505: Ford's dream, let Fenglei help me work

“They probably want to open up our country's high-end car market. Of course, it's also possible they're just here for tourism.”

Zhang Qiang pondered for a moment before replying.

“Tourism?”

Morgan felt this answer was a bit perfunctory and could be directly dismissed.

“Las Vegas is a world-renowned tourist city. After Wind and Thunder's last F1 Austin Station, they received a huge order, which I estimate to be worth no less than a hundred billion US dollars. With such a massive transaction, it's impossible for them to be on vacation right now.”

Zhang Qiang stated his deduction, but it was clear Morgan didn't agree.

He sneered:

“In the video, these people came out of the subway. With their current net worth, taking the subway and taxis for tourism? Isn't that too demeaning? It doesn't fit their status at all.”

“I think it fits quite well. When they were in China, these Wind and Thunder General Managers lived very simple, commoner lives.

No luxury cars, no villas, and no high-end consumption like luxury goods. It would be hard for them to adapt to such a drastic change now.”

Although Zhang Qiang was young, his investigation and understanding of the entire industry were very detailed.

Especially his enthusiasm for new energy.

When Wind and Thunder's related technologies were released, Zhang Qiang paid attention immediately.

So he knew all of Ren Yi and his General Managers' information like the back of his hand.

“Oh, really? So you think this group from Wind and Thunder is just here for a simple vacation?”

Morgan clearly still didn't quite believe Zhang Qiang's statement.

“Well, their main purpose should be the F1 Las Vegas Station three days from now. After that, we'll see if that's the case.”

Although Zhang Qiang was trying his best to persuade his General Managers, he also had his own ulterior motives.

Although he had obtained a United States green card, he was somewhat disappointed after seeing what the automotive industry had been doing.

After joining General Motors and becoming the General Managers' secretary, this feeling became even stronger.

For the past six months, General Motors had done nothing.

Most of the newly built factories were also for gasoline-powered vehicles.

And according to Zhang Qiang's understanding, Wind and Thunder's Super Factory, with its Super Production Line, was truly super.

Almost all industrial products could be produced there.

This information should have been kept confidential.

However, as Wind and Thunder's factory construction blossomed globally in recent months, it naturally leaked out.

Someone witnessed a production line that originally produced power grid equipment, after a few minutes of setup by the engineer, producing Wind and Thunder's latest supercar.

It was still a single production line, producing several cars at once, with an interval of only twenty-odd seconds.

How could other car companies survive this?

Morgan, leading General Motors, built a new car factory in Detroit to produce traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, averaging one car per hour if they were lucky.

This was also under the condition that the workers on the production line were skilled and cooperative.

It should be noted that the current United States' illiteracy rate has reached an astonishing 21%, approximately 32 million illiterate or functionally illiterate people.

And these statistics over the years had all been foreshadowed.

For example, in 1988, the United States conducted an “Adult Literacy Survey” and concluded that:

Around 21% of people had reading difficulties, significantly below the average level.

How low was this level?

Normal people can write their name, find a country name in a paragraph, find the expiration date of their driver's license, and understand the total balance in their bank passbook.

These are considered normal people, but these 21% of people couldn't even do that.

And the standard of college students was also very concerning.

In 1992, the United States conducted a reading comprehension survey, specifically requiring the reading and understanding of information from a short passage. Only 51% of college students could meet the proficient standard.

In other words, 49% of college students couldn't even understand the content of a short passage.

By 2003, the percentage of college graduates reaching proficiency dropped to 41%.

In 2013, among high school graduates in the United States, 20% did not know what the words on their diploma meant.

This is what the so-called 'happy education' touted by domestic public intellectuals has caused.

And now General Motors has moved its headquarters to Detroit, where most people only have a high school education.

Among the workers recruited, at least half cannot understand the instruction manuals.

How can the normal operation of the production line be guaranteed in this situation?

It's already a miracle if they don't cause accidents.

Therefore, Zhang Qiang, who graduated from Harvard Business School, felt it was time to leave General Motors.

When Wind and Thunder General Managers Ren Yi went to Austin last time, he was too busy to go.

This time, he couldn't miss it for anything.

“If you trust me, how about I go to Las Vegas and meet with General Managers Ren to discuss?”

Zhang Qiang made the boldest request of his career.

Asking to meet the General Managers of the biggest competitor in front of his General Managers.

Of course, Morgan considered Wind and Thunder a competitor, but would never give it the title of 'biggest competitor'.

As for meeting Wind and Thunder General Managers Ren Yi, Morgan felt that meeting him personally would lower his status.

When General Motors was dominating the world, Wind and Thunder was nowhere to be found.

And Zhang Qiang, as his secretary, often satisfied his little habits, so sending him was also a good choice, and it could be considered an opportunity for the other party to gain experience.

“Alright, you go for me then.”

Morgan nodded, looking at Zhang Qiang's spirited appearance, and suddenly felt he resembled his younger self.

Young, ignorant, fearless. He admired this about the other party.

Of course, the most important thing was that Zhang Qiang was good at what he did and willing to be implicitly ruled by him.

“Thank you, Mr. Morgan.”

Zhang Qiang gave Morgan a sincere deep bow.

At the same time, his little heart was pounding wildly.

As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest.

Although this saying isn't quite appropriate here, the feeling is the same.

...

On the other side.

Ford Headquarters.

Although most of their business and brands have been handed over to Tata Group for operation, they themselves are still producing some models.

