Rebirth 99 to become a car giant

2008 can be regarded as a turning point for China's automobile industry.

It has only been 8 months and a lot has already happened.

Various independent brands continue to grow rapidly, and Volkswagen, Ford, and General Motors are increasing the introduction of new technologies.

The first-generation sacred car Lavida was officially launched, and the top three Japanese mid- to high-end sedans, Accord, Camry and Teana, all completed new generations this year.

The entire automobile market can be described as turbulent and there are many things going on.

Against this background, BYD Auto officially released the F3DM model.

As BYD's main sales model, the F3 is modeled after the Corolla.

The F3DM uses a plug-in hybrid system that BYD has researched for many years.

Many car companies have not paid attention to this new model.

But Cao Yang was different. After F3DM was launched, he immediately arranged a group of people to analyze the other party's plug-in mixing system.

"Mr. Cao, the design concept of BYD's DM hybrid system is mainly oriented towards energy-saving technology. Through the structure of dual motors and single-speed reducers, it is matched with a 1.0-liter self-priming three-cylinder engine to achieve pure electric, extended range, Three driving modes of hybrid.”

"Its structure belongs to the classic P1P3 motor structure, that is, the engine and generator, which is the P1 motor, are directly connected, and the drive motor, which is the P3 motor, is located behind the clutch."

"The clutch can control the coupling of the generator and the drive motor, and all the output power will eventually be transmitted to the output shaft through the reducer to drive the wheels."

"In addition, BYD has also designed two modes: cruise direct drive and cruise power generation for high-speed cruising conditions."

Rao Yongxiang personally explained BYD's DM system to Cao Yang.

Nanshan Group also has its own internal hybrid system, but it is a non-charging FHEV system, which is currently used on the Starry Sky W12.

Although the plug-in hybrid system is also being studied, it is not currently used in any vehicle model.

According to Cao Yang's plan, Xingchen Auto will first switch to the FHEV system, and then switch to PHEV in the next generation.

This can be regarded as fully considering the charging problem in this era.

"What is the energy consumption performance of this car?"

Cao Yang asked about a more critical indicator.

Yao Yongxiang was naturally prepared and answered without any hesitation: "Since BYD's DM system is designed to save energy, it has inherent advantages in energy consumption performance."

"Compared with the ordinary F3 model using a 1.0T engine, the F3DM model equipped with the DM dual-mode hybrid system achieves a pure electric power consumption of 16kWh/100km per 100 kilometers and a comprehensive fuel consumption of 2.7L/100km."

"The most special thing is that although the DM hybrid system is a plug-in hybrid system, like a pure electric vehicle, it is equipped with a fast charging interface and can charge 50% in 10 minutes."

Obviously, the results introduced by Yao Yongxiang are still very dazzling.

BYD has cooperated with Nanshan Group from the beginning. Their development in this life is much faster than in history, and their profitability has also improved.

Therefore, the plug-in hybrid system developed is naturally much better.

However, Cao Yang does not think that the plug-in mixing system developed at this time can be so perfect.

"According to your analysis, what are the main shortcomings of BYD's DM system?"

"If we want to talk about shortcomings, there must be shortcomings." said Yao Yongxiang while flipping through the PPT. "The transmission stability of this system is poor. Since the chain drive is used between the output shaft and the main reducer, it is costly and easy to wear. , the transmission smoothness is poor, and there is additional vibration and noise.”

"Then it has a low power ceiling."

"The maximum power of the engine is 50kW, the peak power of the generator is 25kW, and the peak power of the drive motor is 50kW."

"When the battery is sufficient, the maximum total power is about 80kW, the acceleration time to 100 kilometers is 10.5 seconds, and the power is weak."

"In addition, since the drive motor is directly connected to the output shaft, the maximum vehicle speed is limited by the maximum rotation speed of the motor, and their motor technology is not very advanced yet."

“Furthermore, the research and development cost of this system is relatively high. Compared with ordinary fuel vehicles, it adds battery modules, power control units, chargers and other parts. The cost is much higher, resulting in the final vehicle price being higher than that of the F3. It’s 80,000 yuan higher.”

"According to our speculation, F3DM's monthly sales will never exceed 1,000 units, and it will be difficult to even reach 500 units."

Although Yao Yongxiang also feels that this technical direction of BYD is quite special and deserves attention.

But he doesn't think that launching a plug-in hybrid model now will have a good market performance.

