Chapter 724 We still have a market

Watching the equipment on the production line being packaged, loaded onto the truck one by one, and transported to the dock, several trade unions at the Bemher factory looked at each other in blank dismay, not knowing what to do.

The UAW has been telling them for a long time that the management is just scaring the workers by saying that the factory is moving. As long as the workers unite and persevere, the management will definitely be able to obtain a compromise.

Everyone also believed in the statement of the trade union, after all, even the huge General Motors compromised.

However, when the factory relocation became a reality, the workers were all in a daze.

The move of the factory means that there is no room for maneuver, and the jobs of two thousand auto workers are completely gone.

Ever since, the workers pointed their fingers at the UAW.

As far as the workers are concerned, I will pay you membership dues, accept your leadership, go on strike according to your instructions, and toss for several months. In the end, I did not get any benefits, but ruined my own job.

Being a dog is nothing more than bringing your own dog food, and you have to be beaten for nothing, even the good-tempered Pug can't stand it.

Norwood Jewell, who was a senior cadre of the trade union, instantly became a loser. Some workers had already started organizing rallies to demand that Jewell be held accountable.

Another person who felt the pressure was the member of Congressman Menendez who supported the strike.

Every decision of a politician is risky. If this strike finally forces the management to compromise, then Congressman Menendez will undoubtedly harvest a wave of voter popularity as his political capital. If the situation is reversed, Menendez's political career will also be implicated.

It doesn't matter if you do bad things with good intentions or intentional bad things, as long as the result is bad, then Menendez has one more point that can be attacked. The opponent party will definitely use this to make a fuss, and his own party will also criticize Menendez. Dez was quite critical.

2,000 auto workers, 2,000 families behind them, plus the upstream enterprises surrounding the Bemher factory, and the service industry, can implicate tens of thousands of votes.

The United States is not like China. There are tens of thousands of people in any community. In the United States, 10,000 votes can already affect the election of a key swing state. In the biennial general election in the United States, a state often wins more than 10,000 votes situation.

Moreover, the elections in the United States have party primaries. If you want to run for a congressional position, you must first be nominated by the party, that is, you must first compete internally, and then go to outsiders if you win.

But if you know that Menendez will lose 10,000 votes in the election,

So will the party primaries support you to continue running? Do you want to change to a more secure candidate and earn back the 10,000 votes?

Anyone who has watched the American drama House of Cards knows that when it comes to elections, there is no emotion, and everything will become realistic.

So from this perspective, Menendez is more anxious than Norwood Jewell.

...

In the office, apart from several of Menendez's staff, Norwood Jewell was also present. Everyone is discussing how to appease the anger of the workers.

Mr. Jewell, I have been telling you that you should make appropriate concessions to the management. But what about you? You have been emphasizing that the management will not move the factory. They are scaring people! The factory really moved!

Menendez stared at Jewel, with anger in his eyes. If Jewel didn't have a union background, maybe Menendez wouldn't even bother to talk to Jewel.

Jewell had a wronged expression on his face: Who would have thought that the Chinese built a car factory in only half a year. This is a car factory! How could it be completed in half a year!

However, the fact is that they finished it. Menendez snorted coldly, and continued: You don't need to question this anymore, I have sent someone to look at it on the spot, there was still an empty lot half a year ago, but now, the factory It’s about to be built! The Chinese have done what seems impossible to you!”

Feeling that Menendez's attitude was not good, Jewell didn't dare to argue anymore, so he had to change the subject and said, Sir, we don't discuss the speed at which the Chinese are building factories, we have to solve the immediate problem now, It is to calm down the emotions of the workers as soon as possible.”

Menendez also knew that Jewell was experienced in dealing with workers, so he could only ask patiently, Do you have a way to calm the workers' emotions?

Of course! Jewell put on a confident look, and continued: We just need to get enough compensation for the workers, and the grievances of the workers will definitely be appeased!

Compensation? Who do you ask for? Who will give it? Are you the United Auto Workers? Menendez said sarcastically.

Of course I asked the management. Jewell paused, and continued: If we can get 20,000 yuan in compensation for each worker, then the workers will definitely not complain about us anymore. Maybe they will be grateful to us for making a fortune!

Each person is 20,000 yuan, and 2,000 people need 40 million dollars! The management has even moved the factory, so how can they pay this money? Congressman Menendez shook his head.

Then let's find a way to get the employer to pay the money. Jewell said.

Impossible. I'm a law student. It's very clear that even if a class action is initiated, the judge will not support a compensation of up to 20,000 yuan. Don't forget that the workers were fired because of the strike. , usually there is no compensation for a penny in this case.”

