Chapter 898
Those who comply prosper, those who resist perish: Rewriting the rules of the industry.
Just as the room fell silent, the BMW representative stood up and asked, "Mr. Wang, are these business terms or political terms?"
On stage, Wang Donglai's lips curled into a slight smile as he calmly said, "None of those are the bottom line conditions. There is no room for negotiation on any of the packages."
Wang Donglai's tone was firm yet calm.
Anyone could hear the seriousness in Wang Donglai's tone.
In the first row, Cook stared at the three conditions on the screen, his pupils slightly contracting.
Williams, the operations director next to him, leaned over and whispered, "Tim, this condition is a bit harsh. None of our contract manufacturers in China meet it."
Cook did not answer.
He quickly calculated in his mind: Foxconn workers earn 23 yuan per hour, have no social insurance or housing fund, work six days a week, and start at ten hours a day.
If these three points are followed, labor costs will at least triple.
With manufacturing costs tripling, the price of an iPhone will increase by at least two thousand yuan.
Two thousand yuan...
He looked at Wang Donglai on the stage, a complex emotion welling up inside him.
Does this person really want to change the rules of the entire world?
But the next second, he realized another problem...
What will happen if we don't accept it?
If the technology license for Xuanwu batteries cannot be obtained, and the company is unable to develop batteries with the same performance, then the battery life of the next generation of iPhones after the license expires will be far behind that of the Android camp or the HarmonyOS camp.
Consumers don't care about labor costs or OEM prices.
All they know is whose phone has the longest battery life and whose technology is the most advanced.
"Tim?" Williams called again.
Cook took a deep breath and stood up.
All eyes in the room were on him.
With a calm expression, he said something to Wang Dong in front of everyone, and that thing stunned everyone.
"Mr. Wang, I agree to all your conditions."
There was an uproar.
Apple agreed?
Apple, known for its stringent supply chain management, agreed to these almost "socialist" conditions?
Furthermore, what does the word 'all' in Cook's words mean? Could there be other conditions involved?
After all, Cook's sudden appearance came without any prior warning, so it's impossible to say there wasn't something fishy going on.
Wang Donglai looked at Cook and smiled.
"Mr. Cook, are you sure?"
Cook nodded and said affirmatively, "I'm sure, but I have a question..."
“Foxconn and Pegatron are not directly managed by Apple. Whether they accept these conditions is their own decision.”
Wang Donglai shook his head and retorted without any mercy, "No, Mr. Cook, you misunderstood."
“My conditions are for authorized companies. Once you are authorized, it means that you, and all your supply chain companies, must meet these three conditions.”
"Otherwise, the authorization will be revoked!"
Cook was stunned.
Wang Donglai continued, “You can talk to Foxconn. If they don’t accept you, you can switch to another contract manufacturer. If you can’t find a Chinese contract manufacturer that will accept you, you can build your own factory.”
"China has a large enough market and a large enough labor force. There are plenty of workers willing to accept these three conditions."
"It all depends on whether you're willing to pay the money."
Upon hearing Wang Donglai's words, Cook fell silent.
He never imagined that China's large market and abundant labor force could be utilized in this way.
However, after thinking about it for a long time, he nodded.
"Mr. Wang, I will seriously consider it."
Just as Cook was about to sit down, a voice came from the back row.
"Cook, what are you thinking about? What's there to think about?"
Everyone turned around.
Masla stood up, wearing his crumpled black T-shirt.
He grinned at Wang Donglai: "Mr. Wang, I agree to your terms."
The audience erupted in uproar once again.
One is the world's most well-known smartphone manufacturer, and the other is the undisputed number one player in the new energy vehicle industry.
Moreover, they are all companies from across the ocean.
Now that Qi Qi has expressed her willingness to consider and agree to Wang Donglai's conditions, this is undoubtedly a huge shock to them.
Just as everyone was thinking this.
Masla suddenly turned around and, facing the business leaders in the audience, said loudly:
"I know you people too well. Back when I was developing electric vehicles, everyone said it was impossible. Later, when I made them, you all said I relied on subsidies. Now that Mr. Wang is giving you a chance, what are you still hesitating about?"
