessman, and I had never been interviewed before.

Needless to say, CCTV is of a certain level.

“Although I call you a little bastard behind your back, I have to admit that you won by your own strength, so congratulations. But I won’t give up now. See you in the terminal market.” Zhang Congxun said with a smile.

Seeing that Tan Jincheng was about to speak, Zhang Congxun quickly waved his hand: "I haven't finished speaking yet. Old Dong is right. You represent Flash Motors and our industry. The first time electric vehicles have appeared on the Olympic stage is a good thing for you and the entire industry. Don't embarrass us when you go on stage to speak."

Other industry peers also came to congratulate them. In any case, being included in the list of Olympic suppliers means that two-wheeled electric vehicles have entered a new era. While FlashTech is certainly the biggest beneficiary, its peers will also benefit considerably.

In the future, when selling electric vehicles, we can tell consumers: "Look, even athletes who have won glory for the country can ride electric vehicles, so there must be no problem with them."

This also means that the government has provided support in terms of policy, which will reduce the controversy surrounding the legality of electric vehicles on the road in the future.

Furthermore, it is safe to say that once the news of FlashTech officially signing a sponsorship agreement for the Olympics is announced this afternoon, countless new electric vehicle brands will emerge on the market starting tomorrow.

Previously, there were rumors that Zongshen Group had secretly selected a site to build a large-scale electric bicycle production base, with an estimated annual production capacity of 50 vehicles.

Even motorcycle industry giants are getting into the electric vehicle market, indicating that industry recognition has reached an unprecedented level.

During the lunch break, Tan Jincheng was interviewed by the Ningbo Daily, Ningbo Evening News, Qianjiang Evening News, Metropolitan Express, and Zhejiang Daily. These were all arranged by the Beicang District government, who were just waiting for the news to be released to promote Tan Jincheng and Flash Technology.

Of course, the main purpose was to promote Beicang District, a fact that Tan Jincheng was well aware of.

They wrote all the articles; he just had to read them aloud and take a few photos. In front of these media outlets, Tan Jincheng was considered one of their own, so the reporters didn't make things difficult for him, and the interview process was very proper.

At 3:30 p.m., FlashTech officially signed an agreement with the Beijing Olympic Committee, making FlashTech's Fengchi Guanneng series the only designated vehicle (electric vehicle) for the 2008 Olympic Games and a fourth-tier sponsor of the Beijing Olympic Games.

赞助费用为4100万元，与此同时闪驰科技在奥运会来临前的一个月，也就是2008年7月8日之前需向组委会提供3000辆两轮电动车以及25辆四轮电动车，供奥运会各大场馆使用。

Provide services for the various competition and non-competition venues and service areas of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In addition, hundreds of traffic police officers from the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau will use Fengchi Guanneng series electric vehicles to patrol important locations in Beijing and the Olympic center area after the start of the Olympics.

At that time, the Fengchi Guanneng series vehicles will use the new lithium battery technology developed by Hangxin New Energy Company, a subsidiary of Shanchi Technology.

This batch of electric vehicles serving the Olympics will all be manufactured according to the highest industry standards, exceeding the current national standards in terms of safety and reliability. They will serve the Olympics with gold medal quality, high-level service, and independently developed new technologies.

"Mr. Tan, it's a pleasure to cooperate with you! I hope FlashTech can provide excellent service for the Olympics two years from now."

The person in charge of the signing was a deputy commander-in-chief responsible for ensuring transportation during the Olympics, a high-ranking official. After the signing, the leader stood up and waved to Tan Jincheng.

"Thank you, leader. All members of FlashTech will keep our mission in mind and live up to your expectations," Tan Jincheng said calmly as he stood up.

After the tension of the morning, the midday interview, and the encouragement from his colleagues, Tan Jincheng was no longer so nervous.

We've already reached the signing stage, what's there to be afraid of? Well, at least until the end of the 2008 Olympics, as long as we don't do anything reckless, we don't need to worry about FlashTech going bankrupt. Haha, let's go back and acquire the land! Expansion, we must seize this opportunity to expand; the existing 150-acre industrial base is no longer enough.

The lithium battery factory project can now proceed!
As for money? We're not short of money. Although this sponsorship cost a lot, it's nothing compared to what we've gained.

Previously, they dared not use leverage, and now FlashTech probably doesn't want to use leverage, even if some people wouldn't agree; money? They can't do without it!
Often, a company's development comes from a single opportunity. Seizing a rare opportunity can lead to soaring success. With the added boost of brand influence, FlashTech's goal can be changed from being among the top three in the industry to striving for the leading position!

After the contract was signed, the next step was the interview time with various media outlets. Tan Jincheng observed that, apart from CCTV, most of the media were financial media, some of which he had heard of in his previous life.

The flashes were going off like crazy, almost blinding Tan Jincheng, but he still had to pretend to be nonchalant and serious.

The first to be interviewed were, of course, members of the Olympic Committee. The questions asked by the reporters were all quite serious, such as why Flashpoint Technology was chosen, delivery details, and so on, which showed that they had communicated in advance.

When the questions were turned to Tan Jincheng, the tone became less formal, even somewhat sharp, since these were national media outlets not arranged by the Ningbo authorities.

"Mr. Tan, first of all, congratulations on your company winning the bid. Secondly, I would like to ask, your company has always been known in the industry for its marketing, and it has only been established for a short time. What kind of confidence made you choose to participate in this Olympic design competition?"

These days, media workers still have some integrity. Although the reporter's question was somewhat sharp, it was definitely not intentional sabotage.

It could even be said that he voiced the sentiments of most people, including some members of the organizing committee.