"Mr. Rao is right, Chinese consumers are still very sensitive to car prices."

"Especially for consumers who buy BYD cars, it is completely impossible for them to accept a price increase of 80,000 yuan to buy a plug-in hybrid vehicle with a low user experience, just to save a little bit of gas."

Zeng Tingting also expressed her views on the side.

From a sales perspective, there is really no market for plug-in hybrid vehicles in this era.

"Although from a business perspective, BYD's F3DM may be a failure."

"But from a long-term perspective, the emergence of F3DM has given BYD the ability to produce plug-in hybrid systems."

"It is also very beneficial to the development of BYD's automotive battery business."

"Mr. Cao, I think in fact, in the field of plug-in hybrids, we can also consider launching a model to test the waters."

As the general manager of Nanshan Battery, Lin Cheng thinks about the problem from a different perspective than Zeng Tingting.

Electric cars, or cars with batteries, must have a bright future from a long-term perspective.

But now no one knows whether the waiting time is three to five years, seven to eight years, or ten or twenty years.

“I support Mr. Lin’s point of view. It is indeed possible to consider launching a plug-in hybrid model on Xingtu or Wangwang. On the one hand, it is to practice our technology, and on the other hand, it is to let the market see Nanshan Group’s new technology fields. , there is also a layout.”

Rao Yongxiang was also rare in not siding with Zeng Tingting.

He is absolutely supportive of research into new technologies.

He even wanted to mention the topic of hydrogen electric vehicles.

It’s just that the technical accumulation in this area is still relatively weak. It seems a little early to propose it now.

"Since everyone thinks that plug-in hybrid vehicles may have a future, there is no need to worry about whether they will sell well now. Let's develop the first-generation products first."

“In the future, we will slowly iterate and upgrade until the market or policy trends arrive.”

Cao Yang is naturally very clear about the future prospects of plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles.

Otherwise, people would not have been assigned to research hybrid batteries and hybrid systems before.

However, not every company can look that far ahead.

For example, people inside Great Wall Motors are laughing at the BYD F3DM model.

"Mr. Wang, our sales department specially arranged personnel to go to BYD's 4S store to investigate the status of their new models."

"At the same time, Director Zhu of the institute also specially arranged personnel to dismantle and analyze their F3DM."

"Currently, this car is just a junk product, and few consumers are interested in it."

"Apart from the gimmick of low fuel consumption, there are no advantages at all."

"I think BYD will lose at least several hundred million on such a model."

As the head of the sales department of Great Wall Motors, Lian Furong is very concerned about the dynamics of new models of various car companies on the market.

The movements of several self-owned brand car companies such as BYD, Chery, Geely and Changan are the focus of their attention.

After all, to some extent, their biggest competitors are these companies.

"It is indeed as Minister Lian said, BYD's plug-in model simply does not meet the current market demand."

"I even heard that BYD is still researching electric vehicles, but I think there will be no market in the next ten years."

"Before the emergence of fuel vehicles, pure electric vehicles have been in use long ago."

“In 1881, the first electric car using lead-acid batteries appeared.”

"In 1900, of the 4,200 cars sold in Europe and the United States, 40% were steam locomotives, 38% were electric cars, and the remaining 22% were fuel cars."

"At that time, fuel vehicles still used external combustion engine technology. They were noisy and emitted black smoke. They were not the first choice for upper-class European consumers."

"By the early 20th century, with the development of engine technology, the invention of starters and the improvement of production technology, fuel vehicles formed an absolute advantage at this stage."

"Compared with the inconvenience of charging electric vehicles, pure electric vehicles have withdrawn from the automobile market at this stage."

"In the 1960s, the oil crisis made people pay attention to pure electric vehicles again."

"Promoted by capital, the driving technology of electric vehicles has developed greatly in those ten years. Pure electric vehicles have received more and more attention, and small electric vehicles have begun to occupy fixed markets, such as golf course transportation. car."

"However, for a long time, battery technology development lagged behind without major breakthroughs, leaving electric vehicle manufacturers facing huge challenges."

"Under market pressure, car manufacturers began to develop hybrid vehicles to overcome the problems of short batteries and cruising range."

"This includes FHEV hybrids that do not require charging and PHEV plug-in hybrids that can be charged."

"Judging from the current situation, Japan's Toyota and other car companies are focusing on researching FHEV models, and have launched some mass-produced models and achieved certain results."

