Produced | Car Talk Studio
The chief writer | Yuan Guiyuan
Zhang Shaowei and I haven't seen each other for at least two years, but he still impresses me in the many auto company executives I've interviewed in the past.
At that time he was Trumpchi's production director, not very tall, thin, and wearing a clean and plain overalls for my interviews.
But he did not expect that when it came to the company's entrepreneurial process and personal growth, he choked up and had tears in his eyes. At that stage, Trumpchi was in the earlyst stage of entrepreneurship, and everything started from scratch.
As one of the first employees to enter Trumpchi, he devoted all his efforts to the rapid growth of Trumpchi. The process from zero to one, the difficulties and challenges in it, are probably only felt by those who are in it.
Now, I have been in business for a few years, and many things can be more empathetic.
It's just that he's braver than me, seeing him again a few years apart, and he's already the vice president of Hechuang Motors. Once again, on the journey of entrepreneurship.
The rebirth and iteration of Co-Creation
Co-creation Automobile is jointly invested by Pearl River Investment Management Group, Guangzhou Automobile Group and Weilai Automobile, and is a new star in the new car-making forces.
In fact, the history of Hechuang Automobile can be traced back to the end of 2017, when the GAC Weilai project was officially signed and cooperated; in May 2019, the Hechuang brand was released; and the first product was delivered in May of the following year.
Therefore, it can be said that the start-up time of Hechuang Automobile was not late, but at that time, limited by the resources and models of both shareholders, Hechuang Automobile did not embark on a rapid development channel and missed the first wave of golden development opportunities.
At this time, new companies such as Weilai, Xiaopeng, Ideal, and Eian have broken through the siege, and the sales curve has risen all the way. The new energy track faces the window dividend period of the first stage.
Unfortunately, Hechuang Automobile missed the rapid growth period of this stage for many reasons, one of which I think is very important: gac Niolai's model is difficult to go far and deep.
GAC and Weilai, each holding 45% of the shares, have equal rights to speak, which is more difficult to manage. Most importantly, from the perspective of the actual situation, GAC has E'an, and Weilai is more busy with its own rapid development of the cause.
In other words, at that time, Hechuang Automobile could only be regarded as a "dry son" of both shareholders, and the best resources would of course be given to their respective "pro-sons" at the first time.
There is only one exception, the son is strong enough, independent enough, enough to cope with all the storms on the road to growth, then as a parent, will withdraw from the "dry son". This may be a less appropriate metaphor, but the truth is always the same.
Therefore, it is perfectly normal for Hechuang automobiles to be ignored. In fact, there was a typical similar case in the industry earlier. The company, a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz, was founded in 2010, with half of the shares, and after 10 years of cooperation, it found a truth: such a game, toss can not make any splash.
On December 26, the hammer of reform fell on an important step: BYD and Daimler signed an equity transfer agreement on adjusting the structure of its joint venture Denza, and intended to complete the equity transfer of the two parties in Denza. Upon completion of the transfer, BYD and Daimler will hold 90% and 10% of Denza's shares, respectively.
In January 2021, Zhujiang Investment Management reached a strategic cooperation with GAC Group, introduced strategic investment from Zhujiang Investment Management, and became the controlling shareholder of Hechuang Automobile, accounting for 68.5% of the shares, GUANGZHOU AUTOMOBILE Group accounted for 25% of the shares, Weilai Automobile accounted for 4.5% of the shares, and employees accounted for 2% of the shares (the employee shareholding ratio will increase to 10%) in the future.
The registered capital of Hechuang Automobile has also increased from 500 million yuan to 2.52 billion yuan, and the follow-up investment will exceed 10 billion yuan.
At this point, the new prelude of Hechuang Automobile has been opened, and the long-lost sunshine has hit the heart of every Hechuang person, and also illuminated the new direction that Zhang Shaowei wants to find.
The territory of Hechuang's advantages has begun to appear
Zhang Shaowei is a very diligent and good thinker, in the past few years, although he is in a traditional company, he told me, "I am very interested in intelligent manufacturing, and I have also read a lot of books on the transformation of the automobile industry in the context of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and I have also studied the business logic and business ideas of some new technology companies." ”
The automotive industry is in an era of drastic changes, and intelligent new energy vehicles are the outlet of a century, which I agree with him.
