#301 - R&D Dilemma

Originally, the official car was intended to be a Hongqi, but its development has faced many limitations.

As a national brand, besides the exterior design, which is domestic, all other parts of Hongqi are bought and assembled.

Moreover, the core technology is based on patents from foreign car companies. This wouldn't have been a problem, and Hongqi could have lived comfortably with the government's support!

However, it seems the higher-ups couldn't stand it anymore. They ordered Hongqi to research purely independent patent technology and issued a strict order to create a car with completely independent intellectual property rights.

To support Hongqi, the government even purchased an old Mitsubishi engine model for reverse engineering and allocated hundreds of billions in funding.

After obtaining the Mitsubishi engine technology, Hongqi internally designed a new C-class sedan, codenamed Hongqi C5.

However, the development of the C5 ran into significant difficulties, with the biggest problem stemming from the purchased Mitsubishi engine technology.

Initially, nothing was discovered during the research, but as the Hongqi technical engineers delved deeper, they found many fatal flaws in the engine, which would cause various problems in the later stages.

This led to the entire Hongqi engine project falling into an unprecedented predicament.

However, at this moment, Audi's HX8888 engine was born.

It not only developed the first purely independent intellectual property car engine in China before Hongqi.

But also won first and third place in the engine competition at the Ward's 10 Best Engines competition the following year.

Later, Audi even snatched Hongqi's originally designated official order with the Audi A6.

This has led to Hongqi becoming a joke among domestic brands.

Having hundreds of billions in research and development funds, yet not being as strong as a simple auto parts factory.

Even the head of Hongqi was severely reprimanded by the higher-ups and almost dismissed because of this matter.

This led to a situation where the senior executives within Hongqi have no goodwill towards the people at Audi!

There's no real reason, it's just that the existence of Audi makes them look incompetent.

However, regardless of their dislike, Hongqi's engine research still needs to continue.

That's why, upon seeing Lu Haifeng in Yanjing, Xia Chenggong received an order from the head of Hongqi to contact Lu Haifeng and see if Audi could provide some technical support to Hongqi.

After all, Audi's automotive technology is truly visible to all, and most domestic cars now use their three main components.

It just so happened that Xia Chenggong was next to Liu Chengming when Lu Haifeng called him.

When Xia Chenggong heard that they were going to meet, he shamelessly asked Liu Chengming to bring him along.

When Liu Chengming heard this, he knew what Xia Chenggong was planning. He definitely wanted to obtain technical assistance from Audi.

He thought it was just technical assistance, so he didn't think much and brought him along, after all, their relationship was pretty good.

Of course, he wouldn't come forward to say good things to Lu Haifeng for Xia Chenggong. He was just acting as an intermediary, introducing them to each other.

"Congratulations to President Lu on the upcoming launch of your new car!"

"Recently, I've been hearing a lot about Audi online!"

"I'll toast to you, President Lu!"

If you need something from someone, you have to put aside your face and dignity. Xia Chenggong, who is in the system, understands this very well.

So, he immediately raised his glass and complimented Lu Haifeng!

Lu Haifeng smiled and said, "Director Xia is too kind. Compared to Audi, Hongqi is the real national pride!"

Lu Haifeng knew that Xia Chenggong must be asking for something when he heard his compliment, and it must be related to Hongqi, so he brought up the topic.

Sure enough, Xia Chenggong immediately seized the opportunity when he heard Lu Haifeng's words.

He sighed helplessly and said, "Alas…"

"I'm not afraid of President Lu laughing, but our Hongqi has become a real joke!"

Lu Haifeng asked in surprise, "Oh, why is that?"

Xia Chenggong said with a wry smile, "Although a large part of the reason is on our side, it still has a lot to do with President Lu!"

Then, Xia Chenggong told Lu Haifeng about Hongqi's difficulties, but he only mentioned Hongqi's research and development difficulties and didn't mention being tricked by Mitsubishi.

"President Lu, to tell you the truth!"

"I shamelessly asked Old Liu to bring me here today just to meet President Lu!"

"And then, on behalf of Hongqi, I want to get some technical support from you!"

Xia Chenggong's request was within Lu Haifeng's expectations.

He thought that providing some technical support to Hongqi would not be a problem. He still hoped that domestic cars could have better development!

"That's possible. Tell me about your technical difficulties, and I'll send someone to contact you later!"

Lu Haifeng knew that Hongqi was developing its own intellectual property engine based on the engine technology purchased from Mitsubishi.

He thought that the other party might be stuck in a certain technology, such as direct injection in the cylinder, variable valve timing, and so on!

But who knew that Xia Chenggong's next words would completely darken Lu Haifeng's face.

After hearing Lu Haifeng's question, Xia Chenggong said excitedly, "That's right, President Lu, can you share the engine technology used in Audi A4 and Audi A6 with our Hongqi!"

"President Lu, don't worry, we will definitely pay every penny we owe!"

Lu Haifeng originally thought that Hongqi just wanted to get some technical support.

But he didn't expect the other party to ask for too much. They actually wanted Lu Haifeng to share the HX8888 engine technology on the Audi A4 and the 3.0T engine technology on the Audi A6.

Now, Lu Haifeng looked at Xia Chenggong with a hint of mockery and contempt on his face.

You Hongqi really have good plans. You want us to share technology with you, and you pay a little money.

Then you can justifiably make a little change to our technology, and finally say that you have developed your own engine.

Then you can step on our shoulders to rise. I really don't know which bastard came up with this shameless plan!

Liu Chengming was unhappy when he heard this. After all, Xia Chenggong was brought by him. What would Lu Haifeng think?

Liu Chengming said a little angrily: "Director Xia, you are a bit too much!"

"Although I don't understand any technology, I also know what an engine technology means to a car company!"

"You Hongqi want people to share technology with you, isn't this clearly bullying people?"