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Chapter 2620 The Dust Settles

Soon, the R&D center at the Shunyi factory developed prototypes of the Baize bus and the Chongming bird truck.

Two prototype vehicles were parked on the test track behind the factory, with a white mid-sized bus and a dark blue heavy truck parked side by side.

The front of the Baize bus has a square and stable design, with inward-curving headlights, a wide windshield, and temporary test license plates on the body.

The Chongming Bird truck has a flat-front design with a large, straight grille, giving it an indescribable imposing presence when parked.

Suning walked around each of the two commercial vehicles, and then sat in the driver's seat to check out the visibility and the seats.

The truck cab seats are on the firmer side but offer good support, the steering wheel has a solid grip, and the instrument panel layout is clear and easy to understand.

The bus driver's seat offers a wide field of vision, and the rearview mirrors cover a large area, reducing blind spots by nearly one-third compared to ordinary buses.

Suning finally squatted down to examine the truck's chassis beam, touching the area near the welding lines with his finger.

After standing up, he said to the R&D manager next to him, "We need to optimize the welding process of the truck's frame again. There are still some micropores on the surface of the weld. The load-bearing components cannot have any flaws. We need to increase the distance between the rear seats of the bus by five centimeters. The current distance is fine for short trips, but it's not enough to stretch your legs on long trips."

Suning dusted off his hands. "Everything else is fine. Proceed with the road test as planned."

"Understood." The R&D manager wrote it down in his notebook and scheduled the optimization plan for the next round of trial production that same day.

Next, the welding workshop staff went through the beam welds again, changed the welding parameters, and the porosity problem was solved in the next round of trial production.

The bus seat rails have been redesigned and moved back five centimeters, significantly increasing the legroom for rear passengers.

……

When the news reached the media, the photos hadn't even been officially released yet; it was just leaked through a few channels within the industry.

But even this little bit of news was enough to make the automotive reporters restless.

Tianchao Auto's three previously released passenger vehicles—the Qinglong sedan, the Zhuque SUV, and the Baihu off-road vehicle—have been on the market for over half a year, with sales steadily increasing and reputation gradually building.

Although they are far from being century-old brands like German and Japanese automakers, they are not necessarily doomed to fail in the Chinese auto market.

Now, two new commercial vehicles have suddenly appeared, one a bus and the other a truck. This means that China's automotive model lineup has jumped from passenger cars to commercial vehicles, making its product line more complete than many established state-owned car manufacturers.

Moreover, the positioning of these two cars is very clear...

Baize Bus targets the intercity passenger transport and tourist charter market, while Chongming Bird Truck targets the medium and long-distance logistics transportation market. Both are niche markets with large usage, high intensity of use, and the most stringent requirements for product durability.

Meanwhile, newspaper headlines became increasingly daring.

Headlines like "A New Force Joins the Domestic Bus Market" and "China's Automobile Industry Enters the Commercial Vehicle Market" are relatively normal, but some southern newspapers have used headlines like "China's Automobile Industry Targets Isuzu."

It's worth noting that Isuzu trucks were the undisputed benchmark in the Chinese commercial vehicle market during the 1990s. Their chassis were durable, their engines were fuel-efficient, and they had a wide network of maintenance outlets. Long-haul truck drivers all gave Isuzu a thumbs up.

To dare to compare a private car company with Isuzu in a headline is something that wouldn't have been even considered a year ago when Chinese automakers were still being ridiculed.

Xiao Zhao cut out reports from various newspapers, compiled them into a briefing, and delivered it to Suning's desk. Suning flipped through it, and when he saw the headline "Benchmarking against Isuzu," his lips twitched slightly.

Suning then closed the briefing and put it aside, saying, "It's too early to talk about benchmarking now. Let's wait until the road tests are finished."

"President Su, this means the media has started to praise us."

"But what I saw was praise that led to destruction."

"To praise someone to death?"

"Hmph! These days, domestic media outlets are all opportunistic and will never genuinely create a positive image for Chinese automakers."

"..."

"Xiao Zhao, don't overthink it! Just focus on doing our own thing."

"clear."

……

Soon, road tests were also carried out simultaneously.

The Chongmingbird trucks were taken to the Gobi Desert in Qinghai for continuous long-distance heavy-load tests. The truck beds were filled with counterweights, and the total weight of each truck reached 110% of the rated full load.

