Chapter 721 Internet + New Energy

The Xiaomi system was a success in the first battle, successfully taking the first step in the operating system market.

Of course this is just a good start and it's far from a firm footing.

Before 2010, Android had not yet become the hegemon. At this time, the mobile operating system was in full bloom. There were dozens of mobile operating systems on the market, many of which were products from top technology giants. No one could tell which operating system was used. will be the ultimate victor.

In addition to the performance of the operating system itself, the choice of mobile phone brand is also a very important factor.

At that time, the three mobile phone giants were Nokia, BlackBerry and Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, and the declining Motorola, which could only be regarded as half of the giants. The choice of giant brands often becomes the benchmark of the industry.

But in fact, these giants' reactions to smartphones are half a beat.

After entering the era of smartphones, Nokia and Motorola declined rapidly. There is no need to introduce this aspect. Samsung, the world's number one smartphone seller in later generations, did not bet on smartphones in the early days.

When Apple launched the first-generation iPhone in 2007, Samsung also launched a touch-screen mobile phone, Samsung Instinct, to target Apple, but in fact the two were not competing at all.

After that, Samsung did not launch smart phones again. It was not until the release of Apple's iphone3gs that Samsung launched the first generation and officially entered the smart phone industry.

What really made Samsung mobile phones rise is the second generation.

At that time, Apple still used a 3.5-inch screen. Smartphones from other manufacturers were also imitating Apple and using 3.5-inch screens, while the second generation used a 4.3-inch screen. This is definitely a qualitative leap, and it also attracted Samsung. A lot of traffic.

When Samsung released its third generation in 2011, it jumped to the top smartphone maker and maintains that status to this day.

The rise of Samsung is inseparable from South Korea's strong supply chain of mobile phone components. For example, the core chips of mobile phones can be manufactured by Samsung itself. Another example is the screen of mobile phones. Samsung is also a leader. Other mobile phone components can basically be produced in South Korea. .

After the rise of Samsung, it was the turn of Chinese brands to emerge. From the initial China Cool Alliance to Huami ov, domestic mobile phone brands have experienced continuous innovation while undergoing a major reshuffle.

And now is the era of htc, for the new Xiaomi system, the competition has just begun, and the biggest competitor, Android, has not yet begun to exert force.

...

In Xiaomi's conference room, several partners gathered to discuss the company's next development direction.

There is still no way to solve the problem of system lag, especially after a long time of use, the lag will become more and more serious, and even the call will be affected.

We also found such a problem in the test, but there is no way to avoid it. After all, we are not a closed system like Apple's, and Apple's mobile phone is also specially designed for their system. The overall optimization is naturally better than mine. it is good.

In addition, Apple has more technology accumulation in operating systems. Jobs got the macx operating system when his grandmother was in 1998, and it is no worse than Microsoft's win system.

Then let's continue to optimize. We have so many programmers, aren't we doing this!

Optimization is naturally optimized, but we also have to consider the issue of hardware matching. If the hardware exceeds the carrying capacity of the system, it will affect performance.

A group of people were discussing the issue of system optimization. Li Weidong could understand it at first, but gradually, a black question mark appeared on his head.

Except for Li Weidong, everyone in the room was from a technical background. They were all programmers. When it came time to discuss technical issues, Li Weidong couldn't do anything except look confused.

After a while, everyone finally reached a consensus, and Rebs also asked at the right time: Li Dong, what do you think of this plan?

Rebs also only asked a symbolic question. After all, Li Weidong is the big boss who invested in it. It doesn't matter whether Li Weidong understands or not, he has to ask the last question. It is to give Li Weidong face and to follow a procedure.

But this time, Li Weidong was prepared. He said, I don't know anything about technology. How to optimize the system is up to you. But I have an idea about how the system will become more and more stuck.

Our computer system should also have this situation, right? At least for a computer novice like me, this is the case with the computer I usually use. So I installed a 360 on my computer.

