Chapter 1098 How about sealing it temporarily?

The two of them had reached this point and couldn't continue the conversation - they didn't even know the positioning of the car model, how could they do this?

During the lunch break, Lei Zhiping quickly reported the situation to Mr. Zhu over the phone. After hearing what Lei Zhiping reported, Mr. Zhu also frowned: Regarding the Mingshi and Century Star, what should

He has never considered the issue of how to position it...

But a leader is a leader. After thinking for a moment with a frown, Mr. Zhu said slowly: "I agree with Comrade Zhang Qihang's statement that 'B-class cars are the lower limit of Hongqi'. FAW can produce

It is a compact car, but Hongqi can never produce models below mid-level. From this point of view, I think the Mingshi can be positioned as Hongqi's entry-level model, just like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4."

Of course, positioning is positioning, and price is price. Mingshi cannot be sold at the price of a C-class or A4. Both Mr. Zhu and Lei Zhiping understand this, but there is no need to say it out loud.

"You are right, that's the truth." Lei Zhiping nodded repeatedly and agreed with Mr. Zhu's words: "If Mingshi is a B-class car, then the HQ3 that will be unveiled next month is a C-class car, and the Hongqi we are currently producing is

The flagship is the D-segment car. In this way, there are three levels of cars: medium-sized, medium-large and large. The products have also achieved complete coverage in all levels of fields, but in this case, how to position the 'Century Star'?"

Hongqi also has D-segment cars?

Yes, this car is called Hongqi flagship. In fact, this model called "Hongqi flagship", like Mingshi, Century Star and HQ3, is also a product based on the spirit of "use-it-all". The prototype is the Lincoln City

, or in other words, Hongqi’s flagship car is the rebranded Lincoln City car.

"Century Star..."

When it comes to the Century Star car, Mr. Zhu also has a headache: in the original positioning, the Mingshi was a medium-sized car and the Century Star was a medium-sized and large-sized car, but now there is a HQ3 that is about to be launched. In FAW’s positioning, the HQ3

It is a serious medium and large car, used to compete with the Audi A6 in the medium and large executive car market. In this way, the positioning of Century Star is indeed very embarrassing. It is inappropriate to call it a medium-sized car; it is not suitable to call it a medium-to-large car.

, is also inappropriate - you see, I don’t know what Big Brother is thinking. They own the A6 and Crown, two medium and large sedans that are very popular in the market, but they must be building one.

Medium and large cars come out and fight with themselves.

However, Mr. Zhu's reaction was quick enough. After realizing that it was difficult for Century Star to give a clear positioning, he immediately had an idea and said: "The positioning of Century Star is indeed a bit difficult to find. So, Zhiping, if you ask

Ask Comrade Zhang Qihang, what opinions or good suggestions does he have regarding the positioning of century stars? One person is weak in skills, but two people are strong in skills. It is always right to listen to the opinions of other comrades."

Mr. Zhu didn’t know how to position Century Star for a while, but this was not beyond Lei Zhiping’s expectation. As the person in charge of the Hongqi brand, he was also at a loss on this issue and couldn’t figure out how to position Century Star.

Well, he even thought Mr. Zhu’s suggestion was good: If he can’t think of a solution to the problem, he might as well ask someone who understands? He immediately nodded and said: “What you are saying is, I will ask Mr. Zhang later what he thinks of this matter.

Yes."

……………………

"You ask me what I think of Mingshi and Century Star?"

When Lei Zhiping asked Zhang Qihang this question, Zhang Qihang said happily: "I have really thought about this question. I think it may be best for our group to give up one of the Mingshi and Century Stars."

"Give one up?"

When Lei Zhiping heard this, he immediately frowned and instinctively wanted to object.

Zhang Qihang was not surprised at all by Lei Zhiping's reaction. He nodded and said: "Yes, give up one, otherwise Mr. Lei, please tell me how the Mingshi and Century Star should be positioned?"

"this……"

Hearing Zhang Qihang's question, Lei Zhiping was speechless. He didn't know how to deal with the Mingshi and Century Star models, but when he thought that Zhang Qihang said he wanted to give up one, he subconsciously couldn't bear it.

"But if you give up one, it will be easier," Zhang Qihang said: "If you choose Mingshi, then Mingshi will be positioned as an entry-level mid-size car..."

