Opening the internal issue of "Zhonghua Chronicles" on the desktop, Han Hao saw a report that a new employee named Chen Yang dared to pull down the rope and suspend the production line.

"Zhonghua Journal" is the internal journal of Chung Hwa Group, published once every six months, with the main purpose of reporting the latest news around employees and publishing the news of the group.

As a means of shaping the company's culture, China Chronicles allows many employees to deepen their understanding of the company and share their joys, sorrows, and sorrows.

"This guy is nice and responsible. ”

Han Hao said casually after reading it, and he had a rough impression of it in his mind.

As an entrepreneur who manages nearly 20,000 people, he certainly wouldn't overstep the ranks to promote this new employee. The entire Zhonghua Group is like a precision machine, and Chen Yang, as one of the parts, will naturally have a personal platform to show his talent in the future if he is really good.

For the strategic layout of new energy vehicles, Han Haode immediately flew to the United States to negotiate strategic investment and battery technology cooperation projects with Tesla Motors with Xiong Fanxing.

Xiong Fanxing has always admired Tesla's battery technology, calling it probably the best pure electric vehicle solution in the world at this stage. Once it can be commercialized, it is enough to subvert the traditional gasoline engine market.

The last time he came to Silicon Valley, he had a discussion with his college classmates, and he thought Tesla's technology was very radical but feasible.

Stepping on the land of the United States again, this country known as the hope of mankind, Han Hao knows that in the future, if the China Group wants to go to the world, it will conquer this land, just like the car brands of Japan and South Korea to gain a firm foothold in North America. Despite the rapid growth of China's auto market, the United States is still the world's largest auto market, with annual sales exceeding 17 million units. China's auto market is estimated to break the 5 million mark this year, but it is only one-third of that of the United States.

The most optimistic foreign research institutions have predicted that China will reach a market size of 10 million cars in 2010, and it will take 2020 to surpass the United States. In the case of the cold winter of China's auto market this year, foreign research institutions have further lowered the forecast speed, adding another two years to the original standard, and feel that the future situation of China's auto market is not clear.

This is because under the negative impact of China's economic macroeconomic regulation and control in the past, the bearish on China's economy and the theory of China's collapse have risen abroad.

Applying the experience of the West, they have come to the conclusion that China's economy will be unable to sustain high growth and will inevitably lead to all-round social contradictions.

Western countries agreed to China's accession to TO for the sake of China's huge 1.3 billion demographic dividend market, so as to absorb their excess production capacity. Despite the collapse theory promoted by politicians and media, capital continues to flow into China because of the huge returns that can be made here.

Silicon Valley is the innovation center of the United States and the world, especially after entering the Internet era, where countless Internet giants were born and deeply influenced China.

Although I don't want to admit it, China's Internet companies have learned from the United States and occupied the Chinese market after localizing the American model.

Tesla Motors was developed in this land of innovation, and Han Hao prefers to treat it as an Internet company because they don't have any heavy assets.

However, Han Hao's personal visit to the United States has not been taken seriously by Tesla.

As the president of the company, the actual controller Musk is on vacation by the sea, and he handed over the task of receiving Han Hao to his deputy, who is also the company's other co-founder, Eberhard.

Known as a technology maniac and business genius, Musk is not interested in guests from China, and the only thing that can motivate him is Chinese money.

Simply flipping through Han Hao's resume, Musk feels that this Chinese is like the impression of China he knows, relying on plagiarism to build a seemingly powerful castle in the air, and he can't tell when he will collapse, and he is not a technical maniac like himself.

"In the field of technology, it is not the turn of the Chinese to dictate, they are only good at picking up cold food after us. Technical cooperation is possible, but they have to bear the risk of non-voting rights investment shares, and the technology is only licensed for a period of 3 years. ”

The terms of the partnership have been previously agreed, with Chunghwa Group paying $4 million to acquire 5% of Tesla Motors' Series B financing of non-voting shares, as well as the sharing of electric vehicle technology between the two parties.

In Tesla's B round of venture capital, Musk plans to raise $25 million to build a prototype of a high-end electric car as soon as possible. According to his idea, the subsequent Series C financing of another $100 million to open the road to small-scale production. Eventually, it was listed on the NASDAQ, making Tesla Motors a new fashion vane.

However, before Han Hao came to the United States to sign the contract, Musk changed the cooperation plan, stipulating the technical cooperation period to 3 years, and also added a plan that the board of directors has the right to repurchase the equity of Zhonghua Group at the market price without reason after 3 years.

"Although I don't think the Chinese can build a car that looks good, I always have to guard against it to avoid intellectual property disputes in the future." I know that the Chinese also see a bright future for electric vehicles, but in order to ensure the uniqueness of Tesla cars, we have to think carefully.

Don't worry, the Chinese have asked us, and they will definitely agree to this temporary change of terms. ”

Musk confidently commanded the company's personnel remotely over the phone, getting them ready for a new cooperation agreement.

When I came to the headquarters of Tesla Motors, it was really the same as Han Hao imagined, which was the office location of an Internet company.

After talking, it was learned that Tesla Motors now has a total of less than 150 people, and they are working hard to improve their battery control technology to make lithium batteries safer and more durable.

The most dazzling is the Tzero, that is, Tesla No. 0, which is the best example of proving the practicality of 18650 lithium batteries.

Han Hao personally test-drove the Tzero, and sure enough, the power output was very strong, and it was the best acceleration electric car he had ever ridden.

