2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 450 Suggestion? It doesn't exist.

A proper, authoritative host wouldn't simply be focused on competing with the interviewee during the show; it's possible they might have the same urge to challenge the guest.

But more importantly, it's meant to spark further discussion.

What is the most pressing question for society regarding Flash Group right now? It's whether they can manufacture cars, a question that has sparked much speculation.

The automotive industry is developing at an unprecedented pace, with more and more private enterprises starting to manufacture cars. Car manufacturing is definitely a very hot topic right now.

Flash Group seems to be quite different from ordinary electric vehicle companies. Apart from its main business, everything they do seems to be laid out around the automotive industry chain, and it is biased towards the electric vehicle industry chain.

From manufacturing power batteries to frequently visiting auto parts factories and research institutes specializing in automotive industrial design, everything that has been done by Flash Group demonstrates its ambition to enter the automotive industry.

Furthermore, Flash Group has recently been purchasing vehicles extensively, which can be seen as the first step in this process. Buying some popular models on the market and disassembling them is the first step for many private enterprises to manufacture cars.

In addition, the cooperation with Zhongtai has also begun to deepen. Although it has not made a high-profile announcement of entering the automotive industry like other private enterprises, all signs indicate that Shanchi Group is preparing to manufacture cars.

Furthermore, it's highly likely they're manufacturing electric vehicles, which seems to fit the nature of the other party's electric vehicle company. FlashTech already has two-wheeled and three-wheeled electric vehicles, so it wouldn't be surprising if they made a four-wheeled electric vehicle as well.

As Tan Jincheng just mentioned, Flash's ideal is to create more high-performance, cost-effective products and become a national enterprise. So, just having electric vehicles and clothing brands shouldn't count as more, right?

Perhaps, what about adding cars to the mix? If that's the case, then it could truly be considered a national enterprise.

"We don't have such plans at the moment, but the automotive industry will be a pillar of the national economy in the future. So while we are doing a good job in our main business, we are also making some arrangements in the automotive industry in order to keep up with the times."

"So, does FlashCar Group have any plans to manufacture cars in the future? From recent news reports, we've noticed that everyone seems to be concerned about this."

"The future? Who knows what the future holds? Maybe it will, maybe it won't. Who knows?"

Tan Jincheng did not admit it, but he did not completely rule it out either. It is not a good thing to announce his entry into car manufacturing too early, but Tan Jincheng is not yet shameless enough to lie in front of such an important camera.

Whether admitting that his initial idea for starting his business was to make money, or talking about the positioning of Flash Group as a national enterprise, Tan Jincheng has not lied about these things. Making more high-quality, cost-effective products is indeed Tan Jincheng's pursuit.

Lei Jun seems to have said something like this: ordinary companies make profits, while excellent companies win people's hearts.

If the best way to win people's hearts is to make more high-quality, cost-effective products, then Xiaomi's first few products had many flaws, and their quality and workmanship were not very good.

It has just as many of the problems that other similar phones have, and even some of the problems that other phones don't have. So why is it still so popular, directly driving a bunch of counterfeit manufacturers out of business and indirectly causing the collapse of the ZTE, Huawei, Coolpad, and Lenovo monopoly?
It's simply because he sells it cheaply. Products with similar performance sell for 4000, but he sells it for 2000. That's what you call high cost-performance, and that's why his products are popular.

Popular products are not necessarily the best quality, nor do they need to be the cheapest, but they are definitely the most cost-effective after comparing prices from multiple sources. This is the product positioning of Flash, and future cars will be the same.

Ideally, Tan Jincheng envisions that the cars produced by the Flash Group in the future should mainly be in the 10 to 20 yuan range, supplemented by some models in the 10 yuan range. High-end models will definitely be available, but they will certainly not be the mainstream.

Similar to the positioning of electric vehicles today, the focus is on producing mid-to-low-end products, aiming for broad market coverage so that more people can afford them.

"So, Mr. Tan has had thoughts of making cars?" The host didn't let Tan Jincheng off the hook; such rhetoric was too easy for them to handle.

"Of course! What man would refuse to own a car factory? Just like a woman can't resist beautiful clothes. But it depends on whether you have the ability to do so."

The host smiled; in fact, he had already figured it out from Tan Jincheng's words and eyes.

Flash Group doesn't reject car manufacturing; in fact, they already have the idea. It's just that their current capabilities don't allow it, and Tan Jincheng won't admit it. You might think he's straightforward, but when it comes to company strategy, he's incredibly tight-lipped.

Mature, decisive, yet very composed, he doesn't look like he's only in his early twenties at all.

Throughout his career as a host, he has interviewed many well-known entrepreneurs. In terms of achievements, Tan Jincheng is not as accomplished as many others, but in terms of being special, Tan Jincheng is probably the most special one.

