My Age of Investment

"I really like Atieva as a company! If you are not satisfied with the price, I can add more! Is fifty million US dollars enough?"

"It's not a matter of price, it's mainly a matter of differences in business philosophy."

"I might as well put it more clearly. If I acquire Atieva, you will never have to worry about R\u0026D funds in the future.

No matter how much it costs, as long as the purpose is reasonable and appropriate, I can provide it.

With our joint cooperation, it is foreseeable that Atieva will develop into a new energy vehicle core system provider with world-class technology and patents, and become the "Intel" in the field of new energy vehicles. Isn't such a dream great enough? ? "

"Sorry! We don't have that big ambition or ambition. We don't want to be Intel in the new energy vehicle industry. We just want to build our own cars in a down-to-earth manner."

…

In the conference room of Atieva's headquarters in Menlo Park, two groups of people sitting on either side of a long table were chatting and laughing, but suddenly they became tense.

Li Yikai, who was sitting in the center on the right, stared red-faced at the two Atieva founders sitting opposite him, Xie Jiapeng and Wen Shiming. He felt very aggrieved and angry at the two people's incompetence.

As the son of a dignified former richest man in China, before formally contacting Atieva, he guessed that the two Chinese Americans would more or less give him or the father standing behind him some face.

However, what he never expected was that these people had no foresight at all. After a brief contact with the acquisition team he sent, they directly rejected the offer from Jinke Development Group.

After receiving the relevant information, he thought that the other party was too short of money, so he personally flew people from Hong Kong Island to San Francisco to conduct a second round of contact.

When he wants to come and visit in person, he must have lowered his arrogance enough! Two "high-level wage earners" who are somewhat famous in Silicon Valley but are not considered successful entrepreneurs just surrender without giving up?

Then he was severely slapped in the face. This group of people did not complain about the lack of money at all, but they believed that Jinke Development Group was not professional enough and lacked resources related to car manufacturing, so it was not worthy of Atieva's commitment to marry him.

This really makes Li Yikai feel angry!

It is true that Jinke Development Group is not a professional automobile manufacturing company, but is it difficult to cross-border car manufacturing from the real estate industry?

There are no resources, a lack of technology, and a lack of talent. Are these things?

If you just spend money to integrate existing teams and companies, you're done.

The Fisker Automobile and A123 lithium battery companies he currently controls were all obtained through equity participation or acquisition.

This is also a way to build a car-building team as quickly as possible that can be called upon, able to fight when called upon, and victorious when fought.

At present, Li Yikai's new energy vehicle manufacturing industry still lacks a key piece of the puzzle, that is, motors and electronic controls. This is what makes him most anxious and angry. He is watching Tesla and Nikola begin to deliver mature vehicles. The car is gone, time waits for no one!

It just so happens that Atieva specializes in the research and development of three-electric systems and has a mature R\u0026D team who quit Tesla.

Li Yikai really wanted to get this company, even if he had to pay more for it.

As Xie Jiapeng and Li Yikai exchanged words, the atmosphere in the conference room became a bit awkward. Everyone stared at the two in silence, waiting for the next instructions.

Li Yikai has suffered a series of blows in recent years. Although he still has a sense of superiority and arrogance, when dealing with things, he is no longer as rough and impatient as before.

He took a deep breath, calmed down, and said with a smile on his face: "Dr. Xie, you may have some misunderstandings about Jinke Development Group..."

Before Li Yikai could finish his words, Xie Jiapeng waved his hand and interrupted impatiently, "No need to explain any more, I know the great achievements of Jinke Development Group, isn't Cyberport your proud work?

There is nothing to cooperate between us, and Atieva has no intention of climbing high, so please come back! "

Li Yikai's face quickly turned red. The operations of Cyberport have very different views in the eyes of different people.

In the eyes of the local real estate tycoons on Hong Kong Island, who would not give Lai Wong Tai a thumbs up and say: "I have given birth to a good son, he is better than me!"

However, in the eyes of some people in the technology circle, Cyberport's land acquisition method has achieved certain successes in business, but it has ruined the future of Hong Kong Island and ruined a city that had the hope of developing IT and Internet. Cities with emerging industries have returned to the old path of being kidnapped by real estate capital.

Does Li Yikai, the instigator, understand technology? Will you support the development of technology? What a joke.

At least Xie Jiapeng, a veteran entrepreneur in the technology industry who founded a listed company, and later the company was acquired by Dell Computer, is not very fond of this kind of rich second generation who likes to make quick money.

"Okay, then there's nothing to talk about. I hope you won't regret the decision you made today in the future."

After being ridiculed by Xie Jiapeng, Li Yikai had no shame in staying any longer. He stood up with a gloomy face and prepared to leave with a group of people.

Wen Shiming, another founder of Atieva, is much more diplomatic than his partner. Last time, he mainly talked with people sent by Li Yikai.

Seeing Li Yikai leaving with someone, he immediately chased after him and gave him a lift until he was sent downstairs.

Unfortunately, Xia Jingxing's motorcade also happened to drive downstairs of Atieva Company at this time.

So when Xia Jingxing got off the car, he saw Li Yikai and his group leaving in a hurry.

One of the two teams was going into the building, the other was going out, and they met at the gate.

Xia Jingxing caught sight of Li Yikai, whose face was darker than the bottom of the pot, and greeted him very politely: "Isn't this the second young master? Don't sit here for a while. You left as soon as I came. The news has spread, right?" It’s the art of hospitality.”

