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Chapter 2640 is exciting!

The entire process of building the super factory in Pudong, Shanghai, from driving the first pile to the topping out of the factory building and then to the completion of equipment installation and commissioning, took less than two years.

Actually, this is already the slowest-built of the three super factories of China's automobile industry, since it is not as urgent as the Shunyi and Huangdao factories.

To support this project, Pudong New Area has specially equipped the area around the factory with substations, water supply networks, and municipal roads.

Deputy Director Han has now been promoted to Deputy District Head of Pudong New Area, and he visits the construction site almost every month.

Once, Deputy District Chief Han met Su Ning at a construction site and said half-jokingly, "President Su, I've been running around for so many years to attract investment projects, and you're the only one who has made me go from deputy director to deputy district chief and I'm still running around construction sites."

Suning said with a smile, "On the day of the production launch ceremony, I'll invite you to stand on the stage and cut the ribbon."

"Definitely! This is one of the key projects that Shanghai has introduced in the last decade."

"It is an honor for Tianchao Auto to gain the recognition of Deputy District Mayor Han and the municipal government."

……

The factory in Pudong is larger and has higher design standards than the factory in Shunyi.

The length of the final assembly workshop alone exceeds 800 meters. Standing at one end of the workshop and looking to the other, you can't see the end. All you can see are rows of conveyor belts and automated equipment reflecting the light under the workshop's overhead lights.

The workshop can produce five different models simultaneously, and the flexibility of the final assembly line is an order of magnitude higher than that of the Shunyi factory, with the changeover time compressed to the shortest in the industry.

The giant hydraulic press in the stamping workshop, which was brought out from the space world, is a step up in tonnage from the one in Shunyi. It can form large aluminum alloy body panels required for supercars and pickup trucks in one piece.

Previously, China relied entirely on imports for this technology.

The density of industrial robots in the welding workshop is 1.5 times that of the Shunyi factory. Each robot's robotic arm is equipped with the latest laser weld seam tracking system, and the welding precision is controlled at the micron level.

The painting workshop's automated spraying system has added a dedicated module for spraying metallic and pearlescent paints, preparing for the mass production of the Kirin supercar.

……

The production launch ceremony was held in the final assembly workshop of the Pudong factory.

There was no temporary stage or red carpet set up in the workshop; only a simple viewing area for guests and a row of media photography areas were set up.

The workshop was filled with the distinctive metallic and lubricating smell of new equipment, a smell that has a well-established reputation in the manufacturing industry.

The smell of the new workshop is like the smell of money.

Suning personally flew to Shanghai to participate, and he went directly from the airport to the factory.

Deputy District Mayor Han and several leaders from the Shanghai Economic Commission were also present, standing in the first row of the guest area.

Suning walked to the start button covered with red silk at the end of the final assembly line, and the entire workshop fell silent.

Hundreds of eyes were fixed on his hands.

However, Suning didn't give a long explanation. He simply raised his hand and pressed a button. A green light around the button lit up, and the warning lights on the production line flashed three times before turning solid. The conveyor belt began to rotate slowly.

The first black Qinglong sedan to roll off the assembly line at the Pudong plant slowly drove out along the ramp at the end of the final assembly line, the dragon relief logo on the front of the car reflecting a deep blue luster under the workshop's overhead lights.

Following closely behind, the second and third vehicles rolled off the production line, with the silver-gray Zhuque SUV and Baihu off-road vehicle following closely behind.

Three cars were parked side by side in the display area at the exit of the final assembly line. The paint reflected a warm luster under the lights, and the mythical beast relief on the front of the car and the three-dimensional seal of the Imperial Seal of the State with the inscription "By the Mandate of Heaven, May Your Life Be Long and Prosperous" on the rear of the car were still the focus of everyone's attention.

The Shanghai department leaders present led the applause, which spread from the guest area to the media area, and then from the media area to the workshop workers.

Deputy District Chief Han was also applauding. He looked at the production line that was continuously shipping out new cars and recalled the scene of Su Ning sitting in his office more than two years ago.

At the time, Deputy District Head Han felt that this private entrepreneur had great vision, but he also felt that he had underestimated the difficulty of land approval in Pudong.

Standing in the final assembly workshop now, watching the bodies of five different car models slowly move along the overhead conveyor line, I realize that Suning not only has the courage, but also the ability to deliver on that courage.

Deputy District Chief Han turned to the leader of the Economic Commission next to him and whispered, "Sir, we almost couldn't keep this project."

The leader from the Economic Commission replied, "It's good that we've kept him. Now he's a calling card for Pudong's manufacturing industry."

"Indeed! I heard that the Qinglong sedan, Zhuque SUV and Baihu off-road vehicle are just supplementing the production capacity of the Shunyi factory. Next, the main products to be produced at the Shanghai factory will be the Qilin supercar and Xuanwu pickup truck."

"Oh? This is the entire matrix of the automotive industry?"

