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Inside the automobile R&D laboratory at Xichuan Automobile Factory.

More than a dozen engineers were meticulously studying the internal structure of two Jiuzhou Minis.

Both Jiuzhou Minis had been dismantled into pieces. One was reduced to a pile of parts, while the other had its chassis separated from its shell.

A group of people were carefully examining the model numbers of various components, recording their functions and other details.

Wei Xiaojun, the factory director of Xichuan Automobile Factory, was also present, observing the researchers as they disassembled the two Jiuzhou Minis for reverse engineering.

He was fully absorbed in this major undertaking for the factory, completely forgetting about a prior appointment. It wasn't often that such an opportunity arose, perhaps only once a year!

For a newly established car company, this kind of "R&D" was completely normal, especially when they hadn't yet found a model that could provide a continuous stream of funding for their factory brand. They closely monitored the market, researching any opportunity that arose!

Regarding the Jiuzhou Mini low-speed electric vehicle being disassembled and reverse-engineered this time, Factory Director Wei Xiaojun was very confident.

No other car had ever fit Xichuan Automobile Factory so perfectly. Furthermore, the market had already proven the potential of Jiuzhou Automobile Factory's previous model, the Jiuzhou Mini, was immense!

After disassembly and observation, the technology wasn't particularly difficult to replicate. Even the battery, motor, and controller of the powertrain used mature solutions, commonly found in two-wheeled electric vehicles!

Without the complexities of an engine and gearbox, and with the ability to procure identical batteries, motors, and controllers, it laid a solid foundation for imitating and manufacturing this Jiuzhou Mini Electric Vehicle.

As for the exterior, although a design patent was registered, slight modifications wouldn't be impossible. If the regulations were strict, they could make more changes, or perhaps imitate other similar vehicles, piecing together and modifying dimensions. It was entirely feasible!

While observing the engineers at work, Wei Xiaojun occasionally chatted with them.

"This car might become our factory's first hit model. Everyone, work hard and come up with our factory's own production plan as soon as possible!"

The engineers responded with full confidence:

"Don't worry, Factory Director, we'll definitely finish in less than two months!"

"After carefully dismantling this car, it doesn't have much technical depth, and the parts used aren't particularly difficult to obtain. Most of the components are sourced from supporting factories, so we can directly purchase the same parts."

"The exterior design is quite commendable, but we can make slight modifications and use it directly!"

"I never expected so many people to like these small vehicles. I never paid attention to them before, thinking everyone preferred larger vehicles, the bigger the better."

As the engineers opened up, Wei Xiaojun joined in.

"Who would have thought? You guys haven't done field research. Good heavens, this vehicle is selling like hotcakes in Jiangzhou City!"

"In just a few months, they've sold several thousand units cumulatively, easily exceeding tens of thousands annually. Many consumers who want to buy a car have to pre-order!"

"I've only seen such a bustling scene with joint venture cars. Who would have thought that these vehicles, which don't require license plates, would also need pre-orders."

"I bought these two cars as used vehicles from someone else, fresh off the factory line, and paid an extra ten thousand yuan!"

"As long as we have a similar product, we can also achieve explosive sales soon. Jiangzhou City is just a small place; this is the provincial capital! Relatively speaking, there are more wealthy elderly people!"

"And I've also visited the factory in Jiangzhou City. Their production capacity is maxed out and can't be increased in the short term. Taking advantage of this time, we can capture the entire provincial capital market, and with even greater production capacity, we can seize the markets in other cities within the province.

By then, Jiuzhou Automobile will have to compete with us for market share. The cars are practically the same, and the advantage is ours!"

After enthusiastically praising the Jiuzhou Mini, Wei Xiaojun then said to the engineers:

"Speed it up, speed it up! The sooner the better. Everyone, work overtime until ten o'clock tonight. Strive for the factory's future, and the factory will not treat you unfairly!"

"Okay, okay, okay..." A group of engineers responded enthusiastically, but their hands slowed down slightly.

