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Twitter’s logo is a bird flying high. The design is not gorgeous at all. It only has the shape and outline of a bird, which is very simple.
This simple design style also extends to Twitter’s website interface.
Many media reporters and netizens watching the excitement flocked to Twitter to see what Lin Fan was up to.
As soon as they entered the homepage of the website, they saw a short line of text: Don't talk so much nonsense, the battle at the New Nordschleife will be decided!
Below the text, there is also an illustration of Lin Fan holding a racing helmet and leaning on a red Tesla sports car. The background of the picture is a wide car track.
This picture was taken a few days ago when I took my employees to the track to test the car, and Lin Fan used it directly.
At the same time, this picture is also used as the avatar of his Twitter account. It looks like a sports car, which is extremely vulgar.
Below the tweet he sent, there are three buttons: retweet, comment, and compare.
Car magazine reporter Alvin never thought that his interview with Lin Fan would cause such an uproar.
He had been paying attention to the progress of the situation and expected Lin Fan to respond.
Lin Fan's tweet has received more than 50,000 comments, more than 3,000 retweets, and more than 200,000 likes.
He started browsing various interesting comments under Lin Fan's tweets.
"There is no doubt that this is a collective effort by the automobile industry to exclude and suppress newcomers. Lin's reply is also very concise and powerful. You will know it after a comparison at the New York Speedway."
"What is the Nürburgring?"
Some people don't understand, and some people immediately start to popularize it.
“The Nürburgring Nordschleife is a high-speed track with almost unbelievable difficulty. It winds on the Eifel Plateau. The track rises and falls with the mountains. The vertical drop of the road is as high as 300 meters, and there are as many as 177 curves.
.
The Nordschleife also has a nickname: the touchstone of automotive performance.
Almost all major brand cars undergo track testing here before mass production.
If it can successfully pass the test, it will prove that this car has excellent mechanical properties."
"Oh, will the major car companies respond?"
"You have to ask the CEOs of major car companies about this."
"I've seen Tesla's test drive video at the Santa Clara Auto Show. Except for a few super sports cars, ordinary cars can't beat Tesla in terms of acceleration."
“Why do electric cars accelerate so fast?”
The comments quickly went viral, and some people started to learn more about electric cars and Tesla.
Alvin watched it with great interest, and then thought, such a good news subject should be reported well?
What Alvin can think of, other media have already thought of.
"Tesla declares a challenge to global fuel car companies",
"Nürburgring, who dares to fight me?",
"Three-year-old Tesla has challenged a century-old car company, and no car company in the world dares to challenge it."
…
Before Alvin could start reporting, other media outlets had already issued press releases, with each title becoming more exaggerated than the last.
They all watched the excitement without taking it too seriously, and deliberately provoked other well-known car companies in an attempt to create more conflicts.
Because there is conflict, there is news.
After the news spread, Tesla Inc.
Eberhard smiled and said: "We unanimously decided that you should be sent to play Lin.
In addition to being younger, more agile, and faster in nerve response, you are also the initiator of this challenge, and you are even more famous.
If you play the role, you will have the greatest impact and influence."
Tarpenning nodded and agreed: "Yes, Lin, you are a successful entrepreneur. You have your own topics. If you participate in the competition, it will definitely be better than placing 100 million yuan in advertising."
Lin Fan: "..."
"No, I've been suffering from back pain for the past two days, so I may not be suitable for driving."
Lin Fan has always cherished life, so he only cares about running on spacious and flat car tracks. Forget about tracks like those in cliff mountains.
Through the experience of his previous life, he understood the truth that you are the real winner only if you survive until the end, otherwise you are just three feet of loess.
All the imperial plans and supremacy are just a joke.
Seeing Lin Fan's embarrassment, the two burst into laughter.
Tarpenning said with a smile: "Lin, I'm kidding you, how could we be willing to let you be a racing driver.
You are now Tesla's great hero, even if the two of us were to drive a racing car, we would not send you on the field."
Eberhard nodded, "Yes, Lin, this Internet marketing plan you planned is great.
In my opinion, it is worth at least 100 million!
Now the entire United States is talking about our Tesla, and young people are proud to own a Tesla."
Lin Fan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Damn it, he really thought that the two of them were going to send him to the New Nordschleife Circuit.
"How many cars have been sold now?"
He quickly changed the subject and asked about car sales.
Tarpenning nodded, "A total of 32 cars were sold on the first day of the auto show the day before yesterday, 10 cars were sold in the morning, and more people came in the afternoon, and another 22 cars were sold at once.
