Wang Yu had personally tested the new fuel-assisted bicycle yesterday.
The vehicle's performance was naturally impeccable, as its design was perfect, and both the bicycle factory and their own manufacturing processes were up to par, resulting in excellent product quality.
Yesterday, riding it on the road attracted quite a few curious glances, and even Wu Lingling showed a special interest.
She had been inquiring when it would officially go on sale and was eager to acquire the distributorship.
"Is there a problem with the product?" Huang He quickly asked. He was very invested in this product, as their bicycle factory was counting on it for a revival!
Upon hearing Wang Yu mention a serious issue, he immediately became anxious.
"There's no problem with the product," Wang Yu said with a smile. "The issue now is how to sell it."
"Oh, you mean that!" Huang He breathed a sigh of relief. "I've already arranged for all the necessary procedures to be filed. It should be finalized within this week at the latest, and then our vehicles can be officially registered and sold."
That's right, bicycles needed to be registered in those days, not only that but also significant taxes had to be paid annually.
Huang He assumed Wang Yu was referring to the vehicle's procedural matters and immediately explained.
Although the bicycle factory had been defunct for several years, its original qualifications had not been revoked, so he had taken care of all that.
"No, I'm not talking about procedural issues, but about sales channels."
Wang Yu sighed. The bicycle factory had been out of commission for years, so relying on their original resources was out of the question.
As for their own automobile factory, it was even worse, being cornered by the joint agricultural machinery companies from Jiangyang Agricultural Machinery Factory, it was like a clay Buddha crossing a river, unable to save itself.
And this kind of product couldn't adopt the direct sales model like the agricultural vehicles before; the cost would be too high and irrecoverable!
"Then what should we do?"
Huang He was somewhat dumbfounded. He had been engrossed in production these days and hadn't really considered this issue.
"Actually, I've already thought of a solution for this problem, but it comes at a considerable cost," Wang Yu stated directly.
"What solution?" Everyone looked at him.
"Uncle Ming, how many Meteor Ones can we produce now?" Wang Yu asked the old director, Li Ming, without answering immediately.
Meteor One, he named the new fuel-assisted bicycle.
"Well, the small fuel engines are now largely mature, and all the material parts are available. If the brothers in the workshop work overtime, we should be able to produce 50 units... I'm not sure about Factory Manager Huang, though?"
Li Ming pondered for a moment, then looked at Huang He.
"I have no problem here. The current funds are sufficient, and there are no issues with the 50 bicycle frames," Huang He replied, nodding.
"50 units? That's enough!" Wang Yu mused. "If that's the case, then we'll work overtime to complete 50 Meteor Ones as soon as possible."
This statement left everyone feeling confused. What was the young factory manager planning?
Then, they heard Wang Yu continue.
"Then, these 50 units, we'll give them all away! For free, without a cent!"
Give them away? For free?
Everyone was stunned, wondering if they had misheard.
That was 50 vehicles!
Even with reduced specifications, the cost of a fuel-assisted bicycle was not low. 50 units represented a very valuable asset!
"Uh, Young Factory Manager, are we mistaken?"
Feng Daochun tentatively asked Wang Yu, only to be met with his smile.
"No, we're not mistaken. I mean giving them away, and completely free of charge!"
"What?"
Huang He exclaimed completely. "I say, Little Wang, this kind of joke is not to be trifled with!
Do you know that I borrowed a large sum of money to get the bicycle factory back into operation? For all the materials and workers' wages, and now you're telling me that the cars we build are to be given away for free?
You're trying to kill this old man!"
Huang He's eyes were about to pop out. Wang Yu's words had clearly provoked him. In his concern, the usually steady old factory manager had become agitated.
"Don't worry, Uncle Huang, this is just temporary," Wang Yu reassured Huang He. "I have a plan to donate a batch of vehicles to the post office."
The post office?
Everyone was taken aback. What was this about?
"I plan to donate this batch of vehicles to the post office in the name of caring for postal workers, and have them matched with the mail carriers," Wang Yu revealed his plan.
In this era, being a postal worker was a highly envied, well-paying profession. Dressed in green uniforms, they rode bicycles through the streets, their ringing bells delivering the thoughts and emotions of most people.
Of course, the job of a postal worker was also very arduous. They had to pedal their bicycles all day long, often enduring harsh traffic conditions and extreme hardship!
Therefore, Wang Yu intended to promote the fuel-assisted bicycles to them first, which would greatly improve their efficiency and comfort.
After all, Wang Yu had always admired postal workers since he was a child.
The simple phrase "deliverable anywhere within the national territory" alone could bring tears to one's eyes. Even with highly developed logistics and express delivery thirty years later, they wouldn't dare to make such a bold and domineering claim.
Yet, these ordinary yet hardworking green messengers could achieve it!
So, this was also Wang Yu's small contribution to these lovable people.
Furthermore, these postal workers who traveled the streets would serve as the best advertisement for the fuel-assisted bicycles!
And there was another point Wang Yu didn't mention: the fuel-assisted bicycle was just a transitional product for him. The future trend was still electric vehicles.
Even if the power consumption was reduced, it still consumed fuel, and ordinary people...
After Wang Yu's analysis, everyone was filled with admiration. Could such a thing be done? The young factory manager's mind was too agile!
"Brilliant! Young Factory Manager, this move is brilliant. Postal workers have good incomes, equivalent to a potential customer base. And our support for postal workers is a move that benefits us both in reputation and substance. We can also add promotional slogans on the donated vehicles, turning them into free mobile advertisements.
Brilliant, truly brilliant!"
Feng Daochun gave Wang Yu a thumbs-up with great admiration, drawing praise from everyone. So there were deeper implications! It seemed their own thinking was too superficial!
Wang Yu could only smack his lips. Had he thought of this aspect?
Yes, I did!
This Feng Daochun is truly talented and worth nurturing!
Wang Yu thought to himself and was about to speak.
Suddenly, the ground vibrated violently.