They drive for more than ten hours a day, with the car never stopping even when the driver rests. Two test drivers take turns working, changing drivers but not changing cars.

The temperature difference between day and night in the Gobi Desert can be as high as 30 degrees Celsius. At noon, the driver's cab is as hot as a steamer, while in the early morning, the steering wheel is so cold that it's icy to the touch.

The tests included the stability of the transmission under extreme temperature differences, the heat dissipation capacity of the engine cooling system under continuous high load, and the durability of the chassis suspension on unpaved roads.

After a week of testing, the test driver reported to the base over the radio, "The gearbox shifts clearly and there's no shifting. The coolant temperature gauge was half a mark away from the redline at its highest point. There are no unusual noises from the chassis. Everything is normal so far."

"Safety first! Test continues."

"clear."

The bus was taken to the mountainous area of ​​Yunnan. It repeatedly climbed and descended the mountain road, which was full of bends and steep slopes. There was a section of winding mountain road that was more than ten kilometers long, with an elevation difference of more than 1,000 meters from the foot of the mountain to the top.

The test examines the engine cooling and braking system's sustained performance. When going downhill, you can't keep applying the brakes; you have to rely on a combination of engine braking and exhaust braking, which puts a lot of strain on the transmission and brake pads.

Every day after the test drive, the test driver would remove the brake pads to measure their thickness, open the engine compartment to check the coolant level and pipe joints, and record every piece of data in detail.

Moreover, each test vehicle is equipped with sensors, and all data is transmitted back to the R&D center in Shunyi in real time.

AI robot engineers take turns monitoring the data screens, and any abnormal fluctuations in any parameter must be immediately marked and analyzed.

One night at 2 a.m., a slight fluctuation appeared in the oil pressure curve of the Chongming Bird truck on the monitoring screen.

Although it was still within the normal range, the AI ​​engineer on duty immediately extracted the data and performed spectrum analysis.

Surprisingly, it was discovered that a gear meshing gap in the oil pump had a slight resonance at a specific speed.

The next morning, the improved plan was sent to the supplier.

Such efficient R&D capabilities have enabled rapid progress in various experiments, which is unique in the entire history of the world's automobile industry.

……

At the same time, the selection of a site and construction of a production base are also progressing simultaneously.

Since Suning left Shanghai last time, Deputy Director Han has contacted them several times, providing written updates on the progress of the regulatory adjustment for the industrial reserve land on the outskirts of Pudong.

The materials were written in great detail, clearly outlining the current stage of the regulatory adjustment, the next step requiring approval from which department, and the expected timeline.

Deputy Director Han said on the phone, "President Su, we are pushing forward with the adjustment of regulations. We can't skip any steps in the process, but we are taking every step."

Suning politely replied, "Thank you! Our Tianchao Auto will have at least three more models coming up, and the super factory in Pudong, Shanghai is absolutely crucial."

"President Su, isn't your company's approach too fragmented?"

"Director Han, as the saying goes, the capable should do more. Our Tianchao Auto has such technological reserves, so there is no need for us to develop in a step-by-step manner like other car brands."

"Mr. Su, may I ask a question?"

"You said."

Where does China's automotive technology originate?

"Haha, Director Han, this involves our trade secrets, so..."

"Understood! President Su, I will continue to push it forward."

"Then I await your good news, Director Gao." But Su Ning knew in his heart that Shanghai was sitting on the sidelines, not in a hurry at all.

Of course, Suning doesn't need to launch three more car models; after all, it's more important to digest the existing models.

But the commercial vehicle base issue can't wait any longer.

From road testing to mass production, Bai Ze and Chongming Bird require a dedicated factory.

Bus and truck production lines are completely different from those for passenger cars. They are longer, have larger equipment, and require greater height and span in the final assembly workshop. The Shunyi factory's production lines are simply not compatible with them.

Buses are over ten meters long, and truck chassis are more than an order of magnitude heavier than passenger car chassis. The conveyor belts and hoisting equipment on passenger car production lines simply cannot withstand them.

Just as Suning's team was making a final comparison among several candidate cities, Qingdao, which had been closely monitoring the movements of Tianchao Auto, took the initiative.

Director Hou didn't come alone this time.

