Liu Zhenbo is Sales Director at Bosch.

As a unique supplier of CVT steel belts in the world, Liu Zhenbo thought of who would supply the steel belts as soon as he saw the release of CVT by Nanshan Gearbox.

The CVT is either a Bosch steel belt or a Schaeffler steel chain.

So far, no third option has emerged.

But whether he has supplied steel belts to Nanshan gearbox, Liu Zhenbo is naturally very clear.

So after seeing the news, he called Zhang Guoyi, Schaeffler's sales director, directly.

"Mr. Zhang, Nanshan Gearbox has started to produce CVT, do you know this news?"

Although Liu Zhenbo has basically decided that the Nanshan gearbox purchased the steel chain from Schaeffler, he must still confirm it again.

What if something else?

Besides, even if Schaeffler's steel chain was actually used, he wanted to know more.

"I was just trying to call you to see if you have any cooperation with them."

"How?"

"Looking at what you mean, it seems that you were also surprised by their release of CVT transmissions?"

Zhang Guoyi is not stupid, Liu Zhenbo will call him at this time to ask him this question, obviously he is not clear about the development of CVT by Nanshan Transmission.

Then Bosch will definitely not supply the other party with steel belts for CVT transmissions.

At least there is no direct supply.

But then things get a little weird.

"They don't have a CVT from Schaeffler?"

From Zhang Guoyi's dialogue, Liu Zhenbo also quickly obtained some information.

This caused a feeling of unease to rise in his heart.

"Nope!"

"They never talked to us about buying steel chains."

"Mr. Liu, you should have heard of the relationship between Schaeffler and Nanshan Group."

"Whether it is the competition of bearings on automobiles or the competition of high-speed rail bearings, Schaeffler and Nanshan Group are direct competitors."

"We don't have any business dealings with each other, and we even hope that the other party will go out of business tomorrow!"

"In this case, Nanshan gearbox has not been asked to buy steel chains from us, even if it has not been contacted by us."

"I don't even know the contact information of the other party's purchase."

When Zhang Guoyi said this, Liu Zhenbo was naturally able to understand the situation.

Although Bosch's situation is a little different from Schaeffler's, the relationship between Bosch and Nanshan Group is also not good.

You know, Nanshan Auto Parts is Bosch's biggest competitor in China.

Even because of Nanshan Group, Bosch lost many orders in Huaxia.

Engine ECUs, high-pressure oil pumps, and other components are Bosch's traditional strengths.

ESP and other electronic control parts are also Bosch's specialty projects.

But these things, Nanshan Group has subsidiaries that can produce.

Even Nanshan Engine directly monopolized the supply of seven or eighty percent of the engines of domestic independent brands, which directly made Bosch lose the opportunity to quote these seven or eighty percent of the engines.

Other manufacturers that do not directly use Nanshan engines also purchase parts from Nanshan Auto Parts and assemble them themselves.

It can be said that the emergence of Nanshan Group has caused Bosch's business in China to drop by at least 30%, or even by half.

With this background, it is strange that the relationship between Bosch and Nanshan Group can be good.

"It's weird, they didn't buy steel belts or steel chains from either of us, so how do they make CVTs?"

"Did they make the parts themselves?"

When Liu Zhenbo said this, Zhang Guoyi was also a little uneasy in his heart.

Prior to this, the two of them basically carved up the steel belt/steel chain market of CVT.

The specific share depends on which technical route the main engine factory chooses, and there is not much competition between them.

But now the situation is different.

Once Nanshan Group can really produce steel belts or steel chains by itself, then the market pattern will change.

"Mr. Liu, I remember that the production of steel belts is very difficult, right?"

Zhang Guoyi is a little unacceptable that Nanshan Group has broken through steel belt or steel chain technology.

It was a huge blow.

"The CVT steel belt relies on the mutual squeezing of many thrusters to transmit power, but ordinary steel belts are easy to break due to long-term mechanical fatigue."

"Many people think that the surface of the steel belt is smooth, but in fact, the steel belt is made up of countless triangular pieces."

"The basis of our Bosch CVT steel belt is Germany's strong steel smelting level, and although Huaxia's steel production is high, the steel smelting technology is lagging behind the world's top level."

"In addition to the steel, we have also carried out automatic transmission of the steel rim, solvent-free cleaning and laser melting of the rim edge, so that the Bosch steel belt can be used for 300,000 kilometers without damage."

"This is something that no one else can do."

Although the popularity of CVT steel belts is very low, most people do not know that Bosch also produces such a thing.

Even people in the automotive industry don't know about it.

