Reborn as a police officer in South Africa

As the largest capitalist in southern Africa, Roque has long considered this situation, in order to prevent his company from burning money——

No, it was to allow the sponsoring companies to focus more on providing services. Roque also worked hard and had to set this standard.

Everyone can burn money. The essence of a business is to provide customers with perfect services as much as possible. If you fail to do this, no matter how much money you burn, you will be eliminated by the market sooner or later.

When Kyle Kemp called back to Detroit, the time in Detroit happened to be nine o'clock in the morning.

Mr. Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Company, has been in a bad mood recently.

As early as 1921, Ford Motor had to allocate part of its funds to advertising to cope with the increasingly fierce market competition.

Prior to this, starting from 1917, Ford never did any advertising for four years because even if Ford did not advertise, it would still have too many orders to fill.

In 1922, Ford once again had to produce Model T cars in colors other than black to boost Model T sales.

Previously, starting in 1915, in order to improve production efficiency, Ford only used cheap and quick-drying Japanese black paint to produce black Model T cars.

Because even if there are only black Model T cars for customers to choose from, it will not affect the sales of Model T cars.

In 1923, Ford once again had to sell part of its shares to inject vitality into the Ford company.

Previously, in 1919, Henry Ford bought out the shares of other shareholders in the company and monopolized the Ford Company.

Last year, Roark and President Coolidge signed a series of contracts. Southern Africa and the United States opened their markets to each other. More southern African car brands flocked to the country, and Ford Motor's operations became increasingly difficult.

Just last month, Ford was forced to shut down a production line in Kansas City, Missouri, to reduce production and cut expenses. Facing fierce competition in the market, Ford's profit for each car sold has dropped to less than $20, an unprecedented situation.

severe.

When Kyle Kemp called back to Detroit, Henry Ford was forced to convene a board meeting to discuss how to survive in the fierce market competition.

This meeting was requested by several Henry Ford partners. They had previously stated that if Henry Ford could not lead Ford Motor Company out of the predicament, then either Henry Ford would step down and try someone else as chairman, or they would

Will transfer the shares in hand.

There are few capital companies in the market that are capable and willing to take over Ford's shares. Nyasaland Bank and Goldman Sachs had previously contacted Henry Ford, but Henry Ford did not agree.

"It's already the 10th, why haven't we disclosed last year's financial statements? We have to know whether our assets are profitable or loss-making," a director said bluntly at the meeting.

"Haha, if it was a profit, then I'm afraid it would have been announced to the world long ago -" Another director sneered. Although Ford Motor has not released its financial statements, Washington Motors has.

Last year, Washington Auto sold 1.1 million vehicles and made a profit of about $140 million. This figure includes not only complete vehicles, but also parts, finance, leasing, and transportation revenue.

Since Carl Benz built the first car in 1883, cars have now developed into a complete and professional market. Customers can purchase cars through installment payments and also enjoy leasing services. Washington Auto has the largest car credit in the United States.

Companies, car rental companies, and transportation companies also earn a lot of money.

Although Ford Motor has not released financial statements, judging from various signs in the market, the situation is very bad. Since the second half of last year, Ford Motor's stock price has been declining, and now it is about to fall below people's psychological defense line.

In other words, when Ford's stock price rose sharply a few years ago, shareholders never thought of transferring their shares. At that time, Ford was regarded as the "god of management". This situation was absolutely impossible to happen on the board of directors.

.

"Our situation is indeed difficult now, but this situation has not happened to us in history, so I hope you can give me more time. As long as we work together, Ford will definitely be able to get out of the predicament and return to its peak.

." Henry Ford's history of success has not been smooth sailing.

In 1899, Ford built the first car and founded the Detroit Automobile Company with his friends, but the company soon went bankrupt.

By 1901, Ford and his friends opened a second company, but soon Ford was kicked out of this company by his friends, which is now Cadillac.

Then in 1903, Ford established the current Ford Company, which skyrocketed.

"Henry, we still believe in you, but we don't trust the current market. Are you sure that Ford can return to its peak?" Hassan Solomon, an independent director of Citibank, is the second largest shareholder of Ford Motors. Ford Motors and Citigroup

Banks have a long history of cooperation.

"Of course! As long as we can get through this difficulty, we can get back to the top -" Henry Ford was confident. Ford's plight was also closely related to the snowstorm in the Great Lakes. Detroit was also closed last winter because of the snowstorm.