"As for PHEV, many of its technical principles are similar to FHEV, but the biggest disadvantage is that it requires charging."

"There are not many charging piles in the whole of China, and few people will even consider PHEV."

Zhu Jianbo gave a good introduction to his understanding and opinions on plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles.

Obviously, they are not optimistic about this direction at all.

Electric vehicles have appeared for more than a hundred years, and hybrid vehicles have appeared decades ago.

He has never driven a fuel vehicle before, and he feels that it will not be that easy in the future.

Great Wall Motors doesn't even have a complete understanding of fuel vehicles yet, so there's no need to be so anxious about electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles.

Even after it is developed, it cannot be sold.

"What you said all makes sense, but can't BYD people see these truths?"

Wang Ying asked Zhu Jianbo and Lian Furong a question from the depths of their souls.

Are you the only one who understands such a simple truth?

"Mr. Wang, this is how I view this issue."

Lian Furong and Zhu Jianbo looked at each other and stood up to answer this somewhat difficult question.

"BYD is a company that started out as a battery company. For them, batteries are their most advantageous component."

"Although they have also developed the three-cylinder gasoline engine used on the F0 before, which is the 1.0L naturally aspirated three-cylinder gasoline engine currently used on the F3DM."

"But this engine is not competitive at all, its power performance is very poor, and its stability is not as good as Nanshan Engine's products."

"In this case, it is very difficult for them to stand out from the competition."

"As a listed company, with the help of policies, if their new products can make some investors think they are promising, then the hundreds of millions spent on R\u0026D will be nothing at all."

"It doesn't matter if F3DM doesn't sell 100 units this year and suffers a huge loss."

"It's very likely that in the stock market, it's enough for people to talk about the stock market well."

I have to say that Lian Furong’s view is also very interesting.

It can even make everyone feel very reasonable to a certain extent.

After all, BYD is indeed a listed company.

Regardless of the sales volume of an epoch-making product like F3DM, at least there is no problem in telling stories.

Not to mention that other independent brands such as Geely and Chery do not have similar products, even Volkswagen, General Motors, and Toyota have not launched similar products in China.

Then I am at the forefront of the new energy vehicle road, and investors want to see the future of our company.

For the stock market, a future that can tell stories is the best news to stimulate stock prices.

Once everyone feels that you have nothing to look forward to in the future, the stock price will begin to fall.

So at this time, sales volume is not necessarily what people care about most.

Of course, if the story is well told and sales are good, that would be the best.

"Mr. Wang, I think Minister Lian's analysis is quite reasonable."

"Due to the sluggish stock market this year, BYD's board of directors should also be eager to find some special ways to increase BYD's stock price."

"They already have the technical advantage in batteries. As long as they overcome some other parts, plug-in hybrid vehicles will be available."

"Plug-in hybrid vehicles are a type of vehicle between electric vehicles and fuel vehicles. They have the engine, gearbox, transmission system, oil lines, and fuel tanks of traditional vehicles, as well as the batteries, motors, and control circuits of electric vehicles. ."

"Perhaps BYD will be able to launch another electric vehicle based on F3DM in the future."

"The story of the stock market is completed by them."

As soon as Zhu Jianbo finished speaking, Wang Ying immediately asked: "Great Wall Motors is also a listed company. If we tell stories like BYD, will it be good for the stock price?"

As general manager, Wang Ying is also responsible for the company's stock price.

Great Wall Motors was listed on the Hong Kong stock market. This year, it was also affected by the subprime mortgage crisis and plummeted.

There is also some pressure on her.

"Mr. Wang, I think Great Wall Motors and BYD Motors are still different."

"Our main focus now is SUV models, and we no longer produce any sedans."

"For consumers, SUV models are relatively rough and majestic models."

"In this case, everyone is more concerned about the appearance and power performance of the car."

"Fuel consumption, although it is also a concern, is not that important."

"As long as our fuel consumption is lower than that of cars in the same class, or almost the same, that's enough."

"Currently, the fuel consumption performance of models using Nanshan engine technology is no worse than that of joint venture vehicles of the same level."

"So if we have the R\u0026D funds, we might as well develop a few more SUV models."

"Small SUVs, medium SUVs, medium and large SUVs, large SUVs, we need products of all sizes."

"And we can also launch two models with different styles on the same platform, which can better enrich our product line."

Zhu Jianbo firmly believes in the SUV strategy currently implemented by the company and does not want to spend too much energy on meaningless things.

