Chapter 997
Three Years Ago, Matsushita's Regret and Despair
The meeting is scheduled for 9:00 AM.
The multi-functional hall of the Yinhe Sports Center in Tangdu High-tech Zone was closed off the night before. Yinhe security personnel, dressed in black uniforms and accompanied by sniper dogs, checked each floor and room three times.
From the main entrance to the parking lot, from the underground passage to the VIP lounge, security personnel are on duty at every corner, and everyone's headset is connected to the same encrypted channel.
Before dawn, a dense array of cameras had already been set up outside the main entrance of the sports center.
CCTV Finance's broadcast van was parked in the very center, while the live streaming teams from Douyin and Toutiao occupied the best camera positions directly facing the entrance. Reporters from Bloomberg and Reuters, wearing media passes, weaved through the crowd, trying to catch a few corporate executives who had arrived early before the event started.
A drone hummed overhead, capturing the entire outline of the sports center in its lens.
Xuanwu batteries have been known for their overwhelming performance since the day they were introduced.
Energy density, low-temperature degradation, cycle life, fast charging rate—each parameter is like a new line being carved into the industry standard table with a knife.
Moreover, starting from the first generation, products equipped with Xuanwu batteries have naturally come with a layer of screening: replacing a phone with a Xuanwu battery directly increases the cost by two thousand yuan, and only flagship models can withstand this increase.
Needless to say, the starting price of the SU7 was raised to 358,000 yuan in order to fit in a battery pack with a range of 800 kilometers, which directly shut out the low-end and mid-range market.
Thus, a rather subtle saying emerged online: "The Xuanwu battery is the Hermes of the battery world."
Only a few people can afford it, but everyone wants it.
Everyone denies class distinctions, yet everyone pursues the sense of superiority that class brings.
Manufacturers and brands have a firm grasp on this consumer psychology: they never lower prices or increase sales volume, keeping everyone's appetite in suspense.
And now, Xuanwu Battery is about to release its second generation.
This is exactly what the media has been waiting for.
Just after eight o'clock, cars began to enter the VIP lane.
The first to arrive was BYD's boatman.
He was wearing a dark gray jacket and walked very fast; he had already taken several steps out of the car before the door was even fully closed.
A reporter chased after him and shouted, "Brother Boatman, what are your expectations for the second-generation batteries?" He didn't even turn his head, only saying, "Buy as many as you can," before disappearing behind the security gate.
Next up is Yu Dazui.
He stepped out of a black minivan with his signature smile on his face, and was blocked at the entrance by several reporters.
When asked if he was trying to lock in battery production capacity after signing a deal with Seres, he didn't stop walking, but his voice steadily floated back: "Batteries are the foundation of all smart cars. Without good batteries, even the best intelligent driving system won't go far."
Lei Jun arrived earlier.
When the reporter spotted him, he was almost at the door, his silver SU7 keychain twirling between his fingers, which was recognized by the sharp-eyed reporter.
When a reporter pressed him for his expectations for the second-generation product, he turned around, smiled, and said, "Let's set a small goal first: to be the first to launch the next generation product," before striding into the venue.
Apple's Tim Cook did not attend in person, but sent his VP of Global Procurement and VP of Battery Technology.
The two kept a very low profile, not entering through the main entrance, but going directly into the VIP lounge from the underground parking lot.
Samsung's purchasing team followed closely behind, led by the president of Samsung SDI, whose suit was buttoned up meticulously and whose expression was much more composed than at the last auction.
The heads of State Grid Energy Storage and China Southern Power Grid Energy Storage Division also arrived one after another.
People in the energy storage field don't usually appear in consumer media, but when they walked through the security gate wearing dark blue work uniforms with the State Grid logo pinned to their chests, the financial reporters on site unanimously put down their coffee cups, picked up their cameras, and followed them.
The power hog has arrived; that's the real protagonist today.
While various media outlets were launching drones, adjusting cameras, and vying for interview positions, a small commotion suddenly broke out outside the main gate.
A Japanese man in a dark blue suit was stopped by Galaxy Security outside the security checkpoint.
Behind him stood two equally dressed men in suits, one carrying a briefcase, the other arguing quietly in Japanese.
The security team leader remained calm, one hand on his headset, the other gesturing for a stop. His tone was polite but firm: "Sir, I'm very sorry, but you cannot enter without an invitation."
The man in the dark blue suit had his face flushed red.
Koji Tanaka, Panasonic Energy's Global Sales Vice President, is a well-known figure in the industry. At the last Tokyo Battery Show, he was surrounded by more than a dozen reporters.
