Sports cars are actually a thankless field, especially the top super sports cars.

Just like Aston Martin launches ONE-77, there are only 77 units in the world. Even if these 77 units have been sold out, in fact, this car cannot make money, and even guaranteed capital is a problem.

As the saying goes, there are people doing business that beheads, but no one does business that loses money.

Why did Aston Martin continue to develop ONE-77 even though he knew he had lost money?

The reason is very simple, this is a business model of a super sports car.

Launching this industry's top supercar can establish and maintain Aston Martin's brand image and industry status.

But how can I recover it after investing so much money in the early stage of R&D?

This must be earned back from other models other than the ONE-77.

So the problem arises, when other models have poor sales, you will lose money.

Over the years, with the emergence of the subprime mortgage crisis and the European debt crisis, almost all the super luxury car brand field have suffered losses of varying degrees. Except for Ferrari that can barely maintain, Porsche has entered the luxury field from the super luxury field early, including Lamborghini, Maserati, etc., which one is not suffering serious losses?

Porsche emerged from the crisis and launched the low-end luxury car Cayenne, which triggered sales in one fell swoop.

Yang Huan, Urich Bates, Zhao Yuanfang and others have talked about the fact that if Aston Martin wants to improve the current embarrassment, it must go out of the sports car field and launch four-door luxury sedans, SUVs or crossovers.

Because in emerging markets such as China, only these cars can be sold and make money.

Then use the money earned by this kind of car to feed back the research and development and technological innovation of super sports cars, and then use the brand image and industry status established by super sports cars to further drive the sales and influence of low-priced models.

What Aston Martin wants and wants to do now, including Lamborghini and Maserati and other super luxury brands are also doing.

Even to some extent, Aston Martin did it relatively late.

Another very important point is that Aston Martin had only had experience in developing sports cars before.

So, when Yang Huan proposed to develop luxury sedans, SUVs and crossovers, the entire management had no problems. As long as there was money to support them, they could do it because this is the trend.

How to solve the lovely problem?

How to deal with weaknesses with insufficient experience?

These are all a big trouble.

Yang Huan sat in the center of the oval desk, turned the seat, turned toward everyone, with his left hand flat on the desk, listening to the lively discussion between Aston Martin and his group of management.

It includes many highly professional terms, which Yang Huan has never heard of, so she can't participate at all.

However, seeing the quarrel of this group of people getting more and more intense, Yang Huan couldn't help it.

He slapped the desk hard and slammed it across the entire conference room.

Everyone in the conference room was startled by Yang Huan's sudden actions, and one or two of them suddenly became quiet.

"What's the noise?" He glared at the two rows of six or seven people below.

I've been sitting in this position, but I can still make such a noise?

Is it reasonable?

"Marik, say it." Yang Huan pointed to design director Marik Rickman.

The young Aston Martin design director immediately stood up, "Master Huan, designing a car is actually a very complex system project, and it is the result of the operation of a whole team. If we just draw sketches, we can all, but it involves a lot of engineering and technical analysis, which requires accumulating a lot of data."

"The reason why many brands that have stepped out from super luxury is that they have problems in this regard."

Marik Rickman felt that Yang Huan might not understand, so he took the initiative to explain the process of car design to Yang Huan.

Automobile industry design is the most important and critical link of a car. The overall design and R&D level, project management capabilities, accumulation of automobile data, guarantee of vehicle performance and quality, etc. A large part of these are determined by the strength of the automobile industry's design strength.

Aston Martin is second to none in the field of sports cars. They have accumulated a lot of data and experience in this field. They have no problems with sports cars, but it is unknown in fields other than sports cars.

Through Marik Rickman's explanation, although Yang Huan did not understand the twists and turns, he understood a little.

Just like the Apple that many people talk about, almost no one will deny that the success of all Apple's products is their industrial design. From computers, MP3s to mobile phones and tablets, Apple's industrial design has attracted countless loyal fans for them.

As for Android phones, didn’t Samsung distinguish itself from other manufacturers by relying on its excellent industrial design?

No matter how much it looks like a car, many people say that Korean cars are durable and not resistant to masturbation, but this cannot stop Korean cars from rising sales around the world, and gradually becoming a powerful new force in the global automotive field.

Especially Kia, after hiring a European design director, sales have skyrocketed year by year.

From these, and even from more fields, the importance of industrial design can be seen, and it is becoming more and more important.

"Is there a way to strengthen our industrial design team in the shortest time?" Yang Huan looked at Marik Rickman.

The latter nodded, "Of course, we will introduce more talents in this area, but the weaknesses are still very obvious in some database accumulation and engineering analysis."

"Actually, there is another way." Urich Bates took the initiative to propose.

"What's the solution?"

"Outsourcing!" said Urich Bates.

This is also the first consideration for most cross-border car companies.

It is outsourced to an independent automobile design company.

Yang Huan shook his head, "I don't like outsourcing, it sounds like a very low-end and copycat."

"Master Huan, outsourcing is actually very common in the European automobile market." Urich Bates smiled bitterly. The outsourcing strategy he had insisted on for many years was scolded as a low-end, but he couldn't get angry and could only smile bitterly.

"Or, we can acquire it directly." The German Mediterranean added.

"Acquisition?" Yang Huan was a little strange.