Another overtime session today. Although they had anticipated this after several consecutive days of overtime, hearing the confirmation still led to some passive resistance.

As for the factory not treating them unfairly, they had heard enough empty promises. It was just a joke!

Factory Director Wei Xiaojun, who didn't quite understand the technical aspects, didn't notice the shift in the workers' morale. He continued to wander around, overseeing their work.

It wasn't until past four in the afternoon that Wei Xiaojun left the R&D laboratory with satisfaction.

Humming a tune, Wei Xiaojun leisurely walked towards his office to tidy up and prepare for dinner!

Amidst the cheerful tune, a bright future seemed to beckon him. In his imagination, with this low-speed electric vehicle model, Xichuan Automobile Manufacturing Plant would have a continuous source of funding. They would make a lot of money, expand the factory further, and perhaps even expand to other provinces to sell!

However, as he reached the floor where his office was located, Wei Xiaojun saw two young people sitting on the lounge chairs next to his office from a distance.

Both appeared to be around twenty-three or twenty-four years old. One was a woman dressed in professional business attire, with a sharp and neat appearance and delicate, pretty features.

The other young person was much more casually dressed in a designer tracksuit, a sunny and cheerful young man!

"Excuse me, who are you looking for?" Wei Xiaojun asked curiously as he approached.

Xu Yifan stood up and extended his hand, "Are you the factory director of Xichuan Automobile Factory?"

Wei Xiaojun nodded and shook his hand, "Yes, is there something you need?"

Having confirmed his target, Xu Yifan stated his identity, "I'm from Jiuzhou Automobile Factory. I had an appointment and came to discuss a collaboration with your factory!"

"An appointment? My apologies, something urgent just came up, and I had to deal with it!" Wei Xiaojun suddenly remembered.

However, he immediately became curious about the topic: "Collaborate on what?"

The name Jiuzhou Automobile Factory had been frequently on Wei Xiaojun's lips recently; it was practically ringing in his ears.

But what kind of collaboration would this factory want with his?

Soon, Wei Xiaojun figured it out.

Jiuzhou Automobile Factory's production capacity was insufficient to meet the purchasing demand of consumers in Jiangzhou City and its surrounding areas.

It's perfectly normal to look for auto factories with spare capacity to contract manufacture the Jiuzhou Mini!

However...

"Jiuzhou Automobile Factory," Wei Xiaojun nodded slightly, acknowledging the name.

But then he asked with confusion, "What kind of cooperation do you have in mind? Let's hear it."

Xu Yifan got straight to the point: "I want to find your factory to contract manufacture our products!"

A look of difficulty appeared on his face, and Wei Xiaojun said helplessly, "Contract manufacturing? Oh dear, that's a bit troublesome. Our factory's production schedule is very full recently, and we don't have spare capacity to manufacture other companies' products."

"I'm truly sorry, please come back another time!"

"Production schedule is very full?" Xu Yifan looked at the auto factory boss, who was in his fifties, with some surprise.

According to the information he had gathered, the Xichuan Automobile Factory didn't have much production work to do at the moment.

Moreover, when they drove in earlier, they had also driven around the factory grounds. Although they hadn't entered the production workshops, judging by the employees on-site and the lack of vehicles delivering materials to the production workshops, there were clearly no production tasks!

It was completely different compared to their own busy production workshops!

A thought struck him, and Xu Yifan had a general idea of what was going on.

Although the internet wasn't widespread yet, computer chat rooms and the like were very active. Plus, being in the same province and both being vehicle manufacturing factories, it was hard not to notice the very popular Jiuzhou Automobile Factory.

The other party's expression, pretending not to know his factory and refusing contract manufacturing, clearly showed they didn't want to use their production lines to produce the Jiuzhou Mini at this juncture!

The goal was simple, of course: to produce a model they had developed themselves, similar to the Jiuzhou Automobile.

Thinking of this, Xu Yifan directly asked, "You're not planning to imitate the Jiuzhou Mini and produce your own product, are you?"