Wherever there are people, there are conflicts. FlashTech didn't approve the design proposal unanimously. Besides, design is design, and capability is capability.

After all, FlashTech has only been established for a short time, at most two years. Whether it can really fulfill the terms of the contract before the 2008 Olympics is still an unknown.

"First of all, I would like to thank this friend for recognizing our achievements in marketing. Any product that wants to be accepted by the market cannot do without marketing. I do not think the word marketing has a negative connotation."

Tan Jincheng took the microphone and calmly replied, "Secondly, FlashTech has indeed been established for a short time, and we do have many shortcomings. But we must understand that the development of any company is not measured by the length of its establishment. Century-old companies have their advantages, and emerging companies have their own vitality."

"In addition to marketing, our self-developed capabilities are also improving. As early as the end of last year, we established our own battery self-developed center in cooperation with the Institute of Physical Chemistry. In addition, this year we will also launch self-developed projects for core components such as motors and controllers."

"In addition to these core component self-developed projects, we have obtained a number of patented technologies for appearance design. The design drawings you see are all independently developed by our Flash Technology R&D Department. The fact that they have been recognized by the organizing committee proves our strength in appearance design."

"Over the next two years, we will build on our existing advantages and pursue independent innovation and research and development. We will strive to serve the Olympic Games with a brand-new look and cheer for our Olympic athletes."

Tan Jincheng's answer was reasonable and well-founded, and his initial statement, "A century-old enterprise has its advantages, and an emerging enterprise has its own vitality," fully demonstrated his confidence.

Presenting facts, reasoning, and confidence; making the organizing committee members who voted for the Flash Design nod repeatedly – ​​that's the Olympic spirit! So what if we're a little weak? Being a little weak now doesn't mean we'll be weak two years from now. That's the Olympic fighting spirit!

The reporter who asked the question was clearly surprised by Tan Jincheng's answer. It is said that he does not like to be interviewed, but he did not expect to be so mature in dealing with the media. He was proper and composed but did not show any fear.

For her first time attending a large-scale press conference, and facing unexpected questions, her performance was quite good.

"Mr. Tan, besides sponsoring vehicles, is there anything else you're doing to support the Olympics? For example, our athletes?" This was a question from a CCTV-5 reporter.

"Yes, we will. We have a series of plans to cheer on the athletes, but I won't go into details here."

What are FlashTech's current monthly sales figures? Mr. Tan, what scale do you expect FlashTech to reach by the time the Olympics arrive?

"Well, this question doesn't seem to be related to today's topic, but if this friend wants to know, he can regularly follow our quarterly sales reports."

Is Mr. Tan really only 21 years old?

"Okay, this is another question that has nothing to do with the topic, but I can answer it. To be precise, I am 20 years and 10 months old, and I will be 21 years old in two months."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Not to mention those sitting on the stage, everyone present, including the intern reporters, was under 25. For someone of that age to participate in a signing ceremony of this caliber, and to be a key figure, was truly astounding.

Two years ago, he had just turned 19. A 19-year-old youth founded a physical enterprise and, in less than two years, brought the company's products to the Olympic Games. This is even more exaggerated than the wealth created by the Internet.

Whether now or in the future, in everyone's perception, doing business in the real economy is much more difficult than doing business in the internet industry. Business in the real economy requires taking one step at a time, and there was a reason why the reporter questioned Flashpoint Technology's lack of strength.

According to previous surveys by financial media of the shortlisted companies, FlashTech's sales this year were expected to reach 20 vehicles. Now, with the added brand influence of being the official vehicle of the Olympic Games, sales can undoubtedly reach an even higher level.

The factory price that each brand and model pays to its suppliers is not readily available, and the shipment volume of each model is also difficult to calculate. However, it can be deduced from the final retail price.

Based on the price of the cheapest model from FlashTech, 20 units would generate 4 million in sales. Even just considering the price of this one model, FlashTech's annual performance would be an impressive figure.

This 20-year-old has built a large enterprise with an annual output value of over 4 million yuan in just two years. In addition, according to information from investigations in Ningbo, he also has other businesses including services and electronic product exports.

The word "billionaire" is not enough to describe him. A simple calculation shows that he is definitely worth 5 million yuan. In terms of net worth, 10 billion yuan is entirely reasonable.

A 21-year-old billionaire? That's incredible!

The reporters couldn't even imagine the sensation the report would cause across the country.

The reporters below the stage stared excitedly at Tan Jincheng, even though they were professional and authoritative media, even though this was a mission-driven interview, even though they knew they couldn't ask him too many inappropriate questions, and even though they knew they couldn't cause too much trouble for the organizing committee.

But news is all about breaking news. How can you expect them to leave such a big breaking news story unreported?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
I must write it, and I must dig deep. As soon as the press conference ends today, I will immediately apply to fly to Ningbo. I must find the most complete information and report on it properly, writing a comprehensive and detailed press release.

As for whether the organizing committee will cause trouble later? That's a matter for the future. Besides, it's reasonable to report on the young entrepreneurs selected for the Olympics.

Some reporters wanted to conduct a comprehensive and detailed investigation, but others were more impatient. News is all about timeliness, so they didn't care whether the data was true or not; they just wanted to report it first.

On April 29, the New Jingbao newspaper, founded in 2003, reported on the entire process of FlashTech becoming the exclusive electric vehicle supplier for the Olympic Games on its front page.

Title: "The Olympics Joins Hands with Emerging Enterprises in Ningbo: How Did a 21-Year-Old Billionaire Bring His Company to the Olympic Arena Within Two Years?"

(End of this chapter)