Yesterday was really impressive, with 55 units sold in the whole day.
It is said that many people fly here from the east coast and want to order a Tesla.
This is all thanks to you, Lin. When I read the newspapers that reported on Tesla, half of them were discussing you."
Eberhard nodded. It must be admitted that Lin Fan is a well-known entrepreneur in Silicon Valley.
When he invested in Tesla and gave interviews to reporters, the effect was no less than hiring a celebrity spokesperson.
Lin Fan only showed up on the first day of the auto show. On the second day, he concentrated on planning Tesla's online marketing and did not go to the auto show.
After listening to Tarpenning's introduction, he nodded, "Good results, 87 cars were sold during the two days of the auto show.
Originally we expected to sell only 40 cars, but now our sales have more than doubled."
Eberhard shook his head and laughed, "Lin, there are more than 87 cars. Today, many entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley have called us, asking about our "Founders Series" and wanting to order one.
Currently, 30 Founder Series vehicles have been sold, each costing US$200,000, which has helped us raise US$6 million in funds.”
Tarpenning smiled, the Founder Series was also a gimmick created by Lin Fan.
To this end, we also found endorsements from Bill Gates and Bezos, and the advertising effect was immediate.
A large number of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs have had ideas about this car and want to own the same sports car as Bill Gates and Bezos.
This is a symbol of status and a manifestation of strength. It is the only magic weapon for showing off.
As for the high price of US$200,000, no one paid much attention to it or cared about it.
Through this incident, Eberhard and Tarpenning also saw the broad network of people behind Lin Fan.
Although he is Chinese, he has prospered in the American technology circle, which is amazing.
"Oh, there's something I need to tell you."
When Eberhard talked about the Founder Series, Lin Fan remembered something important and needed to communicate with the two of them.
"What's the matter?" Eberhard asked.
"Vestment (Waterfall Investment) and Bezos Expeditions (Bezos Venture Capital), two of their investment institutions are interested in investing in Tesla."
Lin Fan explained to the two of them: "Mr. Bill Gates and Mr. Bezos are not helping in vain. They are both interested in participating in Tesla's Series C financing.
Of course, they don’t ask for much in terms of share, and the symbolic significance is greater than the practical significance.”
Eberhard and Tarpenning looked at each other, and the latter reminded him: "Lin, according to the Series B financing agreement, Equity Value Capital has the first right to lead the next round of financing in Tesla."
Lin Fan waved his hand, "I haven't forgotten this. Waterfall investment, Bezos Ventures does not need to lead the investment, just follow the investment."
Eberhard frowned, "You personally hold 33.33% of Tesla's shares, and Lin Capital holds 15.88% of Tesla's shares.
Combined, the two hold a total of 49.21% of Tesla's shares.
If you and Lin Capital also want to invest, plus Waterfall Investment and Bezos Venture Capital’s share of the investment.
The investment share that belongs to equity value capital may not be called a lead investment, but a follow-up investment.”
Lin Fan understood what Eberhard meant and thought that his shareholding in Tesla was too high.
He said calmly: "I remember we signed an agreement. In the next few years, I need to invest US$84 million in Tesla.
Including Lin’s capital, the total investment commitment of US$16.3 million has only been fulfilled.”
Eberhard was silent. The reason why he asked Lin Fan to promise to invest US$84 million in Tesla in the next few years was because Tesla's future was uncertain and he had to find someone with big legs to support him.
But with Tesla's debut at the auto show and its popularity on the Internet, the financing environment faced by Tesla is completely different from that of more than a year ago.
In the past, Tesla begged its father and grandma, but could not find an institution willing to invest.
Now, a large number of investment institutions have extended an olive branch to Tesla, expressing interest in learning about the electric vehicle industry and Tesla's business model.
It cannot be said that he is arrogant or not grateful, but from a practical perspective, he must defend his right to speak in Tesla.
Eberhard thought carefully about what method he could use to make Lin Fan give up increasing his shareholding in Tesla without causing conflicts between the two parties.
Tesla's popularity on the Internet allowed him to see Lin Fan's influence and connections in the technology circle.
From the perspective of the company's development, he naturally hopes that Lin Fan can be of one mind with them and support their work. He also hopes that Lin Fan will continue to make suggestions and contribute his own strength to Tesla.
From a personal perspective, he really didn't want to see Lin Fan continue to increase his shareholding and voice in Tesla.