But for this product, Liu Zhenbo is still very confident.

"I also think so, qualified CVT steel belts are not so easy to produce."

"Qualified steel chains are also not so easy to produce."

"I think I can complain about this aspect under the Weibo of Nanshan Gearbox and guide the development of public opinion."

Although Zhang Guoyi knew that he had no way to change the result, he felt that he could still do it if he disgusted the Nanshan gearbox in the process.

"At present, Nanshan Transmission has only announced the basic information of the three CVTs, and the internal structure has not been announced."

"Let's see if we can use the comments to find out whether they used steel belts or steel chains."

Arranging for people to speak in other people's comment areas is naturally not a difficult thing.

Even if Zhang Guoyi doesn't say it, Liu Zhenbo will do it.

Of course, it's hard to say whether it will work or not.

But after this topic is raised, at least some people can pay more attention to the situation of steel belts or steel chains.

This does not hurt for Bosch.

However, without waiting for Bosch and Schaeffler to act, the second round of publicity for the Nanshan gearbox came.

The main parameters and internal structure of CVT were proactively announced.

And it also directly advertises that its CVT needs to be replaced with transmission oil every 50,000 kilometers, and other places are maintenance-free for life.

This immediately made Bosch even more uncomfortable.

"Mr. Liu, the steel belt structure of Nanshan gearbox is somewhat similar to us, I think the technical team can study it well to see if there is any infringement of our patents?"

As a Bosch sales manager, Ren Cai naturally knows the meaning of the CVT of Nanshan Transmission does not use its own steel belt.

In the future, Bosch's unique business in CVT steel belts will not be able to continue.

If you want to continue to sell steel belts at a high price, it must be a little difficult.

After all, there is such a choice as Nanshan Group.

"Lifetime maintenance-free, our steel belt is so good, that is, 300,000 kilometers of life, they dare to say that it is maintenance-free for life, and it is very good to blow."

Liu Zhenbo's mood is very complicated.

He knew that there was a high probability that he would not win the lawsuit.

The other party dares to use the steel belt researched and produced by itself, which shows that people are not afraid of lawsuits.

And Nanshan Group will definitely not simply copy Bosch's design.

As long as the other party consciously makes some actions to avoid patents, it will be very difficult for Bosch to win the lawsuit.

After all, this is Huaxia!

"For most cars, they drive less than 300,000 kilometers before they are scrapped."

"Therefore, the so-called lifetime maintenance-free does not mean that their steel belt technology level is higher than ours."

"It's not surprising that it's even worse than us."

"It's just that people are more good at publicity."

When Ren Cai said this, Liu Zhenbo couldn't help but nodded.

There is nothing wrong with this logic!

However, in the eyes of consumers and CVT manufacturers, the feeling is completely different.

Bosch does not dare to easily promise that its steel belts are maintenance-free for life.

The risk of such an after-sales warranty is too high.

"In any case, this matter still needs to be taken seriously."

"We need to keep abreast of the developments on the part of Aisin and Honda, and most of their future models will use CVT transmissions."

"They are the main customers of our steel belts."

Liu Zhenbo is most worried about Nanshan Group now grabbing orders with him.

At present, the OEMs that use CVT more are mainly Dongying car companies and Korea car companies.

Toyota and Honda use Bosch steel belts for CVT transmissions, while Nissan and Subaru use Schaeffler steel chains for CVT transmissions.

As for Hyundai Motor, Bosch supplied it at the beginning, but Liu Zhenbo had already heard that the company under Hyundai Mobis was preparing to produce it by itself.

This means that in the future, the steel belt market will be far less moist than it is now.

"Toyota's relationship with the Nanshan Group is very poor, and the Nanshan transmission is Aisin's main competitor."

"So I don't think it's possible for Aisin to buy steel belts from the Nanshan Group."

How to judge the customer's reaction and take some countermeasures in advance.

This is a skill that sales managers of various parts companies need to master.

As a Bosch sales manager, Ren Cai's personal competence is beyond doubt.

According to her speculation, Bosch on Aisin's side doesn't need to do anything special, and it's better to act as if nothing happens.

Otherwise, it is likely to fall into passivity, allowing Aisin to seize the opportunity to reduce prices.

"Well, you're right, so Isin's side won't care about it for now."

"But the situation of Honda is different, their transmissions are all produced and sold, and there is no competition with Nanshan transmission."

"And in the early years, Honda had a good cooperation with Nanshan Group, and even now there are some transactions."

"Now that Nanshan Group is able to produce CVT steel belts by itself, they will definitely consider finding Honda to grab orders from us."