At least he feels that conducting research on electric vehicles in a short period of time will not be worth the gain.

"I also agree with Dean Zhu's point of view. What the market needs now is more SUV models with novel appearances and rich configurations."

"Whether our Great Wall Motors sales can hit the mid- to long-term target of 500,000 depends on more SUV models."

"Consumers now have no interest at all in plug-in hybrid cars."

"The most important thing is that consumers cannot afford plug-in hybrid cars. Just like the F3DM, it is priced at 80,000 yuan more than the F3. This is basically double the price."

"With this kind of money, people would just buy a higher-level model. Why buy it?"

Lian Furong's stance this time was exactly the same as Zhu Jianbo's.

I don't know if it will be better after plugging into a hybrid car.

But now is definitely not the time to do it.

If the company really develops a plug-in hybrid car for him to sell, his sales pressure will be great.

When the year-end report comes out, the results will definitely be a slap in the face.

“Since no one is optimistic about the short-term future of plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, let’s ignore them for now.”

"However, the sales department and research institute still need to pay attention to market changes and policy changes in a timely manner."

"When necessary, we still need to start relevant technical research in this area in a timely manner to avoid being left behind."

Although Wang Ying feels that Zhu Jianbo and Lian Furong's views may not be completely correct, it is relatively difficult to find convincing refutation evidence.

So in the end I didn’t say anything more.

After all, the market performance of F3DM, a competitor's new model, after its launch was really unsatisfactory.

This situation has also caused considerable controversy within BYD.

"Mr. Wang, so far, the number of orders for the F3DM car is less than 50."

“Even after the price was announced, nearly half of consumers chose to unsubscribe.”

"Even for the cars that were sold, I feel that many of them were not bought directly by consumers for use, but were bought back by some competitors for research."

Wu Huabing, the director of BYD Auto Sales Department, came to Wang Fu with a sad face and described the tragic situation of F3DM.

"Currently consumers are still not familiar with the goods, but I firmly believe that there must be a future for plug-ins."

"BYD is a latecomer in the automotive industry. If we want to really make a name for ourselves, we must find a key point of strength."

"Compared with other car companies, we have advantages in battery technology and cost, so producing electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles with batteries is an advantage for us."

"And everyone's technical accumulation in this field is not very deep, and the market is still relatively small."

"As long as we persist in research and development, we will be able to accumulate substantial resources in the future."

Wang Fu naturally knows that F3DM's current situation is not ideal.

But a technology that has been developed for several years cannot be abandoned simply because the market is temporarily unsatisfactory.

Clean energy vehicles represent the future technological direction.

No car company will deny this.

What everyone is uncertain about now is how long it will take for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles to gain market acceptance.

"If we can't increase the volume of plug-in hybrids now, our parts costs won't be able to come down."

"Whether it's the cost of the battery pack, the power control unit and the motor, the cost is relatively high."

"In this case, consumers are not willing to spend so much money to buy a plug-in hybrid car."

"Mr. Wang, should we consider accumulating some technology first, but not easily implement it on models?"

Minister of Procurement Zhong Qiang is also worried about costs.

For a car, if there are no sales, the cost of parts will be extremely exaggerated.

For example, a power control unit can cost five to six thousand yuan if the quantity is large enough.

But now BYD's own production cost has reached 20,000 yuan.

This still does not adjust the R\u0026D and mold allocation according to the latest number of units, otherwise it will not be possible to buy one for 20,000 yuan.

"I understand everything you said. Now our other fuel-powered vehicles are selling quite well and we are making a certain amount of profit."

“The revenue from fuel vehicles can be used to subsidize the R\u0026D investment and losses of plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles.”

"As long as we persist for three to five years, I think the market environment will slowly begin to change."

"By then, even if electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids still don't make money, they probably won't lose that much."

"Even within the next few years, we can try to promote the government's subsidy policy for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles."

"China is now a major oil importer. Whether it is from the perspective of energy security or reducing emission pollution, promoting the development of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles is in line with the general direction."

Facing the current situation, Wang Fu is not helpless.

As BYD's influence continues to expand, it is not impossible to promote the introduction of some policies in the future.

By then, BYD Auto will become the originator of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles in China, and its potential influence will be worth looking forward to.

This process will be more painful, and Wang Fu also has a clear understanding of it.

The boss's attitude was so firm that Lian Furong and Zhong Qiang had no choice but to bite the bullet.