Now, he stood in the morning breeze of Tangdu, blocked at the door by several expressionless security personnel, unable to even enter through the main gate.
At first, no one noticed him.
However, there were too many reporters at the scene, and soon some independent media outlets recognized the face.
A blogger from the Douyin digital section leaned over with a gimbal camera, and after looking at it for a few seconds, exclaimed in surprise: "Holy crap, that's Koji Tanaka from Panasonic!"
With a whoosh, the long lenses and microphones that had been lurking at the autograph board and VIP entrance turned around in unison, like a swarm of sharks smelling blood.
"Mr. Tanaka! Has Matsushita not received an invitation? What could be the reason?"
"Mr. Tanaka, did Panasonic really have a conflict with Galaxy Energy at the first-generation battery auction?"
Is there still an opportunity for Panasonic to enter the Xuanwu Battery supply chain?
Koji Tanaka stood frozen in place, his lips moved, but he couldn't utter a single word.
He couldn't explain, because if he did, he would have to bring up the embarrassing incident of putting pressure on Galaxy Energy with several other companies at the auction and being kicked out on the spot.
But he couldn't remain silent, because not speaking would be tantamount to admitting that he had been shut out of the industry's highest-level battery negotiation meeting.
He suddenly caught sight of a few familiar faces in the crowd of reporters. The head of Toyota's battery division was walking in through the VIP passage. Their eyes met for less than half a second before he looked away expressionlessly, as if he hadn't seen anything.
The battery purchasing director of Hyundai-Kia followed closely behind, walking briskly without even glancing in their direction.
People who drank and exchanged industry trend predictions at the same salon last year now all pretend not to know him.
Koji Tanaka stood rooted to the spot, his face turning from flushed to ashen, his back teeth clenched tightly, and two veins throbbing faintly on his neck.
The reporters' cameras faithfully recorded everything, and the live stream comments were already scrolling rapidly: "Panasonic is finished," "They offended Galaxy and still want to get in," "This is called a public execution."
Meanwhile, at the VIP entrance of the side gate of the sports center, an inconspicuous black van silently came to a stop.
Liao Qingfeng stepped out of the car, dressed in a well-tailored dark suit, holding a folder in his hand, his steps steady and efficient.
How old is he this year? He's much younger than most of the purchasing directors from car companies present, but no one dares to treat him like a junior.
At the helm of Galaxy Energy, a company that started from scratch and disrupted the global battery industry in a very short time, his influence in the domestic business world is no less than that of any giant.
He had only taken a few steps when he caught a glimpse of a dark blue figure rushing towards him from the direction of the main entrance.
Koji Tanaka practically ran past the media area, and with two entourage members, intercepted Liao Qingfeng on his only route to the VIP passage.
"Mr. Liao! Hello, Mr. Liao! I am Koji Tanaka from Panasonic Energy. We met in Tokyo last time!"
Koji Tanaka's bow wasn't very deep, but his tone was completely different from when he was facing the reporters earlier. His arrogance and stiffness had disappeared, replaced by a warmth and humility that he had forced out after being cornered.
Liao Qingfeng paused slightly, turned to look at him, his eyes showing no change.
Having honed his skills at Galaxy Technology for so long, he has long since developed a calm and composed mindset.
"Mr. Tanaka."
His voice was calm, and the volume was just outside the range of media coverage: "I remember you, but I remember even more that Panasonic did not receive an invitation."
Koji Tanaka took a half step forward, his voice lower and faster: "President Liao, Panasonic is willing to purchase second-generation batteries at a price 15% higher than the market price, with the first order amounting to no less than one billion US dollars! Our cooperation can cover the entire Southeast Asian energy storage market. Panasonic's channels and after-sales network in Southeast Asia are readily available. With Galaxy Energy's products combined with Panasonic's channels, we can become number one in the world! Please give Panasonic this opportunity, President Liao!"
Liao Qingfeng paused for a moment, a smile playing on his lips, and then spoke softly.
His voice was as flat as ever, even softer than when he said "I remember you," as if he were discussing something completely unrelated to himself.
“Mr. Tanaka, on the afternoon of October 12 last year, during a break in the auction, you met with representatives from six battery purchasers and proposed to jointly put pressure on Galaxy Energy on the grounds that ‘the pricing of Xuanwu batteries is unreasonable.’ Unreasonable, that’s your exact words.”
He emphasized the words "original words" slightly, and then continued, "You probably forgot that we have a complete recording of the meeting."
Koji Tanaka's face fell completely.