Menendez paused, then continued: If I am fired for striking and still get high compensation, then the whole of the United States will be in chaos, and workers will go on strike everywhere and demand high compensation. So in a situation like this, the best situation is to ask the employer to pay the workers an extra month or two of medical insurance!

Sir, what I'm talking about is not a class action lawsuit, but other methods! Jewell smiled mysteriously, and then said: As far as I know, Jaguar Land Rover still has 8,000 Range Rover vehicles in stock throughout the United States. , we can find an excuse to suspend the sale of this car.

The minimum price of the Range Rover is more than 100,000 US dollars, and the total price of 8,000 vehicles is more than 800 million US dollars. If the sale of this car is suspended, it will be a serious loss to the management. 100 million U.S. dollars, a mere 40 million in compensation.

What excuse do you mean? Menendez asked immediately.

We can do something about the anti-theft certification of vehicles. Although anti-theft certification is not a very important item, it is the content of vehicle safety certification, which can temporarily stop the sale of a certain car.

Jewell paused for a moment, then continued: Anti-theft certification is not about vehicle safety. The standards for anti-theft certification are relatively unclear and relatively operable. And after all, the Range Rover is a luxury car worth more than $100,000 and requires a higher level. The anti-theft certification is also a reasonable thing.

Menendez nodded in a sudden realization, apparently approving Jewell's idea.

Of course, there are relevant standards for the market access of American auto products, and new cars must also meet the standards before they can be launched on the market. Among these standards, the most important one is undoubtedly the safety standard. In addition, there are hundreds of indicators such as energy saving, emission, noise, etc.

Some of these so-called standards must be strictly enforced, such as safety standards, which cannot be sloppy at all. And some standards will have greater flexibility in terms of implementation.

For example, in terms of protection for the disabled, installing a handrail on the bus can be regarded as guaranteeing the ride of the disabled, installing an automatic door can also be regarded as guaranteeing the ride of the disabled, and installing automatic getting on and off the seat is also protecting the disabled. ride.

However, the cost of these three methods differs by hundreds of times, which is considered qualified, full-screen official mouth, this is the so-called flexibility.

Car anti-theft is also such a flexible standard, and in the certification system of the United States, car anti-theft is the most important clause in the DOC certification. If there is a problem with the DOC certification, the car cannot enter the market.

If it is a Japanese car worth more than US$10,000, you are not required to install any GPS automatic alarm system. As long as the car door has a lock, it is considered to have an anti-theft system.

But if a Range Rover worth more than $100,000 is just a door lock, then it can make a fuss about the anti-theft standard. Range Rover is a luxury car, without a decent anti-theft system, how can it be responsible to consumers!

In actual operation, it doesn’t need to say that your anti-theft system is unqualified, you just need to say that your anti-theft system cannot fully guarantee the safety of the vehicle, and you are required to submit some documents, and then the process of approving the documents is delayed for a year and a half, and the car company will be affected. no more.

After all, popular models are updated every year. As soon as a new model is launched, the price of the old model will be reduced. If it is delayed for a year or a half, the brand new model will become an old model and will have to be sold at a discount.

A layman like Menendez must not understand this method. But Norwood Jewell is a high-level cadre of the auto union after all, and he makes troubles for the auto companies every day and every day, and it is not easy to catch him with a little dirty trick!

Menendez decided to trust Jewel one more time. If he can get 20,000 US dollars in unemployment compensation for each worker, Menendez can really restore a lot of reputation.

In order to stabilize the mood of the workers, Menendez and Jewell announced to the workers that they would seek unemployment compensation of 20,000 US dollars for them.

This trick really worked. The workers stopped making trouble and went home one after another to collect the money.

...

Domestically, Li Weidong is inspecting the new factory of Jaguar Land Rover.

Chairman, the freighter transporting the production line has arrived in the open sea and is queuing up to enter the port. If everything goes well, the equipment will be delivered next week. The subordinates reported.

Li Weidong nodded in satisfaction, and then said, BYD's engineers should be in place, right? Jaguar Land Rover's engineers don't have experience in making cars in China, so they finally rely on BYD's side.

Chairman, don't worry, I've already contacted you. The first batch of engineers sent by Director Wang will come on the flight tomorrow afternoon. The subordinate continued to report.

At this moment, the secretary came over and handed the phone to Li Weidong. Li Weidong picked up the phone and his face gradually became serious.

The sales of Land Rover Range Rover in the US market have been suspended? Why? The U.S. Highway Safety Administration asked us to supplement the anti-theft certification documents? Why do we need to supplement the documents? Wasn't it good before! Because it is a luxury car, we need to strengthen the anti-theft certification. Is it responsible to consumers? What kind of bullshit logic is this!

