Wuling Hongguang Mini

After arranging the Human Resources Department's work, Xu Yifan continued, "That's about everything for today. Engineer Zhou from Production, please stay behind. Everyone else, get back to work."

The meeting had not lasted long, only a few minutes, but Xu Yifan had already assigned the next tasks. Now it was up to the Human Resources Department.

You had to eat one bite at a time, and work had to be done step by step.

The first priority was to straighten out the factory. Only then could they carry out the work more effectively.

Some of the department managers attending today might never even meet him again in the future. There was no point in getting to know them too well.

Xu Yifan was not the sort of person who liked to ramble on or make empty promises. With that time, wouldn't it be better to finish assigning work and go back to his office to relax?

The many managers filed out, leaving behind only a middle-aged man in his forties with a resolute face.

He was Zhou Fengyan, the man in charge of the factory's production department and its Chief Automobile Engineer, known for being exceptionally serious and responsible.

Xu Yifan handed him the printed materials for the Old Man Happy version of the Wuling Hongguang Mini that he had designed.

"This is a car I designed. Take a look, Engineer Zhou. For some time to come, this will be our factory's primary production target."

The middle-aged man accepted the documents meticulously and immediately began examining them carefully.

The dozens of printed PPT pages described every component of the vehicle in detail, including exterior concept art, frame materials, tire specifications, body length, width, and height, wheelbase, track width, ground clearance, interior layout, and much more.

With only a few minor details added, it could be manufactured in full!

When an expert made a move, you could tell whether they had the real thing. Although Jiuzhou Automobile Factory had never produced any particularly good cars, Zhou Fengyan still had a sharp eye.

Very quickly, Zhou Fengyan, who had been studying the materials closely, could not help crying out in surprise.

"These materials are incredibly complete. The chassis, suspension system, body dimensions, and everything else are all included. This is a detailed set of automobile production documents!"

"Boss, where did you find this design? This car is really beautiful!"

"But why is there no engine? It uses lead-acid batteries and a permanent magnet synchronous motor. Can this still be called a car?"

When Zhou Fengyan looked at the young man again, all traces of disdain had vanished, replaced only by deep disbelief.

Xu Yifan smiled. "Since I'm planning to enter automobile manufacturing, of course I have to understand the industry to some extent. This was a project I spent two and a half years on during university."

He continued, "As for why there's no engine or transmission, it's because I want to make new energy vehicles.

"You know about new energy, right? BYD released a product a few months ago, the BYD F3 New Energy. You can look into it.

"I believe the future will belong to new energy vehicles, so I'm preparing to enter this field ahead of time."

Zhou Fengyan hesitated slightly. "New energy? How can a car not have an engine? What if it runs out of electricity on the road?"

In this day and age, the vehicles on the streets all had engines and transmissions. In people's minds, only those could be called cars.

Xu Yifan asked instead, "If our factory keeps operating the way it did before, when do you think it will become profitable?"

"Well..." As an employee of a factory that had gone bankrupt twice, how could Zhou Fengyan not understand the difficulties involved?

Seeing that he had no response, Xu Yifan continued, "I've studied the automobile industry carefully. Compared with major automobile manufacturers like Ford, Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen, and even Hyundai, we started far too late.

"If we want to catch up to those companies in traditional gasoline vehicles, it may take another ten or twenty years, along with countless investments in research and development. A small factory like ours can't play that game.

"If we follow the old research and development path, the result will definitely be another bankruptcy."

"This car is called the Mini, and it's positioned as an Old Man Happy. You know what an Old Man Happy is, right?"

"Simply put, it's a type of vehicle favored by some elderly people."

"Not everyone needs to drive long distances. Many people only need a vehicle for getting around the city. It doesn't need to be fast, and it doesn't need to go far.

"As long as it's cheap, easy to drive, can shelter them from the wind and rain, and saves fuel, that's enough.

"Compared to a two-wheeled electric scooter, this car keeps out the wind and rain. Steel around flesh is safer than an electric scooter.

"Think about it. If you commute five kilometers every day, how much would it cost each month if you drove? Counting only fuel, a ten-kilometer round trip would cost at least five yuan.

"But if you switch to electricity, it can cost as little as two cents per kilometer. Ten kilometers would be only twenty cents.

"That may not seem like much, but over a longer period, along with engine and transmission maintenance, it would cost around three thousand yuan a year.

"Our Old Man Happy, meanwhile, would cost just over three hundred yuan at twenty cents per kilometer, roughly one-tenth the cost of a traditional gasoline car."

Zhou Fengyan interrupted, "No, if our car uses lead-acid batteries, the battery will also need replacing after one or two years. That won't be cheap either. When you calculate it all out, it won't necessarily be more economical than a car."

Xu Yifan nodded. "We can address part of that issue. For example, we can offer one free battery replacement within two years, which would greatly ease those concerns.

"Besides, this car would be far, far cheaper than a regular car. With a starting price of just over twenty thousand yuan, you could buy a vehicle for getting around the city. Wouldn't people be tempted?"

"And there's another advantage of Old Man Happy vehicles that has to be mentioned. They don't require license plates, and that's their greatest advantage, one of the reasons elderly people like them..."

"Also, in rural areas where transportation is still underdeveloped, electric vehicles are ideal for getting around and going to market. There's no need to drive into town for fuel. As long as there's electricity at home, they can recharge, making travel convenient while also carrying passengers and cargo."

"The true purpose of a vehicle isn't the racetrack, showing off, or serving as a toy for a small group of people. It's to truly enter thousands of households and make life more convenient for everyone."

"If we can't make good traditional gasoline cars, then instead of only improving ourselves, we can also try lowering the definition of what a 'car' should be!"

After that string of words, Zhou Fengyan remained silent for a long time. Only after quite a while did he look deeply at the handsome young man and nod in agreement.

"I understand. I'll produce the manufacturing process, cost estimates, production line adjustments, and the rest as soon as possible, then begin trial production."

"As soon as possible. Our factory needs a product that can turn a profit, and the sooner the better.

"If you complete the full manufacturing process plan and build a prototype within half a month, there'll be a cash reward of thirty thousand yuan. Finish within one month, and the reward will be ten thousand yuan. Any longer than a month, and there'll be no reward."

"I'll do my utmost!" Zhou Fengyan replied.

Half a month might be difficult, but with detailed drawings and data, manufacturing a prototype within a month was still very possible.

It was obvious that this middle-aged man had been moved!

"Then I'll go make preparations."

"Go ahead. Oh, Engineer Zhou, have the idle workers clean up the dormitories later. Change the original ten-person rooms into four-person rooms.

"We'll be hiring another batch of workers soon. The dorms are empty anyway, so let everyone live a little more comfortably."

"Mission guaranteed!" Zhou Fengyan stood up and answered seriously before turning and leaving the meeting room.

By the end of 2020, Daxia had around 4.92 million electric vehicles on the road, while low-speed electric Old Man Happy vehicles had already exceeded 10 million according to statistics from 2019!

The years when Old Man Happy vehicles developed most explosively were 2012 and 2013. By planning ahead and setting standards, they could drive inferior Old Man Happy vehicles out of the market.

Let the elderly drive better electric vehicles and be twice as happy!