He looked at the young man before him, his lips trembling slightly, and managed to squeeze out a sentence from his throat: "Mr. Liao... we can apologize publicly. The price is negotiable, and the conditions are negotiable. As long as you name your conditions, we can negotiate. Panasonic has the world's most mature battery production line and has new technology reserves, which can help Galaxy Energy expand its overseas production capacity. This is much faster than your company building a new factory from scratch!"
Liao Qingfeng lowered his head, straightened his cuffs, and then said something in an almost gentle tone that sent chills down Tanaka Koji's spine.
"Mr. Tanaka, you still don't understand. This isn't about the price; it's about contempt for the rules. If someone can still get in after making a mistake, then everyone else will think that this threshold is easy to cross. Admitting a mistake requires the proper manner of admitting it; you can't buy forgiveness with more money. If this is how it's always handled, how will I, Liao Qingfeng, gain the respect of the public in the future?"
Koji Tanaka froze on the spot, his back, which had been bent all the way, completely stiffened, his Adam's apple bobbed violently, and the flattering smile on his lips was frozen halfway.
His fingers unconsciously clenched at the cuffs of his suit sleeves, a gesture completely out of character for his age, experience, and status, making him look like a junior employee who had made a mistake and was publicly reprimanded.
He opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't say another word.
Liao Qingfeng had already turned and walked onto the VIP passage, his steps as steady as when he arrived.
An assistant jogged over from the side and whispered, "Mr. Masla has arrived and is waiting for you in the lounge."
He nodded without stopping.
Koji Tanaka was left standing there.
He stood there for a moment, until two of his entourage cautiously approached him, before he came to his senses.
Although he had suspected this and knew that such a situation might occur, a sense of despair still arose in his heart when it actually happened.
Without an invitation, you can't get in.
This is a wall higher than any trade barrier, because on this side of the wall lies the world's most advanced battery technology, and on the other side lies Panasonic's future.
Panasonic's last move, however, shattered its own ticket to victory.
Anyone would go crazy in this situation.
The surrounding reporters witnessed this, and many felt a chill run down their spines while also gaining a deeper sense of awe for Galaxy Technology.
Panasonic was found to have engaged in underhanded tactics during the previous round of bidding. Galaxy Energy did not publicly condemn it or send a lawyer's letter; it simply withdrew its invitation quietly.
On this occasion, most of the global new energy vehicle, consumer electronics, and energy storage industries are inside, leaving Panasonic alone in the cold wind.
This attitude of not saying harsh words but doing harsh things is the most ruthless.
Liao Qingfeng walked through the VIP passage, briefly greeted several corporate buyers who had arrived early at the entrance of the lounge, and then pushed open the door to enter the multi-functional hall.
Before stepping onto the main stage via the black steps on the side, he opened a folder to check a set of data. He estimated that there would be 1,200 people in attendance, and the initial estimate of the scale of contract intentions had exceeded 20 billion US dollars. However, he kept a precise price list that had not been publicly disclosed and did not send it to anyone in advance.
The multi-purpose hall was packed to capacity.
The front row is occupied by car manufacturers: Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, BMW, Xiaomi, BYD, Huawei, and Tesla. Behind each nameplate sits a well-known decision-maker in the industry.
In the middle are electronics and energy storage, Apple, Samsung, State Grid, and China Southern Power Grid.
The back row consists of companies from specialized industries, medical devices, and communications, including Siemens, Philips, Nokia, and some small and medium-sized energy storage integrators from Europe and Southeast Asia.
The camera crane slid silently overhead, and a giant LED screen was suspended on each side of the stage, displaying performance data of the first generation of Xuanwu batteries in a loop.
When Liao Qingfeng walked onto the stage, applause rang out from below the stage. It wasn't enthusiastic, but it was well-organized.
This is not because of respect, but because of expectations.
This expectation isn't for him, but for the data and prices that haven't been released yet.
He stopped, glanced at the audience, and then smiled slightly.
"Hello everyone, I am Liao Qingfeng, President of Galaxy Energy. I will be the one to chair today's meeting."
A very slight commotion arose from the audience, like a gust of wind brushing the ground. Phone screens, which were lowered to the side, were pushed against each other as someone typed rapidly on WeChat.
They originally thought that Wang Donglai would be present in person. Over the years, Wang Donglai has almost never been absent from any of Galaxy Technology's major events.
But the moment Liao Qingfeng stepped up, no one dared to show their disappointment.
Because they knew very well that this young man, who looked to be under thirty, held the most powerful scepter in the global battery industry.
As Wang Donglai's staunch confidant, the fact that he was given control of Galaxy Energy is enough to demonstrate Wang Donglai's trust in him.
He may not be able to supply goods to whomever he says he will, or set whatever price he says he will.
But if there's a slight lag or delay, it's still perfectly fine. (End of Chapter)