He pointed to the three conditions on the big screen:
"Paying social insurance and housing fund for workers? That's mandated by law! You should be paying it!"
"Working no more than 44 hours per week? That's the law! You should be following it!"
"Employee stock ownership? Tesla has been giving out stock to its employees for ages! How effective has it been? Go ask my workers yourselves!"
He paused, then spoke even louder:
"Do you think you can save money by not meeting these conditions? Let me tell you, the little money you save will eventually turn into quality problems, a lack of worker responsibility, and social conflicts!"
"Mr. Wang is trying to save you!"
“I know some people are dissatisfied with the employee benefits offered by the Shanghai factory, feeling that this is damaging your working environment, or in your words, maliciously raising wages to employ workers.”
"To be honest, sometimes I wonder if we've reversed our roles."
Masla's tone carried a hint of doubt, and a touch of sarcasm.
Such sharp and bold words, spoken at this time and in this setting, made many people's hearts pound.
Many media reporters at the scene also shifted their cameras at the same time.
Suddenly, the entire room fell silent.
The entrepreneurs looked at each other, unsure of what to say.
Wang Donglai looked at Masla, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
This madman sometimes sees things more clearly than those shrewd businessmen.
Times have changed.
If he still holds onto his old ideas, then his rebirth and all the technology he developed would have been for nothing.
The advancement of human civilization is not limited to technological advancement.
With current technology and resources, it is entirely possible to enable more people to live a better life.
But in reality, this situation has never been achieved.
Decades ago, some people dared to shout the slogan of the Golden Spirit.
Now that Wang Donglai has the ability, he naturally wants to give it a try.
In the second row, the boatman slowly stood up.
He didn't go to the front of the stage, but stood there and said to Wang Dong, "Mr. Wang, BYD has stood with your company from day one. I have no objection to the conditions you proposed."
"In fact..."
He paused.
"In the past two years, BYD has raised wages for frontline workers three times, paid all social insurance and housing fund contributions, and kept weekly working hours to within 60 hours."
"We are also conducting research and analysis on employee stock ownership."
He surveyed the entire room, his voice steady and powerful:
"How effective has it been? I can tell you all – our worker turnover rate has dropped from 35% to 23%; our production efficiency has increased by 12%; and our product defect rate has decreased by 46%."
"When the workers are happy, the products are good. When the products are good, the customers are satisfied. When the customers are satisfied, the company makes money."
"I can figure this out."
"Indeed, our current situation does not meet the conditions proposed by Mr. Wang."
"However, I can state here that we will actively implement these conditions and express our support with concrete actions." With the boatman's statement, the entire room fell silent once again.
This silence is different from the previous ones.
Now, anyone with eyes that aren't blind and a brain that isn't stupid can see just how strong BYD is in the boatman's hands and how much potential it has.
In the new energy vehicle market, BYD already possesses a large number of technology patents, and now, combined with Galaxy Technology's Xuanwu battery, a powerful chemical reaction has been generated.
Some well-informed people have even learned that BYD's overseas expansion has resulted in steadily increasing sales.
BYD placed an order for ten roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ships at once.
Each ship can carry six or seven thousand vehicles; the sheer scale of that is beyond question.
Therefore, after the boatman's statement, many people became restless.
Some people started whispering to each other, some took out their phones and quickly calculated, and some looked at Wang Donglai on the stage with complicated expressions.
Wang Donglai nodded to the boatman.
"Mr. Wang, thank you for your support."
Lei Jun sat in the third row, watching this scene unfold before him, his feelings complicated.
He has known Wang Donglai for so many years, from the earliest cooperation on fast charging technology to the later HarmonyOS system and Xuanwu battery. He considers himself the person who understands Wang Donglai the most.
But today, he was still shocked.
This person truly wants to transform the entire business world into his ideal form.
"Mr. Lei?"
Zhou Ping, who was standing next to him, asked in a low voice, "What do we do?"
Lei Jun took a deep breath and stood up.