"An entry-level mid-size car?" After hearing Zhang Qihang's positioning of the Mingshi, Lei Zhiping was a little unhappy: "Is the Mingshi just an entry-level mid-size car?"

What is an entry-level mid-size car?

Huateng Industrial Group's Sylphy and SAIC's Santana 2000 and Santana 3000, cars with a starting price of over 130,000 to 40,000, are called entry-level mid-size cars, while the Accord, Passat B5, etc., which are currently popular in China, are considered to be

The prices of "real" mid-size cars basically start at 200,000 yuan. There is a price gap of 60,000 to 70,000 yuan between entry-level mid-size cars and orthodox mid-size cars.

Zhang Qihang Mingshi is an entry-level mid-size car, Lei Zhiping instinctively wanted to express his objection: Our Mingshi is the foundation of a medium to large C-class car!

But when he thought about the body size, wheelbase and price of his own Mingshi, Lei Zhiping was speechless: Although his own Mingshi is derived from the Audi 100, his own Audi 100 is the Audi 100 (C3) in the early 1980s.

The technology was developed more than 20 years ago. More than 20 years ago, this body size and wheelbase were only available for medium and large cars. Yes, but today in 2005, this body size and wheelbase can only be regarded as standard.

Entry-level mid-size car.

Thinking of this, Lei Zhiping was speechless.

Zhang Qihang sighed and said helplessly: "If it was two years ago, when the price of Mingshi was still around 170,000, it would be okay, but haven't you all started to promote the rental version of Mingshi? This pair

Mingshi and even the Hongqi brand are a huge harm... Mr. Lei, when did you see the taxi version of the Passat B5 or the taxi version of the Accord?

In this case, in order to preserve the brand image of Hongqi Motors, do you think it is better to continue to use the name Mingshi, or to use Century Star, which still has some brand height? I think the best choice is

For the time being, we will store the Mingshi series and use Century Star as the entry-level model of the Hongqi series."

"..."

Lei Zhiping was speechless, and even wanted to find a crack in the ground to get in: How did I launch the taxi version of Mingshi in the first place?

After hesitating for a while, Lei Zhiping said: "Then...then...if it is a century star, can the starting price be around 200,000?"

Zhang Qihang shook his head and nodded: "The standard version of the Century Star won't work, but the extended version of the Century Star has a chance."

"Have the opportunity?"

Lei Zhiping's eyes widened in surprise.

To be honest, even though Lei Zhiping and even the entire FAW are shouting about it, my family knows their own affairs. In fact, everyone understands that the market competitiveness of both Mingshi and Century Star is not very good. For no other reason than this car

The exterior style and interior styling are really too old - the foundation of the car is old, but the exterior and interior styling are old. It looks like an old car from decades ago. If it was a few years ago,

It's okay to say, but in this era when users have many choices, basically no one will choose it. This is why Mingshi and Century Star cannot be sold. But now, Zhang Qihang actually said that the extended version of Century Star is still available.

Any chance?

"Yes, there is a chance." Facing Lei Zhiping's surprised gaze, Zhang Qihang nodded affirmatively: "I have thought carefully about it. If the extended version of Century Star is based on the chassis and adopts a newly designed appearance and interior, the second generation Century Star will

... Let's just call this car the second-generation Century Star... With the price being almost the same as that of mid-sized cars from joint venture brands such as Passat and Accord, it can definitely rely on its larger interior space and better car.

interior soundproofing, features and comfort to compete with them.”

Speaking of this, Zhang Qihang explained: "Oh, by the way. The extended version of the Century Star is indeed too long, making the proportions of the vehicle look a bit uncoordinated. I think a wheelbase of 2850mm is more appropriate. If

The wheelbase is determined to be 2850mm, and it adopts a brand-new appearance and interior. I think the new generation Century Star can still compete with the Passat B5 and Accord for the market. Of course, the power system and configuration must keep up and cannot be shabby."

Speaking of this, Zhang Qihang felt a little emotional.

In terms of automobile research and development, FAW is also quite "dead when caught, chaotic when released": the Century Star only has a wheelbase of 2680mm, and the extended wheelbase version launched suddenly increases the wheelbase to 3003mm.

, and this method of lengthening the wheelbase is quite simple and crude. It is directly lengthened at the B-pillar. Because the length is too much, a "double B-pillar" design has to be adopted. Between the two B-pillars,

There is a small window in between, which looks particularly incongruous...

