Chapter 883: Sitting up in Shock From the Dying, Toyota's Struggle

"How can Toyota's people think so quickly?"

Cao Yang was quite surprised to hear Zhu Zhengfeng say that Toyota intends to ease its relationship with Nanshan Automobile Group.

In recent years, Nanshan Automobile Group has been at the forefront of suppressing Japanese automakers.

Although the relationship between them has not yet reached the level of a dead-end situation like GM and Ford, it is not much better.

Now that America has begun to deal with Japanese automakers, Toyota has chosen to ease its relationship with Nanshan Automobile Group at this time, which really makes people think more.

"Toyota is preparing to launch several electric vehicles in China, and the batteries for these models may be considered to be all handed over to Nanshan Battery."

"This should be the other party's token of surrender to ease relations with Nanshan Automobile Group."

"Now the Chinese market is the largest market in the world. Last year, Toyota was the largest automaker in the world, but Toyota's share in China is far from matching its global No. 1 position."

"Toyota must be dissatisfied with this situation."

"In addition, General Motors and Ford are promoting various actions to suppress Japanese automakers, so Toyota naturally feels the crisis."

As the general manager of Chuncheng Automobile Group, Zhu Zhengfeng receives a lot of information every day and has a more thorough understanding of the problem.

When the people from Chuncheng Toyota conveyed this idea the day before yesterday, he specially arranged for someone to investigate and understand it, and then called Cao Yang.

In his opinion, more than half of the cost of electric vehicles is the cost of batteries.

If Toyota gives all the battery orders for several electric vehicles to Nanshan Battery, it is equivalent to handing over half of the procurement business of the electric vehicle business to Nanshan Battery.

Objectively speaking, this sincerity is quite sufficient.

In Zhu Zhengfeng's view, even if Toyota only sells 100,000 electric vehicles in China a year, Nanshan Battery's business will exceed 5 billion yuan.

This is definitely a big order.

Of course, he also knows that Toyota will consider this plan, not really out of his mind.

But if you want to develop electric vehicles in China, it will be difficult to avoid Nanshan Battery.

It can be said that Toyota cannot find a better battery supplier than Nanshan Battery in the Chinese market.

In this case, it must find a way to maximize the benefits.

"So far, many traditional auto giants have begun to prepare to launch their own electric vehicles, and even some brands of electric vehicles have been mass-produced."

"But so far, no traditional international auto giant's electric vehicles have sold well."

"I think it is obviously difficult for Toyota to be an exception."

If Cao Yang hadn't known that Toyota's electric vehicles would not be able to get off the ground in the next few years, he would probably have accepted this olive branch.

After all, according to Toyota's plan, if it launches several electric vehicles in its two joint venture factories in China, the annual sales plan will definitely exceed 100,000 vehicles.

It is even possible to reach 200,000 vehicles.

That means this is really a large order, and at that time, several battery production lines will need to be specially prepared to meet Toyota's needs.

But Cao Yang is very clear that Toyota's electric vehicles have not been built even when he was reborn.

Let alone 200,000 vehicles a year, even 20,000 vehicles a year are very stressful.

The key is that if the production line of the battery factory is invested according to the annual production of 200,000 battery packs, it will be at least tens of billions, or even hundreds of billions of investments.

In the end, there is no production, and it is vacant there.

At that time, Nanshan Battery will suffer a great loss.

Although there are other ways to avoid investment risks, at most it is to avoid losses. If you want to make money from this project, don't even think about it.

This is definitely not the situation Cao Yang wants to see.

What Toyota is offering is not an olive branch, but a bottle of poison.

So he will definitely not accept it.

"Mr. Cao, the pace of development of electric vehicles by international auto giants is indeed a little slow, which is mainly due to the slow pace of development of electric vehicles in their own countries."

"Once they enter this market in an all-round way, I think it will not be so difficult to do well."

"After all, they have accumulated so many years of technology, and it is not very difficult to develop several hot-selling electric vehicles."

"At most, they will launch their electric versions based on the current hot-selling models."

Zhu Zhengfeng's point of view is obviously a little different from Cao Yang's.

He thinks that if giants such as Toyota are really determined to develop electric vehicles, then the final result will definitely not be bad.

It is impossible that the electric vehicles developed by a world-leading auto company are not as good as some new car-making forces in China, right?