After thinking for a moment, Eberhard said in a consultative tone: "Lin, do you think this is possible? Tesla's Series C financing was led by Value Equity Capital, Lin Capital, Waterfall Investment, and Bezos Venture Capital.
Follow the investment.
As for SDL and Compass, because they gave up activating the anti-dilution clause during their Series B financing.
Right now, although the two of them desperately want to participate in Tesla's Series C financing, we have decided to exclude them.
Part of this extra investment share will be used to take care of Lam Capital, and part of it will be used to make friends with Bill Gates and Bezos, the two tycoons in the technology industry."
"You want me to personally give up on investing?"
Lin Fan's tone was dull, without any emotion.
Eberhard smiled, "Maybe this is unfair to you personally.
But we take a longer-term view and introduce more diversified shareholders and stronger allies, which will help Tesla’s future development.
As you have seen in the past two days, the traditional automobile industry does not welcome us as an intruder and is using various means to stumbling upon us.
Without this group of wealthy people and entrepreneurs in the tech world to cheer us on, we would really be weak and without even one ally willing to speak out fairly.”
Lin Fan felt that Eberhard's excuse was really quite powerful.
Everyone has selfish motives, especially now that Tesla has made breakthrough progress, and after the pressure to survive is resolved, it begins to consider reducing power.
Lin Fan looked into Eberhard's eyes and said loudly: "What if I insist on joining the investment personally?"
Eberhard grinned, "Then just follow suit, I'm just making a suggestion.
Value Equity Capital still needs you to communicate."
Lin Fan nodded slightly. Through the brief conversation just now, he also tested Eberhard's bottom line.
The reason why the two sides did not fall out was because the strength he showed made the other party afraid.
At the same time, Tesla has not yet truly matured, but has only taken a small step forward.
As the true founder of Tesla, Eberhard was not willing to be a puppet on strings.
He had seen this kind of unwillingness from Jack Ma.
It is precisely because of this that Lin Capital invested in Ahri.
As for whether Eberhard will deal with himself in the future like Jack Ma dealt with venture capital, it is difficult to say, but it is worth vigilance.
Lin Fan was silent, and so was Eberhard.
Seeing this, Tarpenning broke the silence and said: "Defengjie also intends to invest in Tesla, and they contacted Eberhard and me."
"Defengjie?"
Lin Fan frowned at first, then relaxed his brows.
He asked, how could Draper be so kind as to speak for Tesla?
It turned out that the idea of Tesla came up.
That all makes sense.
"What did you think about it?" Lin Fan glanced at the two of them and asked.
The smile returned to Eberhard's face, "Defender is one of the most well-known venture capital institutions in Silicon Valley.
Their investment in Tesla is good for our brand endorsement.
What I mean is to let them follow part of the investment and make an additional powerful ally."
"I have no objection. Just reduce the waterfall investment and give a portion of Bezos Venture Capital's investment share to DFJ."
Lin Fan didn't have a very good impression of Draper, but from a rational perspective, there were many benefits for Tesla to accept DFJ's investment at this time and open its doors to the investment institutions on Sand Hill Road.
Therefore, he also offered to allocate part of the share of Bezos Venture Capital and Waterfall Investment to Draper Jet.
Of course, he has a little thought here, which is to make Tesla's equity as dispersed as possible, so that it is not easy to be twisted into a rope to cause damage.
His current holdings in Tesla have reached a critical point and are very close to the 51% holding line.
Eberhard Tarpenning was very wary of this.
He guessed that if he had given in when Eberhard had just tested him, the other party might have taken advantage of him.
And he behaved like a hedgehog, which made Eberhard afraid to act casually.
Now the two founders are testing again. He deliberately kept his tone a little loose to give them some hope.
In fact, he has never given up on the 51% holding line.
It's just that you can't act casually, you have to plan it slowly.
"That's great!"
Eberhard smiled and said, "Mr. Draper was originally worried that you might have a prejudice against him.
I told Mr. Draper not to worry.
Because I know that Lin, you are a person who understands righteousness and is very wise..."
Perhaps he was a little worried that what he just said might offend Lin Fan and wanted to repair the relationship;
Or perhaps because he wanted to paralyze Lin Fan, Eberhard began to flatter Lin Fan.
Lin Fan smiled and said nothing, with a strong balance in his heart.
The three people discussed and determined the list of investors and the investment shares of each investor, and then began to send notification letters to shareholders such as SDL, Compass, and Value Equity Capital.
In fact, these three companies are all small shareholders with very few voting rights. As long as Lin Fan, the major shareholder, nods, any decision made by Tesla can be freely approved by the board of directors.