Speaking of 360, Mr. Lei's expression was a little unnatural. After all, in the past two years, the domestic antivirus system market has been dominated by 360.

Someone immediately said: I use Jinshan Duba, and the effect is very good.

This sentence relieved Rebs' embarrassment, and Li Weidong went on to say: 360 not only has the function of anti-virus, but also can clean up the system, speed up the boot speed, etc. For a computer novice like me, It's very convenient to make your computer faster with the click of a mouse.

So I wondered, why can't we add this function to our Xiaomi system? We directly added the one-click cleanup function to the system. Users can automatically close those redundant applications with one click, and only keep the basic functions, and the system will naturally become smoother.

Good idea! We can also integrate Jinshan Drugbath! Rebs instantly turned into a related household.

In future generations, smartphones have their own cleaning system, which is a normal operation, but in 2009, this is definitely an innovation.

Li Weidong does not know anything about technical optimization, but in terms of humanized design, all the programmers of Xiaomi combined are not as good as Li Weidong.

The advantages of the reborn are like this. Li Weidong knows that the mobile operating systems of later generations have those humanized designs, and these designs have been tempered and experienced by tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of households. Those anti-human designs have been eliminated in continuous optimization, and only those designs with good user experience will be left behind.

After several hours of meeting, Li Weidong put forward several suggestions, all of which were optimization of operation.

By the time the meeting was over, it was time for lunch.

I just heard Rebs say, Is there any arrangement for tonight? If there is no arrangement, let's get together?

Mr. Lei, I'm afraid I'm sorry. There is an old classmate from the United States. I have to pick him up.

I have to go to Hong Kong Island in the afternoon and make some appointments with clients.

I have to go on a business trip too. I'm on a flight at 1:30 in the afternoon. Just grab a bite to eat at the airport, or it won't be too late.

Everyone was really in trouble, and they declined.

Rebs had no choice but to look at Li Weidong, thinking that if you have something to do, then we will go back to our respective homes and find our respective mothers.

Li Weidong opened his mouth and said, Old Lei, if you have time, go to the customs warehouse with me. I bought a car from abroad, and I just finished the customs declaration. I will pick up the car later.

Car? Luxury supercar? Is it worth your Chairman Li to pick up the car in person? Rebs asked puzzled.

It's a sports car, but it's not an ordinary sports car. The sports car does not burn gasoline, but is charged. Li Weidong said.

Are you talking about a pure electric sports car? It's a new thing, I haven't seen it before. What brand is it? Ferrari, or Lamborghini? Rebs showed an interested expression. He was still interested in new technology products. very interested.

Neither. Li Weidong shook his head: It's Tesla.

That bragging company in America? Rebs said with a surprised expression, They really built the car?

It's built, but it's not a mass-produced car. Li Weidong then asked, Are you interested in taking a look with me?

Then I really have to join in the fun. Look at this Tesla, the bullshit is so big, what the hell is it! Rebs said.

...

Where Tesla was founded, it is indeed a company that brags and does not draft.

The matter has to start with General Motors. Later generations generally believe that Detroit's traditional auto companies have been obstructing the development of new energy vehicles, but in fact, it was General Motors that launched the first mass-produced electric vehicle.

As early as 1991, General Motors began to mass-produce electric vehicles, and has also produced more than 2,000 vehicles. However, due to technical limitations, the electric vehicles at that time had small space, low cruising range, and slow speed, similar to the current old man Le. , So in 2002, General Motors finally gave up the electric vehicle plan.

GM's factory engineer in charge of the project, Kocconi, left GM to start his own business and start a small company that makes single-person electric vehicles. Later, another engineer in Silicon Valley, Eberhard, became interested in the project and made an investment, and then Eberhard and another partner, Tarpenning, formed Tesla Motors.

Eberhard's concept is to combine sports cars and new energy vehicles to make a new energy sports car, and the customer groups of sports cars are those high-income people and celebrities.

These high-income and famous people, on the surface, pretend to be very interested in environmental protection, and in order to maintain their image, they will also spend a lot of money to sell new energy supercars.