Liu Zhenbo gave his judgment very affirmatively.

"That's true, that's the most troublesome thing right now."

"However, Honda's actions are often slow, and if they want to change the core components such as steel belts, they need to verify it for at least one or two years before they can be installed on new models."

"I think there's still time to talk to them."

"Honda's own auto parts technology is not as good as Toyota's, and they are more dependent on us."

"I think we can make full use of this situation to deal with the steel belt."

When Ren Cai said this, Liu Zhenbo couldn't help but nodded.

Indeed, this is the truth.

Honda's steel belt order, it seems that I don't need to worry about losing the order.

As long as we cooperate better in terms of annual price reductions in the future, and then communicate closely with other parts, it seems that it will be okay?

Of course, things don't always work out as they think they want them to.

What they can think of, Nanshan Auto Parts can naturally think of too.

"Mr. Cao, I went to inquire and find out, Bosch's steel belts are mainly used for Toyota and Honda's CVTs."

"Toyota supplies Aisin, so it definitely doesn't make sense for us to go to Aisin."

"But Honda has a gearbox made by their own company, and I'm going to go to Dongying in person and talk to them."

"As long as we can convince Honda's headquarters to procure, we will have a chance to get orders for steel belts from the Huaxia plant or the American and Dongying factories."

As the general manager of Nanshan Auto Parts, Dai Hanbiao naturally wants to expand some new business.

CVT steel belt, as their latest successful research part, naturally also needs to consider customers outside of Nanshan gearbox.

"It's okay to give it a try, but don't expect too much."

"As far as Dongying car companies are concerned, the cycle for them to change a part is very long."

"At that time, it is estimated that they will have to rely on the low-cost CVT of Nanshan Transmission to prompt them to take the initiative to find a price reduction plan and find us to buy steel belts."

It's the same project, you go to someone and someone else takes the initiative to find you, and the speed and smoothness of the progress are completely different.

A lot of things are pretty much the same.

Whoever has the initiative in their hands will be much more comfortable.

Obviously, Nanshan Auto Parts is now going to Honda to discuss the supply of steel belts, and the initiative is on Honda's side.

On the other hand, although it cannot be completely said that the initiative is in the hands of Nanshan Auto Parts, at least it will not be so passive.

The products of Nanshan gearbox are destined to be sold to various domestic independent brands.

The brand power has been rising, if the cost of the gearbox can drop a lot, then the price of the independent brand will be even more lethal.

This is certainly not the situation that Toyota and Honda want to see.

Even when the time comes, Aisin will come to Nanshan Auto Parts to buy steel belts, and it is not impossible at all.

After all, if Bosch is the only supplier for such a key part as steel belt, there must be a certain supply risk.

In the event of an accident, Aisin's CVTs had to be discontinued.

This is certainly not in Aisin's interest.

In the shopping mall, it is also a matter of competitors and partners, which is also very common.

"Bosch is Nanshan's biggest competitor to the world's No. 1 auto parts, and I think anything that can damage Bosch, I can give it a try."

"It's successful, we have a big order."

"We have nothing to lose."

"Anyway, whether it succeeds or fails, it can disgust Bosch."

Zeng Tingting expressed her opinion on the side.

Over the years, she has competed with Bosch in many OEMs, and it is really unpleasant to see Bosch.

Now that there is an opportunity to pit Bosch, she is absolutely supportive.

Even if this matter is not good for Nanshan Group in the end, then as long as there is no harm, it can be done.

Cao Yang did not object to this.

He even went further: "CVT transmissions are not only used by Toyota and Honda, but also by Nissan. ”

"You can simply communicate with other transmission companies to see if you can sell our steel belts to them."

"Compared with the steel chain structure, the CVT of the steel belt structure is still cheaper."

"As for the problems of slippage and insufficient torque loading, which everyone is worried about, they have been greatly improved on our CVTs."

"Even if it doesn't work out, you can disgust Scheffler at the same time."

In response to Zeng Tingting's plan, Cao Yang simply diverged.

The two manufacturers of such parts, Bosch and Schaeffler, are both competitors of the Nanshan Group, and everyone has not been short of tricks in the past.

As long as there is an opportunity to stumble on the other side, everyone will not be soft.

Now that the opportunity is in the hands of Nanshan Group, Cao Yang will naturally not be polite.

In this way, Bosch and Schaeffler's side were naturally disgusted very quickly.

"Mr. Liu, the procurement of Honda auto parts has just called me, can our steel belt be reduced by 30%?"

Ren Cai came to Liu Zhenbo with a heavy face.

