Inside the automotive R&D lab at Xichuan Automobile Factory.
More than a dozen engineers were carefully examining the various components of two Jiuzhou Minis.
Both vehicles had already been taken apart, their parts scattered everywhere. One had been reduced to a pile of components, while the other had its body separated from its chassis.
The engineers carefully studied the specifications of the various parts, recording their functions and other details.
Wei Xiaojun, the head of Xichuan Automobile Factory, was there as well, watching the research team take the two Jiuzhou Minis apart and reverse-engineer them.
He was so completely absorbed in this major undertaking that he'd forgotten about the appointment. It wasn't as if they got more than a few appointments a year!
For a newly established automaker, this kind of "R&D" was perfectly normal. Especially when they still hadn't found a model that could bring their factory a steady stream of funding, they had to keep a close eye on the market and pounce on any opportunity worth investigating!
Wei Xiaojun was also very confident about this low-speed electric vehicle, the Jiuzhou Mini, which they were taking apart and studying.
No car had ever been such a good fit for Xichuan Automobile Factory. And the Jiuzhou Mini, a model from Jiuzhou Automobile Factory, had already proven its enormous potential in the market!
From their examination, the technology didn't seem particularly difficult to copy. Even the battery, motor, and controller in the powertrain used mature solutions—the same kind commonly found in two-wheeled electric vehicles!
Without the complications of an engine and transmission, and with the option to purchase the same battery, motor, and controller, they had a solid foundation for imitating and manufacturing the Jiuzhou Mini Electric Vehicle.
As for the exterior, even though its design was protected by a patent, they could still make some minor changes. If enforcement was strict, they'd change more, or take inspiration from similar vehicles, combine a few designs, and adjust the dimensions. It was entirely doable!
As he watched the engineers at work, Wei Xiaojun chatted with them from time to time.
"This model could become our factory's first hit. Keep up the good work, everyone, and get our own production plan ready as soon as possible!"
The engineers answered confidently:
"Don't worry, Director. We can have it done in less than two months!"
"We've taken the car apart and examined it carefully. There's not much technical sophistication to it, and none of the components are particularly difficult to source. Most of them come from suppliers, so we can just purchase the same parts ourselves."
"The exterior design has some nice touches, but we can make a few changes and use it directly!"
"I had no idea so many people liked these small vehicles. I'd never paid attention to them before. I thought everyone preferred big cars—that bigger was always better."
The engineers had gotten chatty, and Wei Xiaojun joined in.
"Exactly! You haven't been out to do any field research. Let me tell you, these cars are selling like crazy in Jiangzhou City!"
"They've sold several thousand in just a few months, and annual sales could easily exceed tens of thousands. So many customers want one that they have to reserve theirs in advance!"
"I've only seen demand like this for Joint Venture cars. Who would've thought a vehicle that doesn't need a license plate would require reservations too?"
"I even had to buy these two from someone else. They were barely used, and I still paid an extra ten thousand yuan!"
"If we have a similar product, we'll soon be selling just as well. Jiangzhou City is only a small place. This is the provincial capital, and there are more well-off retirees here!"
"I also visited the factory in Jiangzhou City. It's already running at full capacity, and they can't increase production anytime soon. We can use that time to capture the whole provincial capital market, then take the rest of the province with our greater production capacity.
"Then, if Jiuzhou Automobile wants a share of the market, they'll have to compete with us. The cars are more or less the same, and we've got the advantage!"
After enthusiastically praising the Jiuzhou Mini, Wei Xiaojun turned to the engineers.
"Pick up the pace, everyone! The sooner, the better. We're working until ten tonight. Let's work hard for the future of the factory. The factory won't let you down!"
"Sure, sure..." the engineers replied with forced enthusiasm, though their hands had slowed down.
They had to work late again. After several days of overtime, they'd already expected it.
But hearing it confirmed still made them lose heart and drag their feet.
As for "the factory won't let you down," they'd had their fill of empty promises. They might as well take it as a joke!
Wei Xiaojun, who didn't know much about the technical side of things, didn't notice that the engineers had lost their enthusiasm. He kept wandering around, watching them work.
It wasn't until after four in the afternoon that Wei Xiaojun finally left the R&D lab, satisfied.
Humming a little tune, Wei Xiaojun ambled toward his office. He'd tidy up and then get some dinner!
As he hummed cheerfully, a bright future seemed to beckon. In his imagination, this low-speed electric vehicle would bring Xichuan Automobile Manufacturing Plant a steady stream of income. They'd make a fortune, expand the factory, and perhaps even branch out into other provinces!
But as he reached the floor where his office was, Wei Xiaojun spotted two young people sitting on the waiting seats outside the office next door.
They both looked to be around twenty-three or twenty-four. One was a woman in a business suit, with a polished, capable air and delicate, pretty features.
The other young man was dressed more casually, wearing a designer tracksuit. He looked like a sunny, cheerful guy!
"Can I help you two? Who are you looking for?" Wei Xiaojun asked curiously as he approached.
Xu Yifan stood up and held out his hand. "Are you the head of Xichuan Automobile Factory?"
Wei Xiaojun nodded and shook his hand. "That's right. What can I do for you?"
Once he'd confirmed he had the right person, Xu Yifan introduced himself. "I'm from Jiuzhou Automobile Factory. We had an appointment. I came to discuss a possible partnership with your factory!"
"An appointment? Sorry about that. Something urgent came up just now, and I had to deal with it!" Only then did Wei Xiaojun remember.
But then he wondered what the young man meant. "What kind of partnership?"
Jiuzhou Automobile Factory was a name Wei Xiaojun had been hearing constantly lately. He was practically sick of hearing it.
But why had that factory come to discuss a partnership with them?
Wei Xiaojun quickly figured it out.
Jiuzhou Automobile Factory didn't have enough production capacity to meet demand in Jiangzhou City and the surrounding areas.
It would be perfectly normal for them to seek out an auto factory with spare capacity to contract-manufacture Jiuzhou Minis!
But...
"Jiuzhou Automobile Factory." Wei Xiaojun nodded, acknowledging the name.
Then he asked curiously, "What kind of partnership did you have in mind?"
Xu Yifan got straight to the point. "I'd like your factory to manufacture our products under contract."
A troubled look crossed Wei Xiaojun's face. "Contract manufacturing? Oh dear, that could be a bit difficult. Our production schedule is packed, and we don't have any spare capacity to manufacture products for another company."
"I'm very sorry, but please leave."
"Your production schedule is packed?" Xu Yifan looked at the factory owner in front of him, a man in his fifties, in surprise.
According to what he'd learned, Xichuan Automobile Factory didn't have any production work to do at the moment.
And on their way over, they'd driven around the factory grounds. They hadn't gone inside the production workshops, but judging by the employees on site and the lack of vehicles delivering materials to the workshops, there was clearly no production work going on!
It was nothing like the busy production floor at their own factory!
Xu Yifan quickly put two and two together.
Although the internet wasn't all that widespread yet, online chat rooms and the like were still quite active. And since the two factories were in the same province and both made vehicles, it was hard not to notice the Jiuzhou Automobile Factory and its red-hot sales.
The way the other man acted as if he'd never heard of their factory and refused to manufacture for them made it clear: at this crucial moment, he didn't want to use his own production line to make Jiuzhou Minis!
The reason was obvious. He wanted to manufacture a similar model of his own, based on the Jiuzhou car.
With that in mind, Xu Yifan asked directly, "You're not planning to imitate the Jiuzhou Mini and make your own product, are you?"
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