That is to say, the original intention of Tesla's establishment is to entrap a wave of rich people who want to save face.

At the time, Tesla had only 20 employees. A mere 20 people are about to super run early, and it is a new energy super run that has never been seen before. No matter how it sounds, it sounds like a deceiving leather bag company.

What General Motors has not done for more than ten years, how can you, a new company, do it!

It was not until 2004 that Elon Musk took over, which completely changed the entire Tesla, and Tesla began to develop new energy vehicles in earnest.

Although Tesla has begun to really develop new energy vehicles, the bragging is still to be boasted, not to mention that this guy Musk has always been bragging.

So before 2009, Musk was bragging about Tesla cars, and many Wall Street investors didn't bother to pay attention to him.

Rebs is also an angel investor. He is familiar with popular investment projects all over the world, and naturally he also knows about the Tesla electric car that Musk has blown away for several years.

Rebs followed Li Weidong to the customs warehouse, and soon saw the legendary Tesla Roadster.

It's a Tesla roadster, the first car Tesla has ever launched.

Bragging is bragging, but when Tesla really made the car, it instantly blinded the eyes of countless investors.

The planned price of this sports car is 100,000 US dollars, but the cost is as high as 120,000 US dollars. When it was sold, Musk was forced to increase the price to 110,000 US dollars. Although it was still a loss, it still attracted purchases. siege.

However, it was this car that moved Dailem, and made Tesla, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, to obtain an investment of $70 million from Dailem, which was considered a life extension.

With this funding, Tesla was able to start production, invite people to visit the factory, get a $465 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, and successfully land on Nasdaq. Finally, in 2012, the mdoel s car was launched, becoming the leader of new energy vehicles.

At this time, Rebs obviously did not realize how great a change the new energy vehicle would bring. He just looked at it curiously and lost interest in the roadster in front of him.

It doesn't look anything special, it feels like a normal sports car! Rebs said.

It still tastes like a cottage, right? Li Weidong asked with a smile.

Rebs didn't answer, just smiled, but it was like tacitly acquiescing to Li Weidong's statement.

Li Weidong went on to say: Tesla's sports car at least proves the feasibility of electric vehicles. Isn't everyone talking about environmental protection now, maybe in ten or twenty years, electric vehicles will become mainstream. Let's go. What's it like to go up and try this electric sports car!

Li Weidong said, walked into the sports car, pressed the start button, and a low battery indicator appeared on the dashboard.

It's out of power! It looks like it can't be turned on today! Rebs laughed, and then said, How do I charge this thing? Can a normal power plug work?

No, you have to use a special charging pile! Li Weidong shook his head.

This is a car made in the United States. In our country, where can I find a charging station for you! Rebs said cheerfully.

Go to BYD! It is estimated that they are the only ones who can find charging piles. Li Weidong changed his voice and asked, You should know President Wang, right?

There have been a few encounters, greetings will be met, but there is no deep friendship. Rebs said.

I have been friends with President Wang of BYD for more than ten years. When I was making home appliances, I asked him to buy batteries. We met in a while and let you know each other. Li Weidong said with a smile.

...

When Li Weidong cooperated with BYD, the scale of BYD was not large. Today, BYD is not only a listed company, but also favored by Warren Buffett.

The company that Warren Buffett is optimistic about, this name alone is enough to bluff.

In recent years, Li Weidong and BYD have also cooperated more and more. For example, the development of electric forklifts by Fukang Engineering and the development of electric agricultural machinery by Fukang Agricultural Machinery are inseparable from the technical support of BYD. BYD's semiconductor division also provides some components for the Puppy Group.

In addition to batteries, BYD's core business is of course the automotive business. BYD's new energy vehicles are also the most valued by Li Weidong.

Especially after Li Weidong acquired Jaguar Land Rover, he is keeping an eye on BYD. In the future, Jaguar Land Rover will make new energy vehicles and expect to cooperate with BYD!