Li Yikai didn't want to talk to Xia Jingxing, but in the end he couldn't help but retorted: "I don't dare to disturb you, a big entrepreneur. After all, you still have a lot of lawsuits and so many troubles to deal with."

"Oh, the second young master cares about me so much!"

Xia Jingxing pretended to be surprised, and then said with a smile on his face: "Thank you for your kindness, I appreciate it! I happen to have a few words of advice to remind the second young master, dear and virtuous ministers, far away from the villain, Mr. Li Huangtai hoards some land and earns some Money is not easy, and the market is not as good as it was then.”

"Yes, we need to stay away from some villains to avoid getting into bad luck."

After giving Xia Jingxing a disgusted look, Li Yikai and his men left without looking back.

Xia Jingxing watched them go away with a smile. His eyes rested on the person at the back for a few seconds, and it took him a long time to realize. Isn't this Accountant Jia? Did you come to the United States with your dream so early? He even hugged the Second Young Master’s lap. The Second Young Master is so blessed!

Li Yikai got into the car angrily, and as soon as he got in the car, he ordered everyone around him: "Call Professor Jiang right away and tell him that I agree with his production expansion plan! I must see the car equipment produced by Fisker next year at the latest." Put on the A123 battery."

After hearing this, Accountant Jia, who was sitting in the front seat of the car, said for some unknown purpose, "Mr. Li, I have a suggestion. I don't know whether I should say it or not."

"explain."

"I think you shouldn't put the battery production plant in Detroit. The labor costs in China are so low. You can put the production plant in China and put high-tech departments such as design and R\u0026D in the United States."

Li Yikai immediately laughed and said: "I understand what you said, but after all, A123 Battery Company is a company that enjoys subsidies from the U.S. Department of Energy, so it must respond to the manufacturing reshoring plan proposed by President Ao Guanhai.

Moreover, Fisker Automobile Company's production and assembly plants are also located in the United States. Another sales market we are targeting is also temporarily based in the United States. Do you think we can go to mainland China to set up factories at this stage?

I know you also have ideas about new energy vehicles, but now is not the time. Let’s wait. "

After being exposed, Accountant Jia smiled and stopped talking.

On the other side, Xia Jingxing was welcomed into the company conference room by Wen Shiming, who went downstairs to see Li Yikai and his party leave.

Along the way, Wen Shiming was worried that Xia Jingxing was overthinking, so he even explained a few words to Xia Jingxing.

"I know all this. There is no need to explain it. Atieva has so many shareholders, and the necessary procedures still need to be gone through."

Xia Jingxing patted Wen Shiming on the shoulder and told him not to take these things too seriously. He was not so petty.

After Xia Jingxing and his party arrived in the conference room and sat down one by one, Xie Jiapeng began to introduce the current situation.

"Shiming and I both support the merger of the company into Fuxing Automobile Group, but several shareholders such as Qingyun Venture Capital, Venrock, and Mitsui \u0026 Co. need to have a good discussion."

Xia Jingxing nodded lightly. As long as the two founders agreed to sell the company, there would basically be no problem with other shareholders.

For example, Ye Dong, the founder of Qingyun Venture Capital, an organization that only invests in clean energy startups such as wind energy, solar energy, and hydrogen energy, went to the United States to study in the same era as Chen Hong. They are all in the same circle, and generally do not Will put obstacles in the way of such small things.

Another example is Venrock, which is also an old friend and is a venture capital fund owned by the Rockefeller family.

Only Mitsui \u0026 Co., a small company, is a little more troublesome to deal with, but their shareholding ratio is not high. When the vast majority of shareholders agree to accept the merger, their opposition will not have much effect.

"After completing the merger and acquisition, Atieva's R\u0026D team and development focus will gradually shift to China."

As soon as Xia Jingxing finished speaking, Xie Jiapeng nodded and said: "No problem! In fact, we established a technology company called Jieyuan Green Energy in Shanghai as early as last year, specifically to promote and implement business in China."

Xia Jingxing nodded with satisfaction. After explaining a few more words, he suddenly remembered that there were important events next month and said, "Next month Fuxing Motors will release its first car. Are you interested in going to China to join in the fun? ?”

"A prototype car was launched so soon?" Xie Jiapeng seemed a little surprised, and he sighed in his heart. Are all Chinese R\u0026D personnel so efficient? No wonder the economy is growing so fast, hard work! Hardworking enough!

"Actually, it's not that fast. It still took two or three years. It's time to put out formal works and put them on the market for testing."

Although Xia Jingxing acted modestly, he still felt very proud in his heart.

From the perspective of R\u0026D efficiency, Fuxing Auto is no slower than Tesla in its early years. As for Faraday Future, which spends ten years building a car, don’t compare it.

"Okay, Shi Ming and I will definitely join in the fun when the time comes."

After agreeing to go to China, Xie Jiapeng said hesitantly: "Darren, there is something I want to report to you."

"What's up?"

"Peter Rawlinson wanted to quit Tesla and join our team, but when he heard that you were going to acquire Atieva, he began to hesitate again."

Xia Jingxing frowned. Peter Rawlinson was a very important core R\u0026D backbone for Tesla. As chief engineer, he once led the team to develop and launch the Model S, a key model.

This guy suddenly wanted to change his family. I don't know whether it was because he was given less money or because he had a conflict with Straubel.

No matter what, we still have to try our best to avoid losing this kind of talent. Even if we want to lose it, it must go to our own fields.

"Ask him, is he interested in going to China to open up a new world?

If you have the courage, let him come to me, and I will provide him with a bigger stage, enough for him to display all his talents. "