The most speechless thing is Century Star’s pricing strategy: when it was first launched in 2001, the lowest manual basic model cost 265,000, while the top-end extended luxury version cost 360,980. After discovering this

The price was too high, and no one except government departments and state-owned enterprises and institutions paid for it. After that, FAW was busy cutting prices. The basic model of the 2002 model suddenly dropped to 199,800, and the extended version of the low-end version also dropped to 22.98.

Ten thousand.

With so much price reduction all at once, the market and consumers are confused: What is Hongqi doing? Can prices still be reduced like this?

Consumers who bought this car before wanted to scold their mothers: Even if you, Hongqi, take advantage of us, you can still survive for two more years, right?

To put it bluntly, Hongqi’s price reduction strategy has greatly damaged its brand image.

In the following time, Hongqi continued to use practical actions to prove that "no one understands the Seven Injuries Boxing better than us": After discovering that the market still did not pay for it and did not recognize it, Hongqi's approach was not to improve product strength or improve product quality.

Instead of upgrading, they resorted to price reduction again. The result is that this year, the entry-level Century Star has dropped to 150,988...

From 265,000 when it was launched to 150,98 now, Hongqi not only dropped by 100,000, but also made the concept of "Hongqi cars not guaranteed" deeply impressed into the hearts of users. Those who had previously purchased Mingshi or

The owners of Century Star swore one by one that they would never buy another Hongqi car after losing huge sums of money...

However, even though Hongqi Motors did a lot of stupid things under the leadership of Lei Zhiping, in Zhang Qihang's view, this guy still saved some face for Hongqi: Even so, Century Star still cannot be sold.

Because it really can’t be sold, Hongqi doesn’t have much money or motivation for publicity and promotion. As a result, many people still don’t know that the price of Hongqi Century Star has dropped to less than 160,000. This can be regarded as a blessing in disguise.

Zhang Qihang sighed here, but Lei Zhiping's eyes widened when he heard this. He swallowed and asked Zhang Qihang in disbelief: "Mr. Zhang, do you really think we can do it?"

"Why not?" Zhang Qihang smiled and asked: "If there is a car that looks elegant and elegant, with high configuration and a very reasonable price range, everyone will unanimously praise it after seeing it, and

Competitors don’t dare to make small moves behind the scenes... In this case, if this car still can’t be sold, what do you think the problem is?”

Lei Zhiping was stunned for a moment and asked subconsciously: "Where did it happen?"

"Where else could it be? Either the main person in charge of this company is a pig and does not operate and promote this car at all, or the person in charge of this company is secretly causing trouble and deliberately uses various means to suppress this car.

," Speaking of this, Zhang Qihang said half-jokingly: "When that time comes, half of my reputation will be ruined."

"..."

Hearing Zhang Qihang's words, Lei Zhiping was quite speechless: Just say, "Either you, Lei Zhiping, are bad, or you, Lei Zhiping, are stupid." As for saying it so euphemistically?

He was speechless, but Lei Zhiping still felt the confidence expressed in Zhang Qihang's words: he was full of confidence in his design!

Taking a deep breath, Lei Zhiping said to Zhang Qihang: "Mr. Zhang, no one wants to make Hongqi a good brand more than me. Don't worry, as long as there are no problems with the design of this car, I promise to do a good job in marketing and promotion."

I will never hold you back! But..."

Although Lei Zhiping only said "but", Zhang Qihang understood the meaning of his words: I will never hold you back, but can you, Zhang Qihang, do it?

Nodding, Zhang Qihang said: "As long as the contract is signed, I can produce the renderings within a month, but Mr. Lei, before that, should we discuss the cooperation agreement first?"

Hearing Zhang Qihang's words, Lei Zhiping said with some confusion: "Isn't it just a design contract? We have no objection to the price..."

Zhang Qihang said with a smile: "No, no, no, Mr. Lei, you misunderstood. I am talking about the supply contract for core subsystems and automotive electronic systems. Our new generation of Century Star cannot be all manual transmissions, right? In addition, like

Automobile active safety systems such as ABS+EBD system and ESP system always need to be equipped, right? Whether it is automatic transmission or automobile active safety system, our Huateng Industrial Group can provide it. What do you think, Mr. Lei?"
Chapter completed!