For example, they are currently vigorously building electric vehicle factories and pickup truck factories in Canada.

Vice President Bohr was discussing next year's production plan with his subordinates when he suddenly received a strange text message.

Opening it, it was news that Wind and Thunder General Managers Ren Yi and his group had arrived in Las Vegas.

“What are they doing here again?”

Bohr's face was very grim.

Because last year he had promised the headquarters that Ford's electric vehicle sales would reach a new high next year.

As a result, Wind and Thunder won the F1 Austin Station, and even with a 100% tariff restriction, Wind and Thunder's new energy vehicles still sold out in the United States.

This caused Ford's original performance growth to shrink by more than 50% at once.

If Wind and Thunder had come earlier, Ford's electric vehicle business might even have seen negative growth.

Therefore, Bohr's dislike for Wind and Thunder was only natural.

“Maybe they're just here for a vacation this time? A bunch of bumpkins, coming out of the subway and taking a taxi. You can tell they haven't eaten anything good.”

One General Managers couldn't help but sneer.

“Oh, right, the latest F1 race is the Las Vegas Station. They're probably here to support the Fan Lei F1 team. Damn it, since they joined F1 in September, they've taken all the championships and runner-up titles.”

Another General Managers suddenly remembered.

Because he was also an F1 fan, and also a bit racist, believing in white supremacy.

Now F1, which should have been controlled by white people, was being disrupted by a group of yellow people.

Although they still used white drivers Verstappen, and even a white female driver Jennifer.

But this didn't prevent Bohr from being disgusted by them.

“Actually, I really want to meet with them and talk.”

Bohr suddenly said this, as if he had thought of something.

“What's there to talk about with them?”

Many of Ford's General Managers actually wanted to transfer the automotive business long ago and fully shift to the financial industry.

After all, how can manufacturing make money as fast as finance?!

Now Ford's two major pillar subsidiaries, besides automobiles, are the Ford Financial Group.

“Haven't most of our traditional automotive business been handed over to Tata Group? The profits and dividends they turn in annually are much more than what we earn by working so hard ourselves, aren't they?”

Bohr said with a smile.

“You mean?”

That General Managers had a bad premonition.

“Since it's all about licensing, why not license the electric vehicle business to Wind and Thunder as well? Technically speaking, they are the strongest automotive company in the global electric vehicle business.”

Bohr suddenly showed a mysterious smile as he spoke.

“No, how can you do that? Our Ford, at least, is one of the country's calling cards. How can we bow to a Chinese company? This is a disgrace!!”

The General Managers who had been clamoring to transfer the business earlier were now unwilling.

It's fine to transfer to anyone, just not to Chinese Wind and Thunder.

Because China is the only country that has militarily defeated the United States.

Therefore, some of the United States' citizens are very unfriendly towards China, even hostile.

“Gentlemen, don't rush to refuse. Have you heard of Pepsi during the Cold War?”

Bohr smiled slightly.

The General Managers present were all highly educated, some even big names from Harvard Business School, so they naturally knew what Bohr wanted to say.

“I know, at that time, although our United States and the Soviet Union were irreconcilable, Pepsi still sold cola to the Russians, euphemistically saying it was to generate revenue for the country and conquer the Soviet Union through taste.

And the Soviet Union was unaware of this.

Besides Pepsi, there were also clothing brands like Nike. Young people in Russia considered wearing Nike and drinking Pepsi fashionable.”

Someone recited this fluently.

“Yes, although these Pepsi and Nike products were manufactured in factories built with Soviet resources, they left a deep impression on the young people of the Soviet Union.

Now, even if we license Ford's electric vehicles to Wind and Thunder, and they use Wind and Thunder's technology and Chinese materials, what we establish is our Ford brand and reputation.

Young people in China will think that our Ford products are better than local ones, that they are high-end, grand, and classy, and that driving them out gives more face than local cars.

This is exactly like what Pepsi and Nike did before.

They provided the materials, technology, and labor, and we gain brand reputation and a lot of profit, without us having to worry.

Isn't this all benefit and no harm?

They even have to serve us and revolve around us.

You tell me, isn't being the Party A (client/party A) enjoyable?”

Bohr spoke eloquently, as if large sums of money were beckoning him.

And the General Managers present, upon hearing this, seemed to agree.

Designing electric vehicles themselves, manufacturing them themselves, marketing them themselves.

As a result, they were thoroughly defeated by Wind and Thunder, and sales plummeted.

If they licensed it to Wind and Thunder, just like they licensed to Tata, they could fully enjoy Wind and Thunder's technological advantages to make money for themselves. Why wouldn't they?

They were all swayed by Bohr.

What national hatred and family enmity? Compared to their money, it was nothing.

“So, Mr. Bohr, have you made up your mind to go to Las Vegas?”

Someone thought that he had been tormented by the problem of Ford's electric vehicle sales for half a year, and it was time to relax in Las Vegas.

“Oh, gentlemen, where did you say you're going?”

At this moment, a woman's voice rang out.

She had golden hair and beautiful eyes, a hot figure, a mini-skirt, crystal high heels, and bright red Balenciaga stockings.

Seeing the woman appear, Bohr helplessly scolded:

“Ersha, next time you come in, please remember to knock first, okay? I'm in a meeting.”

Bohr expressed his extreme dissatisfaction with his younger sister, but his eyes were filled with indulgence.