My Age of Investment

  Chapter 730 Helping others

   "Buzzing~"

  On the workbench in the workshop, a precision-crafted motor rotates at extreme speed, and densely packed circuits and devices are connected to it.

On the industrial computer screen beside   , various test data collected are presented.

  Xia Jingxing and Eberhard looked at all kinds of data on the screen intently.

  After a while, the experiment is over.

Eberhard glanced at Xia Jingxing, who had remained silent, and whispered, “Dylan, this is our current solution. It is equipped with a two-speed gearbox with a 4.2:1 first gear ratio and a second gear. The ratio is 2.17:1, the final transmission ratio is 3.41:1, the motor is 185kW, and the battery is 53kWh......"

  Xia Jingxing nodded slightly, "This gearbox should be Xtrac casually used to make up the number, right?"

  Eberhard’s smile was a bit awkward, "Can’t say that, they still improved a lot after considering Roadster’s parameters."

  Xia Jingxing smiled quietly. Only a few top OEMs in the world can fully master the independent research and development of gearboxes. Even if it is as strong as BMW, it only cooperates with ZF in the form of in-depth cooperation.

  However, BMW enjoys some patents and exclusive use rights for the gearboxes that BMW cooperates with ZF.

  In other words, ZF wants to sell the cooperating gearbox to other car manufacturers, and it needs BMW’s approval.

  It can be imagined how deep the moat constructed by the automobile industry technology is. The gearbox ordered by Tesla is only a popular commodity.

   And Tesla develops its own gearbox, but it doesn’t have that strength.

  Developed in cooperation with Xtrac, private customization is a way that looks good, but it is definitely a way of no return.

  "How much money is left in the company's account?" Xia Jingxing looked at Eberhard.

  "Not much. Excluding the customer's car reservation, we still have more than 10 million US dollars in funds."

When    was speaking, Eberhard deliberately avoided Xia Jingxing’s eyes, looking a little unassuming.

  If you want to rate his CEO’s performance in recent years, it’s definitely unqualified.

  When the car is about to be mass-produced, there are problems with the gearbox design, which may cause delays in delivery, which can easily trigger a crisis of trust among customers, investors, and the market.

  If you want to support the mass production plan, then you have to continue to raise funds.

  Currently, Tesla wants to raise funds. Once the real situation is disclosed, it will certainly not be as popular as it was when the prototype was released last year.

  Last year’s Tesla was so beautiful. I wanted to challenge Porsche and Ferrari on Twitter and ignited public opinion on the Internet. Countless people looked at it and remembered this electric car brand that pays tribute to the great scientist Tesla.

  As a result, no cars will be built this year, and the mass production schedule has been postponed indefinitely.

  Eberhard couldn't imagine how employees would think once this happened, and how the outside world would mock Tesla. The most critical company valuation might also be broken.

  Xia Jingxing is carefully reviewing and thinking about Tesla’s financing activities and R&D expenditures in recent years.

  Tesla has completed three rounds of equity financing for a total of US$7.5 million in Series A, US$13 million in Series B, and US$40 million in Series C in more than two years from the moment he became a shareholder.

  More than 60 million US dollars of funds, in fact, for car building, it is just a drop in the bucket.

  But fortunately, he "guided" Straubel to come up with a battery management system half a year in advance, eliminating a lot of useless experiments and saving time and R&D costs.

  But there are some things that can’t be saved, such as employee salaries and the laboratory equipment in the room in front of you.

  In general, Tesla in this life has developed faster than Tesla in the previous life, and it has also saved more research and development funds at the same stage.

  After the calculations, a total of US$50 million was spent before and after. Eberhard’s previously announced US$25 million to complete the mass production plan has become a complete joke.

  The previous Tesla burned 140 million U.S. dollars to complete mass production and delivery. Musk was almost bankrupt, and Eberhard was swept out with his backhand.

  Among them, the most pitted place to burn money is the endless design and experiment of the two-speed gearbox.

   "You go call Tarpening, let's have a meeting together."

  After a while, Eberhard called Tarpening.

  The three of them walked into a conference room together.

   "Guys, what do you plan to do next?"

  Xia Jingxing put her hands on the table and leaned down to stare at the two of them.

  Tapenning, as the founder and an important shareholder who holds 7.94% of the shares, is very aware of the company's dilemma at the moment.

  He sighed and said, “Dylan, if the gearbox problem is not solved, Roadster will not be able to pass the certification test of the Ministry of Transportation.”

   "So what?" Xia Jingxing continued to ask.

Tarpening first glanced at Eberhard, and after completing a round of gazes with the latter, he slowly said: "So, we have to conduct a new round of financing. I know this will encounter many problems, but we have no choice. ."