Instead, a delegation of more than a dozen people, led by a vice mayor of Qingdao in charge of industry, arranged a meeting two weeks in advance through an official letter.

The official letter was formally worded, stating that it was for "special consultations on deepening bilateral industrial cooperation."

When Xiao Zhao received the official letter, he showed it to Su Ning. Su Ning glanced at it and said, "Since the standards have been upgraded, let's arrange it in the large conference room and prepare projection equipment. Hopefully, Qingdao will give us a pleasant surprise."

"Yes, Mr. Su."

The meeting was arranged in the large conference room at the headquarters of Tianchao Group.

A dark tablecloth was laid on the long conference table, with each side seated on one side, nameplates and documents in front of them.

Besides Suning and the investment department staff, Tianchao Group also has some important senior executives from various departments of the company.

Besides Director Hou, there were several officials from the Economic Commission, Planning Bureau, and Finance Bureau in Qingdao, each with a neatly bound document in front of them.

The deputy mayor in charge of leading the team, Li, was in his fifties and had worked in the Economic Commission system for many years, so he was very familiar with industrial projects.

After Vice Mayor Li sat down, instead of exchanging pleasantries as is customary in business negotiations, he immediately instructed his staff to turn on the projector.

The projector immediately displayed a document on the screen on the wall. The document's header bore the name of the relevant national ministry, and the content was a draft opinion letter regarding support for Qingdao's commercial vehicle industrial base to apply for national key projects.

Su Ning's gaze lingered on the document for several seconds before she looked up at Vice Mayor Li.

Vice Mayor Li cut to the chase and said, “President Su, after Director Hou returned from Beijing last time, he truthfully reported your concerns about the business environment and policy continuity to the city. I can express my stance here on behalf of the Qingdao Municipal Government… We understand your concerns and we are taking them seriously.”

“…” Su Ning remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

“So this time we’re not here to discuss further preferential policies,” Vice Mayor Li said, pointing to the document on the projection screen. “We’ve brought an even bigger plan. Qingdao is actively preparing to apply for the Tianchao Automobile Qingdao Commercial Vehicle Production Base project to be designated a national-level key industrial project. If this application is successful, it means that this project will not only be a Qingdao project, but also a national-level project. The industrial land quotas, supporting infrastructure construction funds, and tax incentives involved in the project will all have national-level policy guarantees. The continuity and stability of the policies will be supported by the system.”

Vice Mayor Li paused for a moment, then said, “President Su, let me be frank. We in Qingdao did not handle the situation well last time. A promising private enterprise needed support the most, but we failed to step up under pressure, and we will not shirk this responsibility. The purpose of this plan today is to make up for what we missed. It's not just a verbal promise, but a guarantee implemented at the institutional level.”

Suning leaned back in his chair and didn't respond immediately, but instead began to consider it carefully.

He quickly went through what Vice Mayor Li had just said in his mind...

National key projects, industrial land quotas, supporting infrastructure funds, tax incentives, and institutional support.

Faced with the other party's sincerity and conditions, my previous concerns about the stability of the policy, the fulfillment of local promises, and the lack of a safety net mechanism all vanished.

Su Ning was silent for a few seconds before looking solemnly at Vice Mayor Li. “Mayor Li, I have never doubted Qingdao’s sincerity from beginning to end. Director Hou has been dealing with me for so long, he knows my temperament. I don’t like empty talk. Today, you personally led the team here and presented this plan to me. I see Qingdao’s determination.”

"..."

"Policy continuity is not something that can be maintained through relationships, but rather through institutional guarantees. I appreciate Qingdao's sincerity in using a national-level project to ensure that institutional guarantees are implemented effectively. Since you have come up with this plan, I can give you an answer today."

"..." Everyone in the conference room was looking at him.

"China's commercial vehicle production base will be located in Qingdao."

"That's great! Qingdao will definitely provide the corresponding services." At this moment, the atmosphere in the conference room immediately relaxed, and Vice Mayor Li, Director Hou, and the director of the Planning Bureau next to him all breathed a sigh of relief.