Ten years later, the momentum of new energy vehicles has been unstoppable. It seems that the replacement of traditional fuel vehicles is just around the corner, and Internet technology + new energy is obviously the future development trend of the automobile industry.

It is also for this reason that Li Weidong found an opportunity to pull Rebs to find BYD's electric fairy to contact him.

BYD's new energy vehicles are the world leader, and Xiaomi's smart home is also the world's leader. The combination of Xiaomi and BYD can definitely lead the development of the auto industry, and it is very possible to beat Tesla.

In later generations, news about the cooperation between Xiaomi and BYD to build cars is also endless. The photos of Rebs meeting with the electric fairy have flowed out a lot on the Internet.

...

In front of BYD's office building, a group of engineers gathered around the Tesla roadster.

That Tesla really built the car! I always thought they were making a cow.

Isn't this car just a fancy car? It's just a beautiful empty shell.

It's not that, when the car just got here, our President Wang went up and drove around in person!

I don't know how many kilometers this car has a battery life! If it can have 300 kilometers, it will be practical.

Engineers, you are discussing with each other.

Not far away, Li Weidong stood beside the Electric Immortal and asked, How did you feel about the test drive?

It's great, beyond my imagination. The electric fairy took a deep breath and continued; I just don't know if this car can be mass-produced. If it can be mass-produced, then this Tesla is a pure electric car. , is indeed ahead of us.

Isn't your pure electric bus going offline soon? Li Weidong asked.

There are still some technical difficulties that need to be overcome. The Electric Immortal replied.

BYD officially entered the field of pure electric buses in 2009. After just a few years, BYD pure electric buses can be seen on the roads of many cities in China. More than ten years later, BYD's pure electric buses have been imported by dozens of countries around the world, including Japan, a powerful country in automobile manufacturing.

But buses are different from ordinary family cars. The large size of the bus means that there is enough space to install a large battery to ensure the battery life. And the small size of the family car, the battery has become the biggest problem.

I just listened to the electric fairy and asked: Chairman Li, do you know the biggest difficulty of pure electric vehicles?

Battery. Li Weidong replied without hesitation, and then he continued: I also have a motor factory, so I know that for pure electric vehicles, the motor is not a problem, and the performance of modern motors is no problem to support large construction machinery. It is more than enough to be used in cars. Therefore, the biggest difficulty in developing pure electric vehicles is the battery.”

The electric fairy nodded: Yes, the battery is the biggest difficulty for pure electric vehicles. In addition to the power, the charging of the battery is another big problem. Of course, the most important thing is the safety of the battery.

I'm not going to lie to you. We used lead-acid batteries to build a prototype car before. The cruising range is less than 150 kilometers. The charging is slow, and the battery is still attenuated. It is equivalent to running a long distance for more than an hour, and you have to rush for four or five hours. Electricity is definitely not acceptable in actual use.

We also considered using lithium batteries, but the cost is too high. Lithium batteries can be used in mobile phones and laptops. They can be used in cars. They can cost thousands of dollars at a time. Who can afford them! So I'm really curious right now, what kind of battery is this Tesla using.

Want to know how Tesla did it, it's easy, just dismantle the car! Li Weidong said with a smile.

The car you just bought was shipped all the way from the United States. Before it was hot, you let me dismantle it? I'm not so ignorant yet! The Electric Fairy said.

I'm not kidding you, I bought this car for your research. If we don't dismantle the trolley, how do we know what step Tesla has achieved. Li Weidong replied.

Then I will really tear it down! The Electric Immortal is not polite. After all, the two have been in a cooperative relationship for more than ten years, and this friendship is definitely worth a sports car.

Li Weidong went on to say: After a period of time, I plan to move Jaguar Land Rover's production line to the Yangtze River Delta. The land has been prepared locally. The key is the approval at the national level.

Jaguar Land Rover is a luxury brand. No matter which country this kind of bun is settled in, the local will welcome you with both hands. How can the country get the approval card for you! Electric Immortal said with a smile.

