Chapter 225: Back then they didn't care, now they can't reach high enough

The factory run by Ha Gong Da's school office has been divided into several sections: one for modifying M7 missiles, one for installing Truck Cannons, and another for hand-assembling missile vehicles.

Although we have already modified Truck Cannons using Steyr chassis, the contract has not been formally signed; initially we only built a prototype, and now we still mainly use Mercedes-Benz chassis.

As the most important user of Mercedes-Benz heavy trucks in the East, it is only natural that Mercedes-Benz engineers came to inspect and guide; of course, Qin Miao also knows that their visit here has an ulterior motive.

A Land Rover drove into the school-run factory, just came to a stop, and several Germans walked out of the workshop, all smiling.

"Manager Qin, you've arrived!"

The other party also knew Qin Miao understands English, so they switched directly to English for communication!

"Let me introduce myself, I am Karl-Kensper." The lead German engineer said.

"Oh Mr. Karl, hello, I recall……there was a Tiger tank ace named Kurt-Kensper……"

"That's my father."

"Really? That's quite a coincidence—he is the tank ace I admire most, having destroyed 188 enemy tanks……"

"Cough, cough, Manager Qin, let's not bring up this history……"

In the East, there are more fans of Germany than of the Soviet Union, especially regarding the little mustache's plan to exterminate squid, they cheer and call it swift; the only shortcoming is the lack of exterminating light, but in Europe, whoever dares to worship WWII Germany is a street rat.

Before admitting fault, Germany is very frank, whereas the little devils (Japanese) never reflect; they always seem ready to stage another Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity spectacle.

Qin Miao smiled: "All right, let's not mention it. Thank you all for coming to guide the work; I don't know what suggestions you have."

"It's not really a suggestion; we've reviewed your modification plan, and it's very thorough. We never imagined our Mercedes-Benz chassis could be transformed into a fighting machine—Ha Gong Da, you're geniuses!"

Trucks pulling cannons exist all over the world, but mounting a gun on a truck is unique—especially a 155mm heavy cannon!

How much of this sentiment is sincere and how much is flattery need not be distinguished so clearly.

"Of course, this also has much to do with the advancement of our NG80 heavy truck. We spent over ten years and billions of marks to develop it; taking the frame as an example, our unequal-width, variable-cross-section, side-beam fish-belly structured frame is our own pioneering cutting-edge technology."

In this era, other trucks, like Steyr, have frames made of two longitudinal beams with some crossbars; to increase load capacity, they need to press long steel plates into grooves on a ten-thousand-ton hydraulic press, and if the capacity is insufficient, they add another layer.

The Steyr trailer on the road uses three layers of beams; its load capacity is sufficient, but its own weight is also large.

The Mercedes-Benz frame has unequal front and rear widths and varying cross-sections, still fish-belly shaped; this is a design optimized with finite-element analysis, which can reduce weight and volume while increasing the frame's bending strength, torsional elasticity, and ability to withstand asymmetrical cyclic alternating impact loads.

This technology is so advanced that calling it the best in the world is not an exaggeration.

Qin Miao nodded: "That's correct."

"So we suggest you establish a long-term cooperative relationship with us; there's no need to use outdated trucks like Steyr, whose technology only reaches our level from twenty years ago."

Saying twenty years is a bit excessive; this is clearly a malicious competitive tactic by later inferior automakers.

Qin Miao smiled: "But Steyr is cheap, and once we can produce domestically in the East, the price will become even lower."

Just that one sentence left the other party speechless.

They had originally prepared many arguments, all based on technical grounds; after all, Karl-Kensper is the chief engineer of Mercedes-Benz's NG80 heavy truck, knowing truck technology inside out, but…… he had never considered economic demand.

Customers choosing Steyr do so for one word: cheap!

"Of course, we will also respect the customer's choice; domestic customers will definitely choose Steyr chassis, while foreign customers will look at their budgets."

"You really don't need to choose Steyr just because it's cheap; you in the East have a saying: 'cheap means no good goods.' Our Mercedes-Benz may be a bit more expensive, but its performance is advanced and offers great value." As Karl-Kensper said this, he only felt his confidence lacking.

"We in the East also have an ancient saying: 'how much rice is in the bin determines how much water goes in the pot.' Our Eastern economic foundation is weak, so we can only choose products that suit us best."

"You mean our Mercedes-Benz might not have a chance to break into the Eastern market?"

Only technical personnel would ask so directly; these people…… are really frank!

"I don't know; after all, I'm just a freshman at Ha Gong Da."

"No, no; your influence in the East is great—you can represent the East in going to Germany to procure diesel engines and transmissions; your ability is also considerable. MTU Company proposed a requirement of 300 units, merely a test, but I never expected you to actually take them on; moreover, I heard that during the process of winning against Steyr, you also provided great assistance."

Karl-Kensper said all this in one breath; precisely because they discovered Qin Miao had such great influence, they came to find him, hoping to open up a situation through him.

"Cough, cough, you're overestimating me; I truly can't help with this matter, after all, the First Machinery Bureau initially took a liking to your products, but……"

"Back then you didn't care, and now you can't reach high enough!"

Several people showed disappointed expressions.

"Back when they heard that people in the East wanted to introduce heavy truck production lines, their instinctive reaction was to refuse sales! We only sell products!"

"But since they couldn't directly refuse, they put forward an outrageously high demand; and now…… Easterners choosing Steyr have made the Germans anxious!"

"If this gets out, it'll sound bad—Steyr defeated Mercedes-Benz and gained recognition in the East!"

"Who cares whether you chose the cheap goods because of price? In the end, losing is losing!"

"If you still cling to those original conditions, it's impossible to enter the Eastern market."

"Of course not; as long as the East chooses us, we will offer more sincere terms!" Upon hearing there was a chance, Karl-Kensper immediately became excited.

"Will you give us a loan? As for Steyr, they would lend us all the funds we need at a very low interest rate……"

"The Germans felt half-hearted again; the Austrians doing business like this are going too far, not letting others act!"