How many cars are involved? There are more than 8,000 vehicles in stock in the United States. Are they all Range Rover? Why are there so many? Because the United States has always been the main consumer market for Range Rover? That's right, Americans really like this kind of large-displacement SUV.

Then submit the documents as soon as possible. How long does it take for the Highway Safety Administration to complete the review after submitting additional documents? uncertain? No specific time? In other words, we don't know when the 8,000-volume Land Rover Range Rover will resume sales!

After finishing his obedience, Li Weidong was sullen and fell into thinking. He felt sensitively that things were not that simple. It seemed that someone had dug a hole for him.

A few hours later, Li Weidong received a call from a lawyer in the United States.

Mr. Li, the United Auto Workers wants to continue negotiating with us! the lawyer said.

The factory has already moved away, and the production equipment is about to be shipped to the shore. What else are they talking about? What else can they talk about? Li Weidong said with some disdain.

The United Auto Workers requested that we provide layoff compensation to laid-off workers. The amount is calculated according to the length of service and position. On average, each person must pay at least 20,000 US dollars, and the total compensation amount exceeds 40 million! the lawyer spoke.

Forty million, you really dare to ask for it. Are they crazy? They have no bargaining chips. What are they going to ask me for? They ran in front of me and committed suicide, splashing my blood? Li Weidong sneered.

I also told the people in the union that they have no bargaining chips, but Jewell told me that if you are willing to compensate the 40 million dollars, then the 8,000-quantity Range Rover can continue to be sold. The lawyer said.

It turns out that they are responsible for the suspension of sales of Range Rover! Li Weidong understood instantly.

To buy a Range Rover in the United States, it costs at least US$100,000, and the high-end version is close to US$200,000. The 8,000-volume Land Rover can sell for at least 800 million. If you add some accessories, it is not a problem to sell more than 100 million. This move is bad enough, if I don’t give them the 40 million, the billions will be in vain!”

Thinking of this, Li Weidong smiled to himself,

These Americans are as arrogant as ever. They thought that I would not be able to make money without the American market? It's time to tell them that besides being an infrastructure maniac, we also have a huge market!

Thinking of this, Li Weidong picked up the phone and dialed a number.

Hello, Secretary Chen, I'm Li Weidong! I have something to report to you! I heard that your shed renovation project has started? Yes, there is a project that I would like to ask the leader for help...

...

Has there been no reply from Jaguar Land Rover? Menendez seemed a little impatient.

No, it's been several days since they received our offer, so they should have given some feedback, Jewell replied.

Are they unwilling to pay the 40 million US dollars in compensation? Should we lower some requirements? Menendez flinched again.

If they don't pay out the 40 million, they will lose at least 800 million! I believe they know how to calculate gains and losses. Jewell said confidently.

Menendez nodded, but still a little worried, he asked again: I'm still worried, Jaguar Land Rover hasn't contacted us for so long, has it found other buyers and plans to put these cars on sale? to other markets?

Impossible! Jewell shook his head firmly, and then said, This is an 8,000 Range Rover, not an 8,000 Corolla! The minimum price of a Range Rover is more than 100,000 US dollars. Apart from us in the United States, there is no other market that can eat so many Range Rovers in one go!

Is it possible in Europe? After all, Land Rover was originally a British brand. In Europe, there will be a market for Range Rover, right? Menendez asked.

Sir, don't forget that the cars produced in the United States are all left-hand drive cars, while the UK uses right-hand drive cars, so even if the 8,000-quantity Range Rover is shipped to the UK, it will not be sold.

Jewell went on to explain: In other European countries, there are also many luxury brands. Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW all have large SUV models. The competition is very fierce, and it is impossible to digest 8,000 Range Rovers in one go.

What about the Middle East? People in the Middle East are richer and can afford luxury cars, and they are more keen on large-displacement SUV models. Menendez said.

The luxury car market in the Middle East has always been in a relatively saturated state. There are no car brands in the Middle East, so it has long been the favorite of major auto companies. All luxury brands have been deployed there for decades, and they have long since taken the Middle East. After the cake is divided, it is impossible to digest another 8,000 Range Rovers. Jewell replied.

After all, Norwood Jewell is an insider in the industry, and he still has a good understanding of the pattern of the global auto market.

After listening to Jewell's introduction, Menendez's mind became much more stable.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door, and one of Menendez's assistants hurried in.

Sir, I just received news that Jaguar Land Rover has rented two ro-ro freighters, and they plan to ship the 8,000 Range Rovers to other countries for sale!

What? They're really going to put these cars on other markets! Menendez was taken aback, and then looked at Jewell viciously, as if to say, you bastard, you've been fooling me, you can't see me kill you!

Jerway immediately asked, Do you know where the freighter's destination is?

I asked the customs, and they said that the destination reported by the freighter was Shenzhen, China!