Firstly, he is the youngest; he has never interviewed such a young entrepreneur before. Secondly, in terms of temperament, Tan Jincheng is also the most unique.

He possesses the composure of an adult and the spirit of a youth, boldly stating that he is not short of money and has few material desires, yet he is not the stingy type. He drives luxury cars, lives in a mansion, and is very generous to his company employees. In addition to benefiting his employees, the company's profits are mostly invested in research and development, rather than being used to buy land and build buildings like other companies.

Is it that Tan Jincheng can't see the current development trend of the real estate market? Not necessarily, he probably just wants something different.

"Those who harvest ice do not keep cattle or sheep."

This is a sentence that left a deep impression on the host from an interview with Tan Jincheng. Judging from the way Shanchi, Orange Technology, and Tan Jincheng himself have handled things over the past two years, this sentence has truly been put into practice.

He was a very special person, and it was also a very special experience for the host. A couple of years ago, he also interviewed some emerging figures from the post-80s generation. Although he was also a post-80s, this young man who had not attended university seemed to have more ideas than those high-achieving students.

The face-to-face recording took place in the CCTV studio. Tan Jincheng came all the way from Tianjin to record the video. The recording lasted for a whole day, and to be honest, it was quite tiring.

Dealing with a shrewd host like this can easily lead you into their trap of persuasive rhetoric; you have to be highly focused. If the host is dealing with a much older entrepreneur, they might go easy on you a bit.

But for newcomers like Tan Jincheng and Xiao Ma Ge, who have just gained popularity, they really won't show any mercy.

"Alright, that concludes today's interview. One last question: Mr. Tan, do you have any advice for young people?"

"Advice for young people? I don't have any. I'm young myself. Ask me that question again in 40 years. If I really have any advice, it's to study hard and make progress every day."

"Haha, Mr. Tan's point of view is quite novel. With your current achievements, it's not unreasonable for you to give advice to young people, is it? Or is Mr. Tan simply unwilling to say anything?"

Tan Jincheng shook his head seriously: "I really don't have any advice. Everyone's upbringing is different, and my experience may not be suitable for other people. If I really have any advice, then I would suggest that young people buy a house and get married as soon as possible. I plan to get married early myself."

Suggestions? Not at all. What young people hate most is being lectured on grand principles. All life lessons are less useful than a small barbecue in real life. Tan Jincheng also really hates being lectured on grand principles.

People like Lao Ma Tou who spend their days spouting nonsense in front of the camera and conveying their life philosophies to the public are the kind of people Tan Jincheng dislikes the most.

To put it bluntly, it's all about the profits behind it. If you don't encourage advance consumption, who will use his Alipay account?
Flash's future business may involve many industries, including some finance and real estate, which is unavoidable, but we should try to avoid doing business that would bring shame upon our ancestors.

"Buy a house to get married? Why would you say that?" The host was somewhat surprised.

Unexpectedly, during the last casual question of the interview, Mr. Tan brought up real estate, urging young people to buy houses as early as possible, which is definitely going to be a hot topic.

"Because there is strength in numbers. It is always better for two people to work together than one. Look at me now. My girlfriend is the CEO of Orange Technology. We make money together, and our performance is getting better and better."

Tan Jincheng didn't want to talk much about buying a house, but he could still offer a reminder: buying a house in 2007 or the first half of 2008 would have cost significantly more than buying one in the second half of 2008.

If you believe, you'll save some money; if you don't, you'll spend more, although it will still be much cheaper than in the future.

Another reason is that Flash Group is more or less involved in the real estate industry. In 2007, there were still many vegetable plots in Beicang Sports and Arts Center, and some of them had not yet been acquired by real estate companies.

In this era, governments everywhere like to build buildings. Building factories and buildings has actually become an indicator of GDP. Flash Group has never had its own commercial building plots in Beicang.

Other people build their own headquarters, but he just bought it. It saves him trouble, but it doesn't make as much of a splash. For the Beicang District government, it's always a bit lacking.

Therefore, there were no major moves in the second half of this year. Especially for Flash Motors, which did not make any major moves in the Beicang District, the government's expectation that they build a commercial and residential building to provide better accommodation for their employees has become one of the indicators.

Of course, this matter will not be said outright, nor does it need to be. If Tan Jincheng doesn't even understand this, then he has wasted the past few years.

There is a plot of vegetable land at the Beicang Sports and Arts Center that is currently unclaimed, but it has been claimed by the Shanchi Group, which plans to build a commercial and residential building. The main color scheme will still be white. Tan Jincheng's announcement on the show was also for this purpose.

This isn't a scam; it's like advertising. As for whether I have the money to build the buildings, I can build a few first, like Li Changjiang did, leaving the land as is, and then we can talk about it when I have the money.

(End of this chapter)