.

"Impossible! You are lying. Customers would rather choose a $350 Washington car than a $330 Ford car. How can Ford return to its peak?" One director directly attacked. Although this is embarrassing, it is

this is the truth.

There is no way. Compared with Ford's Model T, which has not changed in ten years, the Washington car has richer colors, more advanced technology, cooler appearance, and more comfortable use. Customers who can afford $330 don't mind paying an extra $20.

Choose a more stylish Washington car.

It's fashion. Compared with Washington cars, Ford is faltering like an old man in his dying years, just like the British Empire and the United States now.

"We are negotiating with other car companies to establish a technical alliance to respond to market competition with more advanced technology, better services, and more perfect products -" Henry Ford looked determined. He was not someone who gave up easily.

"Other car companies——"

"Ford is already the most powerful car company in the United States. The other car companies you mentioned are probably also American car companies that are about to be eliminated by the market, right?"

"Nyasaland Bank has just acquired Cadillac! I'm afraid you don't know this news yet!"

The directors rallied around the idea that Ford's main competitors were not American car companies, but Southern African car companies.

An alliance of weaklings cannot defeat a strong competitor no matter what.

Car companies can join forces, but customers will not cooperate. They will vote with their feet and buy the product that suits them best.

"Cadillac being acquired by Nyasaland Bank is not the end of the world. We still have Chrysler, Dodge, and Buick -" Henry Ford resisted desperately. The few examples he cited were actually not very convincing.

Nyasaland Bank not only acquired Cadillac, but also acquired Lincoln, acquired Willys, and acquired Jeep owned by Chrysler. American car companies have lost half of their country. Southern Africans are waving checks and buying aggressively. If Ford also

If it falls, American car companies will completely decline.

This is also the reason why Ford is forced to form alliances with other American car companies.

"Gentlemen, calm down -" Hassan Solomon couldn't bear to see Henry Ford being besieged. For Citibank, Ford was once a hen that could lay golden eggs. Hassan Solomon would not be like this.

Abandon easily.

On the Ford board of directors, Hassan Solomon is still very prestigious, and the other directors finally calmed down.

Although Ford is struggling, Citibank is still thriving.

"Henry, if you need our help, you have to be more active." Hassan Solomon seemed to be active, but in fact he was harboring evil intentions.

Citibank's help is not a free lunch. If Henry Ford wants Citibank's help, then Henry Ford will have to pay more shares.

This is really driving away the tiger through the front door and entering the wolf through the back door.

"Yes, I just got the news that Southern Africa is going to host the Commonwealth Games. If Ford wants to be a sponsor, it will have to pay a sponsorship fee of 1 million rand-" The purpose of Henry Ford's board meeting was to ask for money.

.

Only money can better unite the board of directors. In order to ensure that their investments are not in vain, shareholders must support Henry Ford's status at this time even if they have objections.

Because only Henry Ford could get Ford Motor out of trouble.

"What kind of sports meeting requires a sponsorship fee of 1 million rand?" one director exclaimed. 1 million rand was indeed a sky-high price in 1926.

"One million rand, isn't that $3 million?"

“Southern Africans are crazy—”

"Will anyone accept this price? I'm afraid they're not fools -"

The directors were talking a lot.

"If it were not for the restrictions imposed by the Marquis of Nyasaland, the price of sponsoring the Commonwealth Games would be higher. Just now, the Nyasaland car has been driven to 1.88 million rand -" Henry Ford was also helpless and looked at the active thinking.

Compared with the far-flung southern Africans, Americans are like country bumpkins, with no knowledge at all.

"It seems that we in the United States have no chance to participate in the Commonwealth Games -" Hassan Solomon was a little hesitant. He spent 1 million rand to sponsor a sports meeting that the United States would definitely have no chance to participate in. This sounded unreliable to him.

"Then why are we excited-"

"Think about why Nyasaland Automobile offers a price of 1.88 million, because they believe they can make money back!"

"What does this have to do with us?"

"Gentlemen, let's be clear about the fact that R1 million is just a starting point, which also means that even if we offer this price, we may not necessarily be able to obtain sponsorship rights." Henry Ford added fuel to the fire.

"Go to the fucking Commonwealth Games!"

"Let the Southern Africans enjoy themselves——"

"We are not allowed to participate, we are not surprised -"

The directors collectively broke out, which was not very harmful, but extremely insulting. As for what they think in their hearts, only they themselves know.