Steel belt is a project with a relatively high profit margin, and it is also a relatively promising project.

After all, in the future, most of Honda's models around the world will be equipped with CVT transmissions, and the steel belts in these transmissions are produced by Bosch.

That's an order of four to five million units a year, most of which are produced at Bosch's plant in Huaxia.

Calculated as a turnover, it is billions of yuan a year.

No matter which supplier it is placed in, the annual turnover of billions of yuan is not a small project.

“30%？”

Liu Zhenbo was directly angry, "Reduce the price by 30% a year? What supplier's price reduction can be reduced like this? ”

For suppliers like Bosch, who have mastered the core technology, they do not have a real sense of Party B when they get along with OEMs.

Even a lot of the time they're more like Party A.

Especially in the past, when there was no Nanshan auto parts in China, Bosch was even more superior.

Normally, their price reduction is 1% or 2% of the price reduction, and being able to have 3% is considered very cooperative.

A higher percentage, that's simply not possible.

"According to them, our offer is at least 30% higher than the industry."

"So this 30% must be reduced, if it is difficult to reduce it at one time in a year, then it can be divided into three years, and the price can be reduced by 10% every year."

As soon as Ren Cai said this, Liu Zhenbo immediately realized something.

30% more expensive than the industry?

In the past, Bosch was the only one in the CVT steel belt industry, and this was a unique business.

Now the only change point is the Nanshan gearbox that came out some time ago.

They did not buy parts from Bosch and Schaeffler, so nine times out of ten, the CVT steel belt was produced by Nanshan Auto Parts.

It's it again!

The ghost is not gone!

"Did the people from Nanshan Auto Parts go to Honda for procurement?"

Liu Zhenbo stared at Ren Cai and asked a little bit through gritted teeth.

Naturally, the results go without saying.

"Mr. Liu, although I am not sure what the level of the CVT steel belt of Nanshan Auto Parts is, since Nanshan Gearbox dares to officially launch the CVT, I estimate that the performance should be passable."

"If we really don't cut prices, it's likely that there will really be some moves on Honda's side."

"So I wondered if I would negotiate with them and divide the 30% into six years, with a 5% price reduction every year."

"It doesn't seem like the steel belts we sold before are too expensive, and Honda has finally achieved the goal of a 30% reduction."

Ren Cai proposed a compromise solution.

Although this plan may not necessarily work, she feels that it is reluctantly acceptable to both parties.

With this plan, at least it will not force Honda to go all out to develop Nanshan auto parts.

In the future, even if Nanshan auto parts come in, Bosch should still be able to retain a part of the share.

"It's best to be able to find some reasons why our costs are relatively high, so that they know that the parts produced by different manufacturers are different."

"In the end, I really can't come up with your plan."

Liu Zhenbo took a deep breath and finally chose to respect the facts.

Bosch wants to make a lot of money in the future, and it is becoming more and more difficult.

……

Just when Bosch and Schaeffler were uncomfortable because of the turmoil of Nanshan auto parts, Cao Yang did not have time to pay attention to these things.

Because Pan Jun came to Cao Yang with a few special customers.

Needless to say, Cao Yang knew that there must be a hard-core project waiting for him to participate in the development this time.

"On a helicopter, the final reducer is an independent component, which is installed in the reducer compartment in the upper part of the fuselage and is supported on the load-bearing structure of the fuselage with brackets."

"The helicopter final drive has the power input end of the engine and the power output end connected with the transmission shaft of the rotor and tail rotor accessories, which is one of the main transmission components on the helicopter, and it is also the most complex, largest and most important component of the transmission device."

"The working characteristics of the final drive are deceleration, steering and merging."

"It turns the engine power with high speed and small torque into low speed and high torque to the rotor shaft, and transmits the power to the tail rotor and accessories according to the speed and torque needs, and it also plays the role of a central force member in the helicopter."

"It will directly absorb the full force and torque generated by the rotor and transmit it to the airframe."

"At present, we also have other domestic manufacturers that can produce final reducers, but the life cycle cannot meet our design requirements."

"In particular, one of our new helicopters puts forward higher requirements for the final drive."

"The design department has already designed the relevant final drive, but there are still some difficulties in producing it."

"Nanshan Group has extensive experience in engines, gearboxes, motor three-in-one reducers, as well as gears, bearings and special steels."

"So we want to invite Nanshan Group to trial produce this final reducer."

Pan Jun and they did things, but they didn't drag their feet at all.

Once you're in the room, it's time to get to the point.

There was a hint of urgency in their tones.

(End of chapter)