This is obviously unscientific.

"Mr. Zhu, your statement may not be wrong, but whether it is Toyota or Volkswagen, the electric vehicles currently developed by these international auto giants are essentially still developed with the same ideas and processes as the past development of fuel vehicles."

"They simply removed the engine and gearbox and replaced them with batteries and motors."

"Whether in terms of development speed or market grasp, there are relatively large deficiencies."

"Although both are selling cars, there are still many differences in the way of selling electric vehicles and selling fuel vehicles."

"Even the consumers in these two fields are different."

Cao Yang certainly does not agree with Zhu Zhengfeng's statement.

I have already seen the results, how could I be fooled?

Of course, he did not argue with Zhu Zhengfeng for too long.

There is no need.

In the end, Zhu Zhengfeng saw that Cao Yang had no intention of accepting Toyota's olive branch, and he did not force it.

After all, Nanshan Hongqi is his favorite.

However, when this news was passed back to Toyota, Watanabe Jie Zhao and Kobayashi Tetsuaki were very surprised.

In their opinion, they were very sincere.

But Nanshan Automobile Group refused to accept it.

That was not giving them face!

"President, I heard that Nanshan Automobile Group was behind the suppression of Japanese and Korean car companies in China."

"Most of China's independent brands have a large number of parts purchased from Nanshan Automobile Group, so as long as the market share of independent brands is continuously increased, Nanshan Automobile Group's turnover can continue to expand."

"If our electric vehicle battery business is given to Nanshan Battery, it will take several years to enter mass production."

"Nanshan Automobile Group probably doesn't want to give up the current plan for the sake of long-term interests."

Kobayashi Tetsumin was in a very bad mood.

In the United States, General Motors and Ford Motors are jointly suppressing Japanese car companies such as Toyota Motors, and in China, Nanshan Automobile Group is also doing similar things with general independent brand car companies.

It just so happens that Toyota Motor's two partners in China are a bit interested in watching the fun.

This makes people very depressed.

"Nanshan Automobile Group has great ambitions."

Toyota Motors was so sincere, but they easily rejected it.

This was something that Watanabe Jie Zhao had not expected.

In his opinion, even if Nanshan Automobile Group finally rejected it, it must be a situation that would only occur after the two sides had communicated many times and failed to reach an agreement on the conditions.

The result was that it ended before anything even started.

"China's independent brands are now focusing on the export market and competing with us for market share in many places."

"Now we are facing huge pressure in both the American and Chinese markets, and the situation will really be a bit bad at that time."

Although Toyota Motors has been promoting the depreciation of the yen, this plan will definitely not be effective so quickly.

That's why they want to take some actions in the Chinese market and other markets to ease the pressure on the American market.

Now it seems that the first step has failed.

"Nanshan Battery is not the only battery company in China. There are many companies that have been trying to seek further development."

"Since Nanshan Battery is unwilling to cooperate with us, we will find other battery companies to cooperate with."

"It would be best if we could use this cooperation to change our passive situation in the Chinese market."

Watanabe Katsuaki will definitely not give up the Chinese market easily.

Toyota has been operating in the Chinese market for more than ten years, and if we count the earlier imported cars, it would be even longer.

Having witnessed the rise of the Chinese market, Toyota Motors believes that the Chinese market has great potential.

"President, I think a single battery order may not be able to completely change our passive situation in China."

"Nowadays, China is vigorously promoting energy conservation and emission reduction, and promoting the development of new energy vehicles."

"But our technical accumulation in this area is actually relatively weak."

"Can we change a method to reverse the unfavorable situation and compete with the other party in the field we are good at?"

As a military advisor of Watanabe Katsuaki, Kobayashi Tetsumin still has a lot of ideas.

And every time he came up with an idea, it was always very creative, so Watanabe would consider adopting it.

This was very rare.

"Turning the situation around in the areas we are good at?"

Watanabe didn't quite understand what Kobayashi Tetsuaki wanted to say.

Toyota is good at many areas, and Watanabe could easily name a few.

I just don't know what Kobayashi Tetsuaki wanted to say.

"Yes, when it comes to energy conservation and emission reduction, the first thing that comes to mind is new energy vehicles, electric vehicles."

"In fact, hydrogen-powered vehicles are the most suitable, but the cost is too high now, and there is no way to popularize them on a large scale in a short period of time."