"That's right! Chinese automakers have some great ideas."

During the subsequent media interview session, while the machines in the workshop were still running, Suning stood in front of the exhibition area and accepted a group interview from reporters.

A dozen microphones were placed in front of him, including reporters from the automotive section, financial section, and TV cameramen carrying their equipment, squeezing through the crowd.

When a reporter asked about future plans for new models at the Pudong plant, Suning revealed its future model plans for the plant.

After the three mature models, Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, and White Tiger, have been put into production, the Pudong plant will start the installation and commissioning of the production lines for the Qilin Supercar and Xuanwu Pickup Truck next year.

"The Qilin supercar is China's first truly high-performance sports car, benchmarked against the flagship sports cars of European, American and Japanese luxury brands. We have made all the indicators such as 0-100 km/h acceleration, top speed and lightweight body according to international first-class standards." Su Ning pointed to the still operating final assembly line behind him and said, "The Qilin production line is on the right side of this final assembly line. The equipment has been reserved and will be installed and tested next year."

He then added, "The Xuanwu pickup truck is a multi-functional vehicle launched for the domestic and international pickup truck markets, taking into account both commercial and family use scenarios. The chassis adopts a non-load-bearing body structure, and the power system offers two versions: diesel and gasoline. The diesel version's torque output is suitable for heavy loads and off-roading, while the gasoline version is more geared towards family use and urban road conditions."

"President Su, with Tianchao Auto spreading its focus so thinly, aren't you worried about it becoming a case of being multifaceted but lacking expertise?"

"No! Because our Tianchao Auto has its own R&D center and a clear development plan. The full matrix will not distract Tianchao Auto's energy, but will only allow our ideas and technologies to be better validated."

"President Su, nowadays, Chinese automakers have become the nemesis of Japanese automakers in overseas markets. Are you worried about being retaliated against by a united group of Japanese automakers?"

"The market is free! Consumers have the right to choose which brand of car to buy, and Chinese automakers have never been afraid of competition, because only competition can make us stronger."

...This news made the front page of several mainstream financial newspapers that very evening.

"China's automobile Pudong plant goes into production, Qilin supercar to be launched next year"—this headline has been hanging on newsstands for several days.

But an even bigger sensation was yet to come.

At the invitation of CCTV's Finance Channel, Suning visited the CCTV studio three days after the production launch ceremony of its Pudong factory for an exclusive interview on a high-end talk show.

The guests invited to this program are basically top economists and well-known entrepreneurs in China. The host is a star of CCTV's financial channel, surnamed Bai, who is known for his sharp questions and ruthless approach.

Many entrepreneurs who are influential figures offstage still get sweaty when they sit across from the host.

Suning, dressed in a dark suit but without a tie, sat on the sofa opposite the host, Bai.

The studio lights shone on Su Ning's face, and he remained relaxed, looking more like a guest who had come to chat than a guest about to be challenged.

At the start of the interview, the host, Bai, posed a very pointed question: "Mr. Su, Tianchao Auto has achieved sales of over one million vehicles in just three years since it began mass production in 1997. Some in the industry say you borrowed funds from the real estate sector to fill the gap in the automotive business, while others say Tianchao Auto's success is due to government support. What is your own perspective on this?"

Su Ning smiled and adjusted his posture. "People who say such things either don't understand Tianchao Auto's financial structure or simply don't believe that Chinese private enterprises can build good cars on their own. Mingju Real Estate and Tianchao Auto are two independent legal entities with separate funds and loan repayments. We have complete audit reports available for review. Every audit report is issued by a third-party accounting firm, not written by us. Anyone is welcome to check it. As for policy support, I want to say that Tianchao Auto enjoys the universal policies that all private car companies can enjoy. We have not received any special treatment. We have not received any government subsidies or any preferential treatment other than tax rebates. Tianchao Auto was able to reach one million vehicles in three years because of its products. Consumers pay real money to buy cars. They don't care whether you are a private or state-owned enterprise, or whether you are a domestic or joint venture. They only care whether your car is easy to drive, fuel-efficient, and expensive to repair. Tianchao Auto has achieved all three."

The host nodded without pausing, and then asked, "Do you think the success of Tianchao Auto is related to your previous experience in the real estate industry? After all, building houses and manufacturing cars are two different things; one is steel and cement, and the other is mechanical and electronic."

Suning didn't shy away from the question; instead, he launched into a more detailed explanation: "There's a connection, and there's no connection. The connection lies in the fact that working in real estate has given me a profound understanding of the real needs behind China's rapid economic growth. When people have money, the first thing they do is improve their housing, and the second is improve their transportation. Housing refers to houses, and transportation refers to cars. Mingju Real Estate solved the housing problem, while Tianchao Auto solves the transportation problem. These two industries are two sides of the same big trend, both focusing on people's needs for a better life. However, building houses and manufacturing cars are completely different paths in terms of management and technology, and cannot be simply applied interchangeably. Manufacturing cars requires long-term R&D investment and relentless pursuit of technical details; there are no shortcuts. If the shape of the engine's combustion chamber is off by a few tenths of a millimeter, the compression ratio will be incorrect, and fuel consumption and power output will not meet the calibration values. This level of precision requirement does not exist in the real estate industry. I can say with certainty that the number of international patents our Tianchao Automotive Engine Research Institute has applied for in the past three years in terms of combustion chamber design and material processing is more than any other state-owned car company in China."