It seems that among various new energy schemes, 18650 lithium batteries have great potential. If it is true that Tesla has advertised to solve the battery stability problem, this will be the most feasible solution for mass production of batteries.

"We have our own battery company in China, and they can cooperate with you to conduct various experiments in order to get 18650 lithium batteries commercially available in electric vehicles as soon as possible. ”

This time he came to the United States, Han Hao really realized how the best solution Xiong Fanxing said was performing. The test drive of Tzero made him firmly determined to invest heavily in research and development in the direction of 18650 lithium batteries. In order to show the sincerity of technology sharing, Han Hao offered to help the ATL battery factory he controlled.

Unexpectedly, Eberhard, who was in charge of receiving Han Hao, showed an embarrassed smile on his face, and then he was embarrassed to answer.

"Thank you very much for your initiative, but we have finalized the in-depth cooperation with Panasonic to carry out research on 18650 lithium batteries. They gave excellent conditions, so this cooperation is an exclusive technical cooperation. ”

The world's best battery technology is in the hands of Japanese brands, and Panasonic has a unique knack for commercial 18650 technology.

To be honest, Eberhard has no confidence in the battery technology of the Chinese, and Tesla cars do not have much time to waste on useless places. Panasonic is excited that Tesla can choose its own 18650 lithium battery, which means that the future of the electric vehicle market is wide. Think about it, if all the internal combustion engine cars running on the road are replaced with battery-powered vehicles, the car battery market alone will be enough to create a new Panasonic.

From the euphemistic tone of Eberhard's mouth, Han Hao heard the overtone, and the other party didn't look down on the battery technology from China at all. Come to think of it, Chinese companies have been catching up, and there is still a long way to go compared with old powers like Japan.

However, Han Hao will not give up easily in his heart, and in the future, the electric vehicle batteries of Zhonghua Group cannot be in the hands of Japanese brands, and must have their own technical sources.

After returning to China this time, ATL's main R&D direction will turn to 18650 lithium batteries to do a good job in R&D for electric vehicles.

Although he didn't see Musk, Han Hao didn't care too much, and Alberhard received him very well.

But when the other party came up with a new signing clause, Han Hao felt very uncomfortable with the clause that was temporarily added.

"I won't sign such a clause, because not only is it your temporary change of mind, but also the unfair behavior that can kick us out at any time, which presumably no normal investor will accept.

While we're interested in your battery technology, that doesn't mean we have to accept an unfair alliance with the city. ”

Originally, he agreed to the non-voting shareholding plan for the sake of technology, but now the other party has added a passive exit clause without reason, which makes Han Hao unable to agree.

As an Internet car company with fewer than 150 employees and no heavy assets, Han Hao has always been skeptical about its development prospects. He admits that the other party has invented new energy battery technology, but there is a question mark over whether the vehicle can be sold smoothly in the future.

"Hmm...... Or maybe you think again. I will also discuss it with the board of directors and try to come up with a mutually acceptable outcome. ”

Eberhard thought to himself that the Chinese were really not fools, and even he would not sign such a ghost thing. Musk is sometimes too arrogant and insists that everyone else has to follow his arrangement.

As an Internet asset-light car company, if it can cooperate with a company like Zhonghua Group with a physical factory in the future, it will be a long-term move to manufacture Tesla cars in China.

Therefore, Eberhard felt that he should try to promote cooperation with the Chinese.

Traditional auto companies don't play with Tesla cars, and now there is finally a potential partner from China, or a new upstart in traditional auto companies, so naturally it should not be missed.

After he sent Han Hao and the others away, he immediately called Musk and told him his suggestion.

"The Chinese are very sincere, we should not only think about the immediate things, but also take a long-term view. We need their money now, and maybe we'll need their factories in the future. Personally, I think you should withdraw your improvisation, or I'll ask for a management meeting to discuss the issue. ”

As a co-founder, Eberhard had to think about the future of Tesla Motors. Even if Musk controls the company, he can still unite others to counter one or two.

"Well, I can take a step back and remove the clause that allows them to be out at any time, but the three-year period of technical cooperation must be retained, but they can be given priority to renew. You did remind me that the workers and factories in China are a big investment, and if we are to mass produce them in the future, they may need to be used. ”

Musk, as a successful businessman, knows how to calculate the maximum profits, and nodded and agreed to the terms of the amendment.

Back at the hotel, Han Hao asked Xiong Fanxing how long it would take to get 18650 lithium battery technology by himself.

"Two to three years, but if you get Tesla's technology, this time can be reduced to half a year. However, in some areas of battery control technology, we are still far behind them.

In my opinion, if you cooperate, the win-win situation is greater than the failure. When it comes to innovation, we're too far from Silicon Valley. ”

Xiong Fanxing frankly admitted that Tesla's technology is unique, and he still suggested cooperating with it.

On the negotiating table, you must prepare for the worst, Han Hao is weighing the gains and losses in his heart. In the field of electric vehicles, Zhonghua Group is in a blank, and if you cooperate with Tesla, you can indeed take a shortcut.

But it was unacceptable for him to agree to the temporary increase in unequal treaties.

Fortunately, Eberhard called that night, announcing a new cooperation plan, and repeatedly explaining that the three-year period was sufficient and not necessary.

Han Hao accepted it when he saw it, and planned to develop a new electric car with Tesla, and then consider the matter of breaking up, so he agreed to this new plan.