"As for electric vehicles, we have always felt that they are not really environmentally friendly or energy-saving."

"And there are a series of problems such as charging that need to be solved, and even battery recycling in the future is a big problem."

"In this case, using hybrid technology to solve these problems is a very good compromise."

"As the world's leading company in hybrid technology, we already have a lot of experience and products in hybrid car production."

"I think the company can promote hybrid models on a large scale in China in the next step, so as to solve the problem of energy conservation and emission reduction."

After Kobayashi Tetsuaki said this, Watanabe Jie Zhao couldn't help showing a disappointed expression.

Is this the proposal?

I have considered it a long time ago.

Although hybrid cars can reduce fuel consumption by about 30%, the price is also tens of thousands of yuan higher than gasoline cars of the same level.

For consumers, it is unknown how many years it will take to save tens of thousands of yuan in car purchase costs.

Most Chinese consumers only drive more than 10,000 kilometers a year, and then change their cars after a few years.

In this case, consumers do not feel the fuel-saving advantage of hybrid cars very strongly.

After all, if you ask consumers to support the purchase of hybrid cars from the perspective of energy conservation and emission reduction, few people will pay attention to you.

People only consider saving money!

Fuel saving?

If it doesn’t save money, what does it have to do with me?

"It's not that we haven't launched hybrid models in China. Toyota's Camry in Guangzhou is already selling hybrid versions, but the sales are just average."

"Even if we launch more hybrid models in the future, it won't change the current unfavorable situation."

"And hybrid cars are not a very mainstream model among various car companies in China."

"Even Xingchen Automobile has launched several hybrid models before, but in the end it didn't popularize this technology."

"They didn't even promote their hybrid technology to Chery, Geely and other Chinese independent brand car companies."

Katsuaki Watanabe has a deep understanding of the Chinese market.

After all, it is the world's largest automobile market, and it is not too much to pay attention to it.

According to his understanding, it is absolutely difficult to promote hybrid models in China.

"President, hybrids are good. Chinese independent brands have seen them before."

"It's just that most of the hybrid patents were in our hands before, and it's very difficult for them to completely bypass them."

'Now Chinese independent brand car companies have become bigger and stronger, and have restrained themselves a lot in directly copying the technology of other car companies. '

"So the development of hybrid models in China has become less ideal."

"If we completely open up patents in this area, all Chinese independent brand car companies can use our hybrid technology, then the situation will definitely be different."

As soon as Kobayashi Tetsumin put forward this proposal, Watanabe Jieshao was immediately shocked.

Open up all hybrid system patents?

This proposal is really too bold.

He had never thought of such an idea before.

"President, if we continue to occupy most of the patents for hybrid technology, other car companies will not be able to use a relatively simple structure to achieve hybrid functions."

"Then it will be difficult for hybrid models to become mainstream in China."

"If we open up this technology and allow all Chinese independent brand car companies to use this technology, then there will definitely be many car companies interested."

"Then the other advantages of hybrid will gradually be known to everyone, and more people will promote it."

"Unlike now, when it comes to hybrid, everyone will only calculate its purchase cost and fuel saving effect."

"In fact, hybrid models The starting acceleration performance and quietness performance are much better. "

"And the comprehensive power performance is also much better, the advantage is very obvious. "

"From the perspective of relevant Chinese departments, hybrid vehicles do not need to make too many changes on the basis of traditional fuel vehicles to achieve a 30% reduction in fuel consumption, and they are definitely very supportive. "

"When everyone launches hybrid models, as the initiator, our hybrid sales cannot be worse than other car companies. "

Seeing that Watanabe Jie Zhao did not express his opinion directly, Kobayashi Zhemin could not help but add his own views.

In his opinion, this matter will definitely be good for Toyota in the end.

Watanabe Jie Zhao is not stupid, and slowly figured out the logic.

Finally, he said slowly: "You organize this plan in detail, and we will discuss it again in the company. "

Although Watanabe Jiezhao said that he wanted to discuss it, in fact, he, the president, and Kobayashi Tetsumin, the vice president, agreed, and others would certainly not easily oppose it.

In the end, this proposal was quickly implemented.

"Mr. Cao, people from Toyota Motor contacted us and expressed their willingness to license their hybrid system to us for free."