He stepped to the front of the stage, addressing Wang Donglai and the entire audience: "Xiaomi, I am willing to accept all of Mr. Wang's conditions."
"Xiaomi Auto is just starting out and doesn't have many workers, but we have always attached great importance to employee benefits."
"In addition, we will also include the employment situation of all contract manufacturers in the supplier evaluation system."
"Anyone who fails to meet the three standards proposed by General Manager Wang will be disqualified from cooperation."
Another commotion erupted from the audience.
The factory owners who manufactured products for Xiaomi instantly turned pale.
Lei Jun didn't look at them, but simply nodded to Wang Donglai before sitting back down.
Zeng Qun sat motionless in the corner.
The CATL executive next to him whispered, "Mr. Zeng, what should we do..."
Zeng Qun raised his hand to stop him.
Looking at Wang Donglai on the stage, he felt a complex and indescribable emotion welling up inside him.
He had known Wang Donglai for several years.
From the very beginning, he could tell what kind of person Wang Donglai was.
A capable but naive businessman.
But who could have imagined that this naive businessman-scientist in his eyes actually had such a strong talent for scientific research?
He single-handedly developed one powerful technological achievement after another through his own talent, and then revitalized Galaxy Technology, bringing it to its current level.
Looking back now, I realize I was just a clown.
He thought Wang Donglai was naive, but in Wang Donglai's eyes, he was probably just a greedy and pedantic old man.
Last time, because of Wang Donglai's dissatisfaction, I was still angry.
However, due to technical and market factors, we had no choice but to endure it.
And now?
Wang Donglai simply stopped pretending.
If you don't accept his conditions, then refuse to cooperate.
If you want to cooperate, then accept all of Wang Donglai's demands.
The key point is that Wang Donglai did not demand excessive profits from Galaxy Technology, but instead delegated these profits to others.
They took on their responsibilities and demonstrated their talents.
It's fair to say that once this news is released, these companies will be put in a difficult position.
To accept or to refuse?
Zeng Qun only pondered this question briefly before finding the answer.
Zeng Qun closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Then, he stood up and silently left the venue.
Those around him looked at each other, bewildered, as he walked away.
……
Mercedes-Benz representative Schmidt and BMW representative Wagner are talking in hushed tones.
“Schmidt, what are you planning to do?” Wagner asked.
Schmidt smiled wryly: "I don't know. These three conditions are legally mandated in our German factory. But in China... our joint venture partner probably won't accept them."
"Will you change your joint venture partner?"
Schmidt fell silent.
Mercedes-Benz has been operating in China for thirty years, and its cooperation with FAW is strategic.
How could you just change it like that?
However, if they don't switch, they won't be able to obtain the technology license for Xuanwu batteries.
Without technology licensing, the next generation of electric vehicles will fall behind competitors in terms of range.
If you fall behind, you will lose market share.
Losing market share will lead to...
Wagner looked at him and sighed.
"We at BMW have the same problem."
He paused.
"But I think Wang Donglai is right—this debt will have to be settled sooner or later."
"Otherwise, it's another technological approach."
"Abandoning the development of new energy vehicles and returning to gasoline vehicles is our home turf."
"A market where we do not have the technological initiative or advantage is not actually that valuable to us."
"If we really can't get the technology license, we're destined to fall behind in the market and can't catch up, so we might not need to invest in it anymore."
In the end, Wagner regained his confidence.
Schmidt nodded in agreement.
however.
Just then, a figure suddenly stood up.
Panasonic representative, Yamada Ichiro.
His face was ashen as he strode up to the reporter and, speaking coldly into the camera, said, "This is a trampling on the basic principles of a market economy. How companies employ workers is their own business and should not be dictated by technology suppliers."
"Panasonic will absolutely not accept such politically motivated business terms."
After saying that, he walked out without looking back.
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
Some people sneered, some shook their heads, and some seemed thoughtful.
Wang Donglai on the stage watched Yamada Ichiro's departing figure with no expression on his face.
He simply said, "Then I wish Matsushita good luck."
Like a judge sentencing someone to death, a single stroke of his vermilion pen decides life or death. (End of Chapter)