Opportunities are always left to those who are prepared. After the reorganization, Hechuang Automobile found him. Without too much hesitation, he soon came to Guangzhou Nansha, the headquarters of Hechuang Automobile, and almost did not stop to take up his post: to promote the mass production of Hechuang Z03, and strictly control product quality, and promote the smooth delivery of Hechuang Z03.
Z03 is an important new car for Hechuang Automobile, and it is an important test after the reorganization. Since its launch in October, Z03 sales have continued to rise, with nearly 1,000 units delivered in December last year.
If it weren't for the chip shortage, the Z03 would have been able to rush higher. Z03 is undoubtedly very lucky, and the League of Legends esports team EDG signed in 2021 won the championship and contributed huge traffic to Z03. EDG is highly sought after by young people and can naturally connect with young people.
The subsidiary Yuanzhi Technology can help the intelligence of Hechuang Automobile. At HYCAN DAY, the H-VIP intelligent driving interconnection system was launched, which can be launched quickly and is a scientific and technological achievement of the integration of resources of Hechuang Automobile.
At present and even in the future of car cars, the scientific and technological attributes of continuous innovation are already one of the core competitiveness, and those who do not master the technology of synchronizing with the times or even surpassing the times will lose the entry coupon of competition.
Zhang Shaowei told me that Hechuang Automobile has plans to establish an intelligent and connected vehicle research institute in Nansha and build a research and development base. Having its own R&D base and intelligent networked vehicle research institute is the standard of a new energy automobile company and a necessary item for the company's growth.
I was not optimistic about the GAC Weilai model before, and there is a very important reason: the development of enterprises must have their own core advantages.
Even at present, Hechuang Automobile still needs the transmission of GAC's R&D technology, but this situation is changing.
I noticed that at the Guangzhou Auto Show, Hechuang Automobile released two concept cars, one is Concept-S and the other is Concept-M.
These two concept models will be new models that Hechuang Automobile will prototype and can be mass-produced in the future. I saw a new attitude of Hechuang Automobile, which is the basis for my renewed confidence in Hechuang Automobile.
"Next year, a brand new model is planned to be launched, it will also be a pure electric coupe, and there will be a large one in the next year." Zhang Shaowei said.
In the next five years, Hechuang Automobile will gradually launch a number of new energy intelligent network models at a rate of no less than one new product per year. Hechuang Automobile finally found its own rhythm. There is no need for too many products, but I hope that each product will be deeply imprinted on the hechuang car. For example, the ideal car, a powerful enough product can make the company vibrant.
On December 30, 2021, the Guangzhou Municipal Development and Reform Commission issued the "14th Five-Year Plan" for the innovative development of intelligent and new energy vehicles in Guangzhou, mentioning that a number of automobile enterprises with core competitiveness should be built in the direction of "intelligence + new energy", and 1-2 enterprises with a domestic market share of more than 5% should be cultivated, and 1-2 unicorn automobile enterprises should be cultivated. Among its Chinese, it is also mentioned that it supports the development and growth of new car-making enterprises such as Xiaopeng Automobile and Hechuang Automobile.
This also shows that the Hechuang model has received official attention and support, and the dividend window belonging to the Hechuang automobile is opening.
I asked Zhang Shaowei, what do you think is the biggest shortcoming of Hechuang Automobile at present? He thought for a moment and replied, "Our brand tone, we think is not clear enough, the first impression on consumers is not yet deep, these work, we are still combing." ”
For a technical man, Zhang Shaowei's answer is somewhat surprising to me, but he pays more attention to the brand. Perhaps in his eyes, technology research and development can rely on time to accumulate little by little but solve the problem, but once the brand impression is solidified, it is more difficult to reverse.
He focuses on a wide range of areas, and he can talk to business logic and even the latest metaverse. He is no longer the technical engineer we stereotype, but a new generation of borderless technical generalists.
Technology is still rapidly iterating according to the laws of Moore's Law, and integration and innovation are the main themes of the current era. Zhang Shaowei is obviously also actively adapting to the changes of the times, from Trumpchi to Co-creation, which is an active choice for him.