"Geely Auto can develop its own hybrid models based on their hybrid system."

"We can even directly find Toyota's hybrid parts suppliers to purchase related products."

"Aisin's E-CVT and Denso's power control unit, as well as hybrid batteries and other products can be sold to the outside world."

Li Su and Cao Yang are old acquaintances.

Although Toyota Motor contacted Geely Motor alone this time, Li Su shared this information with Cao Yang without any hesitation.

Li Su is still very clear in his mind who is more important between Toyota Motor and Nanshan Automobile Group.

Besides, Toyota Motor suddenly threw out such an olive branch. Is there any other special purpose behind it? Li Su is also worried.

Especially during this period, the United States has been making a lot of noise about imposing tariffs on Japanese and Korean car companies. Things involving related car companies have naturally become more sensitive.

"Toyota has been messed with by the United States. It dares not go to the American market to find a venue, but has always wanted to make trouble in the Chinese market."

After listening to Li Su's words, Cao Yang was surprised and felt it was natural.

Hybrid models are the models that Toyota and Honda are promoting globally, and they have been developing slowly over the years.

Especially in the Japanese and American markets, there are still many consumers who recognize this technology.

Historically, Toyota did release some hybrid system patents later, allowing many automobile companies in China and even the world to start launching hybrid vehicles.

Even General Motors, Ford and Volkswagen are no exception.

But now the time is much earlier. In early 2014, it is ready to release patents to Chinese independent brands.

Obviously, Toyota has a strong desire to survive and wants to maintain its leading position.

"Yeah, I also think their move is a bit sudden, so I wanted to talk to you about it."

Geely Auto is also a beneficiary of the decline in market share of joint venture automakers.

Li Su is also worried that if he accepts Toyota's olive branch, it will be more trouble than it's worth.

After all, their current fuel vehicles are developing very well, and electric vehicles are also starting to gain momentum.

In this case, if the development direction is switched to hybrid, whether it is a good solution or not is a question mark.

"A few days ago, Toyota Motors wanted to improve its relationship with our group by giving the battery pack orders for several electric vehicles to Nanshan Battery."

"But I rejected it."

"Now they contacted you so quickly to say that they want to release the hybrid system."

"I guess they should also be in contact with some other car companies."

"In the past, Xingchen Automobile also focused on the development of hybrid technology, but combined with the current development trend of new energy vehicles, I think plug-in hybrid is obviously more promising than hybrid."

"On the one hand, the purchase tax reduction effect is very large, and on the other hand, plug-in hybrid can solve mileage anxiety, and it can be driven as a gasoline car when there is no electricity."

"So I think Geely Automobile does not need to accept Toyota's kindness this time."

Since he has already rejected Toyota's cooperation, Cao Yang naturally does not want other independent brands to stab him in the back at this time.

Of course, if a car company really chooses to accept it, there is nothing to be afraid of.

He has plenty of ways to deal with them.

After all, the hybrid market segment has not been fully developed even after ten years.

No matter how much advantage people who are optimistic about this technology think it has, the final result speaks for itself.

"Plug-in hybrid is indeed more worth looking forward to. In the future, Geely Auto will follow the pace of Nanshan Auto Group and focus on developing plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles while developing fuel vehicles."

Li Su chose to call Cao Yang, which actually means that he actually has some choices in his heart.

So after listening to Cao Yang's words, he expressed his thoughts without any hesitation.

After all, following the pace of Nanshan Auto Group now is more or less a favor to the other party.

If you are hesitant, not only will you lose the favor, but you will offend the other party.

Li Su obviously saw this very clearly.

And then, the CEOs of other car companies also called Cao Yang to discuss similar topics.

Toyota Motor obviously did not contact only Geely Motor.

And Cao Yang also asked Zeng Tingting to investigate and see how big Toyota Motor's move this time is.

Since they have chosen to reject the olive branch extended by them, they must find a way to beat them to death.

At the very least, Toyota's sales in China cannot be increased, otherwise it will be a slap in the face of Nanshan Automobile Group.

In order to achieve this goal, Nanshan Automobile Group obviously has to make some moves.

"Mr. Cao, I have a way to seriously damage Toyota and even the entire Japanese car companies."

Zeng Tingting, who has always been very opinionated, naturally rushed to the front again this time.