...

Shenzhen, an urban village, every house in the village has a special sign on the wall, with a circle on the outside and the character demolition on the inside.

This piece of urban village has been included in the shanty renovation plan and will be demolished soon. And each word demolition represents a fortune.

With the rapid development of the city, the villagers here lost their land as early as more than ten years ago, and broke away from agricultural production activities. I got a charterer. The villagers can live a good life by collecting rent.

The days of charterers are simple and boring. At noon, a few charterers who have just finished their morning tea, wearing vests and slippers, sit bored at the entrance of the village, watching the social animals passing by in front of them.

At this moment, a brand new Land Rover Range Rover came from a distance, and then stopped at the entrance of the village, immediately attracting everyone's attention. Under the sun, the Land Rover looks even brighter, in stark contrast to the word demolition on the wall.

A young man in his twenties got out of the car, wearing a floral shirt, big pants, and a pair of sunglasses, which looked somewhat unorthodox.

Everyone saw that this was Zhou Yaorong, an unemployed youth from the village!

Zhou Yaorong didn't like studying since he was a child. After graduating from junior high school, he went to a technical school for a few years and went back home without learning anything. There have been no fields in the village for a long time, and Zhou Yaorong doesn't need to farm, but lives a life of gnawing on the old.

In the village, there are many unemployed youths like Zhou Yaorong who live at home. In this city, if you don't have a degree and you don't want to suffer, you will definitely not be able to make money. Instead of working hard outside and depending on the face of the boss, and earning a little money in the end, it is better to collect rent safely at home. As long as you don't do anything prodigal, you will definitely be worry-free for the rest of your life.

Although the rent for the few rooms in Zhou Yaorong's house is not low, it is still far from buying a Range Rover. So when Zhou Yaorong appeared at the entrance of the village in a Range Rover, everyone cast doubtful glances.

Someone immediately asked: Yaorong, are you planning to go on a self-driving tour? You also rented a Land Rover, which consumes a lot of gas, right? This car is not very cost-effective for a self-driving tour!

Uncle Liu, do you look down on me? I didn't rent this car, I bought it! The car I just picked up today hasn't registered yet! Zhou Yaorong pointed to the temporary photo in the car.

Bought it? Is this a new car? It must be more than one million! Did you win the lottery? Uncle Liu asked subconsciously.

Isn't our village going to be demolished? My family has more than 10 million yuan in compensation for demolition, and I spent more than 1 million yuan on a car, isn't it commonplace? Zhou Yaorong paused, and then said:

Sixth Uncle, I remember that your family's compensation is more than mine, right? At that time, you will also get a big Land Rover. This car is so magnificent to drive out. When the time comes, the girls outside will hurry to marry your family!

I can't spend more than one million yuan to buy a car now, let's talk about it after the compensation is paid! Sixth Uncle said enviously, and his eyes could not help showing a little longing.

Uncle Six's son is still a bachelor, if he drives a Range Rover to go on a blind date, the chance of success will definitely increase several times.

Zhou Yaorong said, Sixth Uncle, you don't need to wait for the demolition money, you can buy it now, you just need a loan, and there is zero down payment and zero monthly payment! You don't need to bring a penny, and you can drive the car home!

What are you talking about? It doesn't cost money? Uncle Liu said with an incredulous expression on his face.

It's not that you don't spend money, it's a loan. You still have to pay it back in the future. Zhou Yaorong went on to explain: This is a joint activity organized by the Land Rover dealer and the Shed Renovation Office. As long as our relocated households buy a car, it can be done. For a loan with zero down payment and zero monthly payments, drive the car away first, and then pay for the car after the compensation comes down!

Is there such a good thing? I heard that the compensation can only be allocated next year, so if you buy a car now, you can drive it for several months! Uncle Liu exclaimed.

It's not for nothing, it's just paying a few months later. Zhou Yaorong chuckled, and then said: I was thinking, why don't you have to use the money sooner or later? Why do you have to wait a few more months? It’s better to buy it early and enjoy it early! This car is purely imported, with plenty of space and power, and when you drive this car out, it looks like a big boss, how face-saving it is.”

That's right. When you drive a Land Rover and go to a hotel for dinner, the guards at the door will salute you!

If you drive this car to have morning tea, what a deal!

Everyone echoed, while Uncle Six was thinking about his son's marriage to his daughter-in-law.

My bastard, he wants to look good but not good-looking, he wants to work but not work, and when he goes on a blind date, he won't be noticed by other girls! I have to buy a Land Rover quickly, let him go on blind dates, and he will always catch a girl who is greedy for money!

Thinking of this, Uncle Six leaned forward and asked, Yao Rong, tell me in detail how to buy this car?