  "Dalun, we have all come to this point. No matter how hard it is, we must stick to it. We can't fall one meter before the end."

  Eberhard also spoke. He clenched his fists with both hands and said excitedly: "As long as another round of financing of no less than 40 million US dollars is completed, I am confident that the gearbox problem will be solved."

  Xia Jingxing thinks this guy can fool you better than Jack Ma. Anyway, all the cows that people have blown in the early years have come true, how about you? Want to bankrupt me too?

  However, he and Musk are not at the same level. They are not afraid of pitting two money, because they are afraid of delaying the delivery of mass production.

   "You are going to raise funds like this. Our gearbox has a problem. You are about to invest 40 million in Tesla. I can complete mass production next year, and the company can go public in the next year?"

  Xia Jingxing's sarcasm made the two of them feel a little bit unconscious.

  Eberhard's face flushed, and his breathing became hurried.

   Tarpenning was frowning. He seemed to be back when he was desperate more than two years ago. At that time, Tesla was in a fog.

   "But if you don't raise funds, is there any other way?" Eberhard looked straight at Xia Jingxing.

  "Investment institutions are not stupid. Tesla's dilemma cannot be hidden from them, and the valuation will suffer a big loss."

  Xia Jingxing's tone was calm, as if she was stating something unrelated to him.

   Eberhard spread his hands, "Then there is no way. It’s better to lose money on equity than to lose the company?

  In fact, as long as the company can succeed, it doesn’t matter if my equity is reduced to single digits. "

  Xia Jingxing nodded lightly, with a thoughtful expression on her face.

  Eberhard’s equity is twice that of Tarpening, and currently holds 15.87% of Tesla’s equity, making him the company’s second largest shareholder besides him.

  "Dalun, don't pay too much attention to the dilution of equity. In the final analysis, the equity will be valuable if the project is completed, otherwise it will be a piece of waste paper."

  Speaking of this, Eberhard paused, "Of course, I want to say sorry to you here. I underestimated the difficulty of making electric vehicles. As a result, you have invested so much money, and you may lose money."

  Xia Jingxing waved his hand, “These are not important. Electric vehicles are a disruptive industry. If it were so easy to succeed, GM would not give up.”

  Looking at Eberhard, Xia Jingxing said again: "Are you really sure about the gearbox?"

  "Dalun, don't worry, I have been in the industry for so long. I still have some confidence in this point. I just work over a year and fight this old bone, and I will definitely come up with a satisfactory plan."

As soon as Eberhard’s voice fell, Tarpening followed him and said: “Yes, there are still too few tests and verifications. Like our battery management system, aren’t they tested little by little? "

  Xia Jingxing smiled, Xin said that she would really give an example.

   "Okay, since you are so confident, then I won't say much. Let's start the D round of financing as soon as possible!"

   After receiving Xia Jingxing’s statement, the two looked at each other and both laughed. It seems that they did not find the wrong investor. Dai Lun is really a reasonable person.

   "The D round of financing may not go well, you must be mentally prepared."

   Gazing at the two of them, Xia Jingxing first reminded him, and then smiled and said: "If the most difficult and unsatisfactory situation arises, you can find me to take action.

  I previously promised to invest $84 million in Tesla, but now only $29.633 million has been invested.

  Integrity is the most important quality of being a human being, and my promise is still valid.

  Let's do it, I'll give you both of you. "

  "Daren, thank you!"

  Eberhard smiled at Xia Jingxing, and he let out a sigh of relief. Originally, he had some dissatisfaction with Xia Jingxing, but it also disappeared.

  He didn't forget Xia Jingxing's promise, but he didn't know what Xia Jingxing thought, so he treated it as if he had forgotten, and didn't open the mouth.

   Now that Xia Jingxing takes the initiative to mention it, how can he not make him feel good.

  Tapenning and Xia Jingxing touched a fist, "Dalun, meeting you is definitely the greatest luck of our two people in this life!"

  Xia Jingxing laughed, he is so helpful, not worthy of praise.

   "However, I still have to put some ugly things first. I trust you, but you must also be worthy of this trust, because it is just a credit card with a limit!"

   Eberhard nodded sharply, "Daren, I understand, this time there will never be a situation that cannot be controlled again."

  "Well, let’s stop here today. Call the key staff and management tonight. Let's have a meal together. By the way, we will cheer everyone up. The D round of financing is about to be done. Our internal military will not be confused."

  This is also a way for Xia Jingxing to communicate with each other. Every time he visits Tesla, he will pay for his employees to eat.

  Because of this, everyone in the company likes the chairman who rarely shows up, but is generous.

  (End of this chapter)