The host, Bai, steered the interview from the automotive sector to the broader economic sphere: "Mr. Su, you just mentioned the trend of China's rapid economic growth. It's now 2000, the beginning of the new millennium. What are your views on the development prospects of China's economy over the next ten or twenty years?"

Suning leaned back on the sofa, pondered for a moment, and said, “My assessment of China’s economy over the next twenty years can be summarized in eight words… sustained high speed, magnificent and turbulent. 2000 was not the end, but the beginning. After China successfully joins the WTO, import and export trade will experience explosive growth. The current annual trade volume of several hundred billion US dollars will multiply several times or even more in the future. Further down the line, China will become the world’s largest industrial manufacturing country. This point in time will not be too far off; I think it will be around ten years. The advantages of the entire industrial chain in manufacturing, the huge engineering talent pool, and the continuously improving infrastructure—these three factors combined will make Chinese manufacturing an irreplaceable competitive force in the global market. The continuous increase in urbanization rate will bring sustained prosperity to dozens of industries, including real estate, infrastructure, and logistics. Currently, China’s urbanization rate is just over 30%, while the urbanization rate in developed countries is generally over 70%, leaving room for growth of several tens of percentage points. The increase in per capita income will create the world’s largest middle-class consumer market. Automobiles, home appliances, the Internet, cultural entertainment, and financial services will all find huge growth potential in this market.”

"President Su, have you considered that you might be too optimistic?"

"It's not that I'm optimistic! It's that you media people are too pessimistic. Never underestimate the only ancient civilization that has survived to this day."

"..."

After the interview was broadcast on CCTV, it immediately caused a huge sensation in China in the year 2000.

On the night the program aired, Suning's remarks became a hot topic of conversation.

After listening to the entire interview on the radio, a taxi driver in Beijing turned to the young passenger in the back seat and said, "The boss of this Tianchao Group is really damn charismatic. He dares to say things that others dare not say, like 'Becoming the world's largest industrial manufacturing country within ten years.'"

"It sounds exciting! But it's too ambitious and absolutely impossible to achieve."

"How to say?"

"This famous President Su is too optimistic. Joining the WTO is important, but it does not necessarily mean that China's industry will take off."

"Oh? Sir, what do you do for a living?"

"A graduate student in economics at Yenching University."

"Awesome!"

During their lunch break, white-collar workers in Shanghai's office buildings gathered to discuss whether Suning's claim of "becoming the world's largest industrial manufacturing country within ten years" was reliable.

Some people even used calculators to figure out how many times the value would increase over ten years, and how many percentage points the annual growth would need to be.

Soon, people realized that Suning might have been exaggerating, since at the time no one believed that Chinese industry could create miracles.

Even though later generations did indeed reach the pinnacle of industrialization, many people still find it unbelievable.

The main reason is that the creativity of the Chinese people is too great; in order to catch up with Britain and the United States, they have sacrificed too much.

Ultimately, success became the least important thing.

In Shenzhen's internet circles, after watching the program, Ma Huateng changed a line in his QQ signature...

"It is a magnificent and turbulent journey, worthy of our vows to follow to the death."

After watching the program in Alibaba's office in Hangzhou, Jack Ma excitedly stood up and paced back and forth in the office several times.

Suddenly, I realized that Su Ning was the one who understood me the most, and I couldn't help but regard Su Ning as a confidante.

Then I picked up the phone and called Suning. The first thing I said after the call connected was, "Mr. Su, I watched your interview three times. It was magnificent. I'm going to use those four words at Alibaba's annual meeting."

"Okay! Let's witness the magnificent development of China's economy together."

"The main problem is that many people don't believe your arguments."

"There was no need to make them believe it in the first place, after all, success cannot be achieved step by step."

Newspapers have a longer-lasting impact than television.

For the next few days, the commentary sections of mainstream financial media were almost entirely filled with interviews with Suning.

Some newspapers devoted an entire page to dissecting and analyzing every single statement made by Suning, accompanied by data charts and graphs of various Chinese economic indicators.

Some supporters say that Suning, as a private entrepreneur, is visionary and outspoken.

There were also skeptics, saying that Suning's prediction was too optimistic, and that becoming the world's leading industrial manufacturer is not so easy.

But regardless of which side they're on, they all acknowledge that this private entrepreneur, who was ridiculed as a fraud just three years ago, is now a voice that cannot be ignored in the Chinese business world.

...(End of this chapter)