Although I bought Jaguar Land Rover, Jaguar Land Rover is still a foreign brand after all. According to the policy of our country's auto industry, foreign brands want to set up factories and need to find a domestic joint venture party. I want to see if there is any loosening in this regard. possibility.

Li Weidong said with a sigh and continued: As the owner, of course I hope to keep Jaguar Land Rover's sole proprietorship and set up factories, but I have to abide by the national policy, so if I really can't get the conditions for sole proprietorship and set up factories, I'll have to ask you for help!

Are you planning to make Jaguar Land Rover a joint venture with BYD? The Electric Immortal was surprised, and after pondering for half a minute, he said, You have given me a great gift! As a friend, I thank you, but Also because we are friends, I still advise you to consider those big companies first when it comes to joint ventures.

After all, Jaguar Land Rover is a luxury brand, with a level of BBA. If you really want to find a joint venture partner in China, everyone will definitely be rushing. What to do together, SAIC, GAC, you can choose! Whoever can join the joint venture with Jaguar Land Rover will not only benefit from technology and market, but also the brand can be greatly improved.

And we, BYD, have only been building cars for a few years, and our technology is not as good as those of big companies. We build small cars that cost tens of thousands of dollars. The key is that the brand value is not high. Jaguar Land Rover asked me for a joint venture, isn't it self-depreciating! When the local tyrants hear that Land Rover is made by BYD, I am afraid they will stay away!

I chose you BYD, of course not because we have a good relationship. Li Weidong lowered his voice and continued: I'm actually a little worried, those big business stores are bullying customers!

Large domestic companies already have their own joint venture partners. For example, FAW has Audi, Toyota and Volkswagen, SAIC has GM and Volkswagen, and GAC also has Honda and Toyota. These brands are doing well in business and their market share is also high. Great, how many resources can they tip to Jaguar Land Rover!

That's right, even big companies have limited resources, and they must be allocated to mature markets first. Otherwise, Mercedes-Benz and BMW would not have chosen to join BAIC and Brilliance. Electric Immortal nodded and said.

Li Weidong raised his voice and continued: The most important thing is that I am very optimistic about your pure electric vehicle business. I also have a detailed plan for the future of Jaguar Land Rover. If Land Rover is to continue to take the high-end SUV route, make good use of it. Material, good workmanship, high price.

As for Jaguar, I plan to develop in the direction of pure electric. Jaguar Land Rover used Ford's power system before. The performance of the American engine in the large displacement is really good, but the performance of the medium displacement is not satisfactory. In our country, ordinary passenger cars can't use such a large displacement, so Ford's engine is not suitable for Jaguar.

Self-developed engines are difficult and costly. Even if they are made, it is difficult to reach the level of developed countries. If you have that time and investment, it is better to increase the research and development of pure electric vehicles. Instead, it is an opportunity to overtake in corners. If Jaguar can take the lead in occupying the high ground of pure electric vehicles, there will be a chance to compete with bba in the future!

After Jaguar Land Rover was acquired by Ford, it used the three major pieces provided by Ford. The American power system is relatively reliable, especially in terms of large displacement, and its performance is better than that of Germany and Japan.

It’s just that large-displacement engines are suitable for places like North America, Australia, and the Middle East. It is definitely not practical in China. Let’s not talk about the fact that a dollar on the accelerator will be gone. Just talk about the traffic jams in the city. In this case, no matter how large the displacement is, it will not be able to run.

Historically, after India's Tata Group took over Jaguar Land Rover, it invested a lot of money to build an Aviva engine, which was then used in Jaguar Land Rover's cars.

This engine was developed by the British, and the British technology is still possible, and the engine also supports a hybrid system. After all, the whole of Europe was clamoring for carbon reduction at that time, and when the British were developing it, they also raised the standard in this regard.

