In the famous Volkswagen test track, a car was driving at high speed with a group of people watching.
The car being watched is different from Volkswagen's main Model T car. Its rounded shape is also very different from the angular Model T car. At the same time, it has a more metallic texture, and there is a metal bar across the front of the car.
Among the group of onlookers, Volkswagen's new general manager Ambrose was watching the driving of the car while whispering to Tuslied, the R&D director beside him.
Ambrose was the second CEO of Volkswagen who replaced the original general manager Minoba. He graduated from Oxford University and has been engaged in product sales since then. He joined Volkswagen in 1910 and gradually became the deputy general manager.
, took over as general manager after retiring from Minopa disease.
After taking office, he immediately showed a difference from Minoba. Perhaps because he had been engaged in sales, he was extremely sensitive to customer experience. For this reason, after taking office, he ordered sales points in various places to be responsible for conducting questionnaire surveys on customers.
. Mainly what I am dissatisfied with the Model T, and what price range can I accept for a car.
The results of the questionnaire survey will be fed back soon. Many people said that the Model T car is not good-looking and not suitable for people with status. In addition, the vehicle lacks protective devices, making people easily injured after a car accident, and
The ride quality is poor.
Ambrose attached great importance to these feedbacks and immediately ordered the R&D department to prepare a new generation of Volkswagen. It was required to be beautiful and elegant, and to have a certain degree of protection.
The reason for him to do this is simple. Volkswagen's position in the European vehicle market is currently under threat. Volkswagen currently has only 42.5% of the European market share, and it has almost fallen from being the only one to being among the best. Products from other European vehicle manufacturers
, is in fierce competition with the public.
Among them, the war factor had the greatest impact on Volkswagen. Because of the closure of the strait, Volkswagen could only export through Bulgaria, and the high transit fees increased the selling price of the car. When Bulgaria entered the war, basically Volkswagen's T
The model car can no longer be exported.
European car manufacturers such as Renault and Fiat are taking advantage of this window period to seize the market. For this reason, Renault has built a new car manufacturing plant in Lyon with 30,000 people, and Fiat has also built a factory in Milan with 1.5 people.
So after the war, Volkswagen re-entered the market and found that a lot of its market share had been taken away, and it was impossible to regain the market with the Model T. So Ambrose needed a new car to help Volkswagen regain its share of the market.
one's own status.
Of course, this task can only be satisfied by Tuslied, the director in charge of research and development. Tuslid is worthy of being the technical director of Europe's number one automobile company. After receiving the task, he started with the aesthetics. Abandoning the square head and square brain.
The front of the car uses a large number of arc design concepts, and changing the front to an oval shape looks more beautiful.
At the same time, a closed body design is used to give passengers a better private space. A newly developed four-wheel independent suspension device makes the passengers in the car more comfortable. At the same time, in order to avoid losses caused by car accidents, he also installed a front-mounted
There is a hollow circular steel column, and a radio is also installed in the car.
The power unit uses the latest 90-horsepower six-cylinder gasoline engine produced by Volkswagen and the Romanian Power Laboratory. This gasoline engine is not too outstanding in terms of horsepower, but it is small in size, not noisy, and works stably, making it very suitable for passenger use.
The use of the car. This new model uses all the newly developed technologies of Volkswagen.
Ambrose looked at the new car in front of him that had already run a few laps on the test track, turned to Tuslid beside him and asked: "What are the results of the various tests?"
Tuslid stared at the moving car and replied intently: "Most of the tests have been carried out, and there are only a few that have not been completed yet."
After hearing the words of the technical director, Ambrose continued: "The research and development work needs to be completed as soon as possible, and we need this new car to open up the market for us."
"No problem, I will work overtime to arrange personnel testing."
Ambrose looked at the new truck driving, thought for a while and said: "After you complete the test, transfer the available technology to the new truck project. Our freight trucks must also ensure marketability."
Tuslid replied while writing something in his notebook: "No problem."
Ambrose looked at the new car being tested for a while and then left. He needed to coordinate production matters with the production manager. After the new car was tested, factory production was arranged immediately.
Currently, Ambrose has arranged three different models for this new car, a simple version, a regular version, and a luxury version to meet the needs of different people. These are all tips Ambrose learned from sales.
Different versions use different configurations. The simple version cancels the radio, and the interior decoration of the car is also made of cheaper products. At the same time, there are also subtle differences with other models.
The regular version is the version currently used in the test car.
The luxury version uses newly developed metallic paint, and the door handles are gold-plated. You can tell that this car is extraordinary from its appearance. The interior decoration of the car is also made of a large number of expensive supplies, such as Italian cowhide for the seats, and a large amount of nanmu used in the car.
And other precious wood. Anyway, you can use it as luxuriously as you want. Of course, the price is also quite extraordinary. The current price of the new car is 2,000 lei for the simple version, 3,000 lei for the regular version, and 6,000 lei for the luxury version.
At the same time, on the rear of the car, the simple version is engraved with an A1 logo, the regular version is engraved with an M1 logo, and the luxury version is engraved with the S1 logo. This can basically meet the needs of all walks of life for vehicle use. It is also Ambrose's vision for the development of future cars.
planning.
In his view, it will no longer be possible to rely on one car to meet people's riding needs in the future. The myth of the Model T car will no longer exist.
Different classes have different needs for vehicles. Ordinary people only need vehicles for riding, and the price factor is their most important focus. The slightly richer middle class, in addition to riding, also pays attention to comfort and safety.
There is demand and affordability in terms of price. At the same time, it is also necessary to choose vehicles to separate them from ordinary people. As for the rich, of course comfort comes first, and they also need vehicles that can express their identity.
.
Therefore, even if a prototype car is used, they need to be sold separately. However, in order to seize the market, Volkswagen must develop new cars quickly, so it can only use the same prototype car first and can only separate them in details.
Ambrose has already planned that if the new car sales are good, he will immediately develop new cars and divide them into two types: mass-use cars and mid-to-high-end cars. Next, his idea needs to be verified by the market.