No matter how big or small, every choice is an initiative to change, and we are looking forward to a bitter and happy one. Just like every new shoot that breaks the ground, it carries the stubbornness that penetrates time. There is no regret in the fall, and the choice itself is forward.
But what is interesting is that at present, Zhang Shaowei's choices are intertwined with the GAC Group, and his career is deeply rooted in the land of southern Guangdong.
Back to what is the question of Co-Creation? I still don't have a very clear answer. Is it Generation Z, it's EDG, it's the dimensional idol Yixin, it's the hunter of the new era?
All of this clearly points to one key word: trend. However, how to tell the trend story well and how to implant it into the bone marrow of the brand needs to test the expression ability of Hechuang Automobile.
Tesla has Musk, Weilai has Li Bin, ideal has Li Xiang... In contrast, although Hechuang Automobile does not have a radiant founder, Zhu Yihang's story is also wonderful enough, but it is said that he is low-key.
Equally low-key as him, there was also the entrepreneurial group that was once Trumpchi, including Yang Ying, He Kaixin, Jiang Wei, Zhang Shaowei and others who also joined Hechuang Automobile and have been working silently for a long time. As far as I know, these people are doers and desperate.
In addition, the strong background of the Pearl River Investment Management Group should also be valued by him. Relying on the group's diversified business layout such as smart town, smart energy, and smart road, it can realize the interconnection of vehicles and multiple scenarios in the future, and create a full-cycle and all-scenario user service ecology.
Zhang Shaowei said: "Hopson Commercial, a subsidiary of Pearl River Investment Management Group, has more than 100 commercial real estate projects, with a completed and operated project area of more than 5 million square meters, serving hundreds of millions of urban populations, which will provide Rich Scene Resources and User Contacts for Hechuang Automobile, and bring the Hechuang Smart Travel Ecology to users. ”
Ecological layout is definitely an important part of smart travel in the future. Hechuang Automobile holds a good card in hand.
Zhang Shaowei said: "Through the seamless connection with the smart life created by Pearl River Investment Management, H-VIP of Hechuang Automobile is committed to realizing the beautiful vision of sharing a pleasant and smart travel experience, so that life is full of imagination. In the future, Hechuang Automobile will continue to strengthen research and development, core technology construction and technical reserves, and promote the continuous iterative development of intelligent driving technology H-VIP. ”
Unconsciously, my dinner with Zhang Shaowei had the last dish on the table: a dessert. He took a few bites and didn't eat again, maybe he was deliberately controlling calories.
He told me he had persistence in the gym. In fact, as soon as he came in, it could be seen that his mental state was very good, his figure appeared to be strong, and the whole person looked very confident.
Compared with previous years, he has been calm and talkative about interviews. This is his change. The change of an individual can also reflect the changes of the times.
From the changes in his reading books, the changes in his career track, and the changes in his way of thinking, he actually tells an eternal truth: natural selection and survival of the fittest.
At present, compared with the new momentum of the head of the car, Hechuang Automobile is still a catch-up, but I can clearly see the momentum of its upward rush.
The overall situation of the new energy market pattern is undecided, and there are still variables about who will be the unicorn in the next 10 years. Whether Co-Creation Has a chance, the answer to this question is left to Generation Z.
But what is certain is that Hechuang Automobile has finally been "seen": seeing the power of upward rushing, seeing the clear business logic, and seeing many people fighting hard for it.
Near the end of the interview, I gave Zhang Shaowei a book about Netflix. Thankfully, he hadn't seen it yet.
This book tells the legendary story of a small company using a single idea, defeating one traditional company after another, and using the snowball method to become the world's top company.
I hope he understands my intentions, there is no eternal strength in the world, and that technology and innovation are king.
We shook hands again to say goodbye, and I noticed that the cup of stew in front of him was drunk clean and clear, and the poor bone soup residue was not welcome, and the bowl of rice was quite a bit left.
He is indeed a fitness expert, and he really maintains a Cantonese-style stomach. Very good.
*Some of the pictures in this article come from the Internet