Yingjieli's engine was officially put into the market in 2015, and then caught up with the rapid rise of pure electric vehicles. Major European manufacturers began to move closer to pure electric vehicles. The European Union itself announced the time to ban the sale of fuel vehicles, and Jaguar also I have to follow up, saying that fuel vehicles will be phased out in the future. The money for the research and development of the Yingjie Li engine is basically wasted.

...

In the United States, the United Auto Workers, a group of cadres are holding champagne glasses and celebrating their victory.

Not long ago, GM's bankruptcy finally settled, and the governments of the United States and Canada finally paid for GM. Among them, the US government has obtained 60.9% of GM's shares, becoming the largest shareholder of GM, and GM has also transformed itself into a state-owned enterprise in the United States.

GM's other shares, the Canadian and Ontario governments account for 11.7%, creditors account for 10%, while the United Auto Workers' Retirement Medical Trust Fund accounts for 17.5% of the shares.

For the UAW, getting a 17.5% stake in GM is definitely a big win. This is not only to get an asset, but also to increase the voice of the union.

Take General Motors' restructuring plan, for example, the company needs to lose weight and will lay off a number of employees in the future, including management and ordinary auto workers.

If ordinary workers have a union background, there is a high probability that they will not be laid off, because the union has 17.5% of GM's solitary grave and is the second largest shareholder. The company's layoffs can't start with its own shareholders!

Therefore, when the news of General Motors layoffs came out, many auto workers begged to join the union in order to get the protection of the union and not let their name appear on the layoff list.

It is also because of this wave of operations that the U.S. economy has not fully recovered, and the UAW’s momentum has instead grown.

Several high-level cadres of the trade union gathered around and praised each other, and expressions of joy filled everyone's faces.

The reorganization of General Motors is a major victory for the UAW. In the future, we will not only be a labor union, but also the second largest shareholder of General Motors. This is turning into a boss!

It now looks like the strike was the right thing to do. Without that strike, GM wouldn't have filed for bankruptcy, and we wouldn't have gotten GM shares.

In the future, the auto companies in the United States will not dare to give us the face of the United Auto Workers!

If anyone dares not to give us face, we will organize a few strikes and let them file for bankruptcy, and then we will still be able to pick up some corporate shares!

At this moment, a voice sounded faintly from the side: Don't forget, everyone, we experienced a fiasco in the Bemhull factory of Jaguar Land Rover!

Everyone followed the voice, and it was Norwood Jewell who spoke.

Back then, Li Weidong had just acquired Jaguar Land Rover, and Norwood Jewell, a trade union cadre, started to do things and organized a strike to demand an increase in benefits. As a result, Li Weidong directly sacrificed a big stick of layoffs, which not only quelled the strike, but also kicked out all the union forces. out of the Bemhull factory.

Now on this occasion, Norwood-Jewell's old story is brought up again, and it is obvious that he is coming for revenge!

I just heard someone say: The failure of the Bemhull factory is not the responsibility of the United Auto Workers, it is mainly because of the financial crisis!

Yeah, no one could have imagined that at that juncture, a financial crisis broke out. If it were this time, the management of the Bemhull factory would definitely give in!

Norwood-Jewell smiled slightly and continued: Everyone, now that the financial crisis has passed and the US economy has stabilized, I intend to propose to the chairman to continue to fight for the rights of the workers in the Bemhull factory! I hope You can support me!

But since the last strike failed, there are no more of us in the Bemhull factory! someone said.

Norwood-Jewell immediately said: Without our people, we can develop further. The big deal is to give workers some reduction in membership dues. After all, there are two or three thousand workers in the Bemhull factory, and they cannot always be separated from our union. outside!

Who doesn't give us a bit of face for the American auto companies today, but the Jaguar Land Rover Bemhull factory, we have no influence, this is not a good thing for the United Auto Workers!

But if the employers continue to lay off staff directly as they did last time, what should we do? Someone asked.

This time there is no financial crisis! Norwood-Jerwell snorted coldly, and continued: And the new local senator has won a lot of auto workers' votes, now it's time to give us something in return. !