Urich Bates nodded and said, "The entire automotive industry is currently in a downturn, especially some independent automotive design companies. The three most outstanding Italian automotive independent design companies in the world have encountered problems in recent years, all of which have fallen into debt crisis, and even leaders like Georgiaro are unable to make ends meet."

“I mean, acquire one of the automotive design companies.”

Yang Huan was moved. This was indeed the fastest way to improve Aston Martin's industrial design capabilities.

At this moment, Zhao Yuanfang, who had never spoken, suddenly inserted a sentence.

"Dr. Bates, as far as I know, 60 to 70% of the car design tasks abroad are completed by independent car design companies, and the best of them is undoubtedly Italian design companies. Why do they have debt crises one after another?"

Urich Bates looked at Zhao Yuanfang, "It's actually very simple. More and more automobile companies are beginning to pay attention to independent research and development and design. For example, BMW, after Chris Bangor served as BMW's chief design director, he insisted on acquiring a design company. Now this design company not only designs models for BMW, but also Boeing aircraft, Nokia mobile phones, etc. are their customers."

"And many automotive design companies have their own car manufacturing factories and other businesses. Once they are not well managed, the company will naturally fall into the quagmire of debt and will be unable to extricate itself."

"Oh." Zhao Yuanfang had a little understanding. Since all large companies have been established or acquired design departments, the market for these independent design companies has gradually shrunk, especially in recent years, the entire European and American automobile industry has been in a downturn.

Emerging markets, represented by China, are rising strongly.

"Master Huan, I agree with Dr. Bates' statement!" Zhao Yuanfang looked at Yang Huan with a smile, "But I think Dr. Bates is not thinking enough, we should go further."

"Oh?" Yang Huan was interested in Zhao Yuanfang's ideas.

The most important thing for Zhao Yuanfang now is to establish his image as an investment consultant in Yang Huan's heart. He rarely seized an opportunity, so he naturally worked very hard.

"As far as I know, the entire automotive design field is just starting out in emerging markets such as China, but it is already very mature in Europe and the United States. My idea is to either not do it, or just grow bigger if you want to do it, and directly acquire all three companies, integrate them into a large industrial design company, give up other businesses including production, and specialize in industrial design."

When Zhao Yuanfang said this, Urich Bates and others were shocked.

This is a big deal!

You should know that Georgiaro, Broadcom and Pinnifaña are both valuable assets. It is no longer easy to acquire one. It is even more difficult to acquire three. Among them, Georgiaro has to face competition from Volkswagen Group.

You are smart, and you are not a fool either.

Volkswagen provides a lot of business to these independent automotive design companies every year, and now it also wants to acquire a design company itself.

Do you have the wealth of the public?

But Yang Huan nodded happily after hearing this, "It's interesting."

He has always been interested in challenging difficult things.

Urich Bates shook his head, "Not to mention whether we can acquire these three independent design companies. Even if we acquire, integration will be a big problem. My opinion is that the acquisition of one of them is classified as Aston Martin, and I suggest that Jaguar chief design director Ian Karum be responsible for automotive design other than sports cars."

Ian Karum once designed a sports car for Aston Martin, which helped Aston Martin usher in a revival. Now he is the design director of Jaguar. He won a ruthless prize and is called James Cameron in the field of automotive design.

What this Scotsman is most famous for is the rich British aristocratic style in the models he designed, which is very cater to Yang Huan's taste.

"Since Jaguar Land Rover was acquired by the Indians, he has suffered serious losses in recent years. Ian Karum has also been under tremendous pressure. I believe he is willing to switch from Jaguar to Aston Martin, and he also understands the culture of Aston Martin. I believe he is the most suitable candidate."

Seeing that Yang Huan was moved, Urich Bates further convinced.

In the past few years, Aston Martin's sales have increased a lot, but the product quality and brand image have declined.

As CEO, Urich Bates was under tremendous pressure.

After finally coming to a new dynasty, he naturally had to keep his position at all costs.

This requires him to prove his worth in front of the new boss.

And as a veteran doctor in the automotive industry, Urich Bates really believes that if anyone can create a luxury car with Aston Martin blood and win the recognition of the outside world, the most suitable candidate must be Ian Karum!

Even surpassed the current design director of Aston Martin.

The latter is still too tender after all.

When Yang Huan heard that Urich Bates was sure to poach Ian Karum next door, he immediately became interested. Since he was called James Cameron in the field of automotive design, he must be a talent.

At least, Yang Huan likes the Jaguar he designed and looks forward to the luxury sedan he designed for Aston Martin.

Zhao Yuanfang saw Yang Huan's expression and secretly cried in his heart. He didn't want the opportunity he had finally won to show his face, so he quickly said.

"I think it is very market prospective to acquire and integrate these three design companies. Not to mention anything else, the orders from Chinese automobile companies are enough to support this design company. As for integration, I don't think it is a problem, and I think there is someone who is very suitable and must be very interested in helping us complete the acquisition and serve as the head of this design company."

"Who?" Yang Huan was also interested in this plan.

Industrial design is indeed very important and promising.

If these three major design companies can be acquired and integrated, it is indeed a very competitive thing.

In Chinese words, go your own way and leave others with no way out.

In the future, those car companies have to come to me to design models.

This is a great thing to be as enjoyable as possible!

Moreover, he could see that Zhao Yuanfang and Urich Bates seemed to have a vague intention of competing for credit.

He likes this because reasonable and healthy competition is a good thing for any team.
Chapter completed!