Without pausing, Su Ning immediately laid out the next steps: "The next three things will proceed simultaneously. First, the Tianchao Auto team and the Qingdao side will establish a joint application group to fully promote the application for the national-level project. This group will be led by the Tianchao Auto Investment Department, with Director Hou handling the Qingdao side. Second, substantive discussions on land selection and planning will begin this month. The production lines for Baize Bus and Chongming Bird Truck have different requirements for the height and span of the factory buildings compared to passenger cars, so the planning needs to be considered separately. Third, regarding funding, Tianchao Auto will start the preliminary work with its own funds while simultaneously applying for project loans from banks in Qingdao. The Investment Department will prepare a project funding plan within three days of returning."

Vice Mayor Li immediately stated, "No problem! Director Hou will serve as the Qingdao representative in charge of the joint application team. Special channels will be opened for all aspects requiring coordination from the city. Urgent matters will be handled urgently, and special cases will be handled specially."

"it is good."

"President Su, I would also like to make a promise to you here... I will personally oversee all the approval procedures that the Qingdao side needs to go through. If any step gets stuck, just give me a call."

Su Ning then stood up and extended his hand to Vice Mayor Li, saying, "Vice Mayor Li, I wish us a pleasant cooperation."

"It's a pleasure to cooperate." Vice Mayor Li also extended his hand to shake hands with Su Ning.

Next, Suning arranged for the Qingdao negotiation team to visit the Shunyi factory and also showed them some experimental data on the Baize bus and Chongming bird truck.

Sure enough, the visit solidified the Qingdao group's resolve.

……

The signing ceremony is scheduled for two weeks from now.

The signing ceremony took place in the conference hall of the Qingdao Municipal Government Offices. A long table covered with dark red velvet was placed in the center, giving it a particularly solemn feel.

The two parties sat on opposite sides, with the original copies of the contract laid out in front of them. There were four copies in total, each with dozens of pages, and the edges were neatly bound together.

The contract cover is printed with the words "Investment Agreement for Qingdao Commercial Vehicle Production Base of Tianchao Automobile".

Two rows of chairs were placed around the table, filled with staff from both sides and media reporters, and photographers' lenses were aimed at the signing table from various angles.

Su Ning picked up a pen and signed each of the four contracts. After signing, he exchanged the contracts with Vice Mayor Li and then signed them again.

After the last stroke was made, the two men stood up and shook hands.

A flurry of camera shutters clicked in the conference room, flashes of white light came from one after another, and the camera lenses were locked on the two people shaking hands.

After shaking hands with Vice Mayor Li, Su Ning turned around and shook hands with Director Hou.

Director Hou grasped Su Ning's hands with both of his and whispered, "President Su, thank you for trusting Qingdao again."

Su Ning shook his hand. "Director Hou, no need to thank me. Cooperation is a two-way street. You've shown your sincerity, and I'm giving you my trust. Doing a good job on the project is more important than anything else."

"Mr. Su is right."

Immediately afterwards, the media became quite lively again.

"Tianchao Autos Sets Up Operations in Qingdao," "Commercial Vehicles Advance Along Two Fronts," "National-Level Project Applications Launched Simultaneously"...

Several mainstream financial newspapers unanimously reported on the incident in the second headline of their front pages.

One mainstream newspaper even included two photos: one was a close-up of Su Ning shaking hands with Vice Mayor Li on the signing table, and the other was a file photo of the Chongming Bird truck undergoing road testing in the Gobi Desert.

Although the Chongmingbird truck in the photo is covered with a layer of dust, the Chongmingbird logo on the front of the truck is still clearly visible.

The subtitle below the main title reads: "From passenger cars to commercial vehicles, China's automotive product matrix is ​​beginning to take shape."

Following the signing ceremony, Tianchao Group's investment department and representatives from Qingdao held a joint press conference.

At the press conference, a reporter raised his hand to ask a question. A reporter wearing glasses stood up and asked, "Mr. Su, what are your expectations for the Qingdao project? The commercial vehicle market is highly competitive. Isuzu, Dongfeng, and Jiefang are all established brands. What gives Tianchao Auto the confidence to gain a foothold in the commercial vehicle market?"

Suning leaned closer to the microphone and spoke eloquently: "Commercial vehicles are the most important industry among real industries. A truck runs hundreds of thousands of kilometers on the road, and a bus carries hundreds of people every day. If the quality is not up to standard, no matter how much you brag, it will all fall apart. What China's automotive industry focuses on is the chassis."

He paused slightly, then added, "We Chinese automakers don't compete with anyone on seniority; we compete on quality and sincerity."

...(End of this chapter)