Chapter 0062: Military Motorcycles
The two models of motorcycles produced by the Daimler Company have surpassed the realm of merely "popular" sales. The second batch of twenty thousand motorcycles similarly vanished from the market within a single day, captivating the German populace, particularly the youth, who took immense pride in owning these machines.
This fervor resulted in long queues forming outside Daimler's stores as eager customers began lining up the night before the release date. Even with Daimler's monthly output of forty thousand motorcycles, it took three months to alleviate the overwhelming demand. Nonetheless, the sales figures remained extraordinarily high.
Other motor vehicle manufacturers soon sought to enter this burgeoning market. However, Daimler had preemptively registered numerous design patents, compelling competitors to start from scratch. This not only wasted precious time but also resulted in products that failed to meet consumer expectations, leaving them far behind Daimler.
Across Europe, the demand for these motorcycles surged, but Daimler struggled to fulfill domestic needs, let alone expand into international markets. To ensure influence abroad, Qin Tian decided to allocate five thousand units from the monthly production for markets in England, France, and America. Undoubtedly, the two motorcycle models achieved remarkable success in these countries, though the limited quantity made it akin to a drop in the ocean for the overwhelming demand.
In response, Daimler had no choice but to ramp up production, hoping to satisfy market needs swiftly and capture more of the burgeoning market. Fast-selling products often prompted imitation; while counterfeit items could never rival the originals, they still enticed those who could not secure the genuine articles.
Qin Tian's focus had long since shifted from the civilian motorcycles. While the civilian models enjoyed explosive sales, the research and development department at Daimler, under Qin Tian's directive, had been diligently working on military heavy motorcycles, producing both two-wheeled and three-wheeled versions. The first batch of ten units each was delivered to Berlin by the end of August.
On September 2, Qin Tian invited key military leaders to a camp outside Berlin to witness a demonstration of these military heavy motorcycles, hoping to secure military contracts and enhance the combat capabilities of the forces.
Attending the event were Chief of Staff General von Moltke, Minister of the Army von Falkenhayn, Admiral Tirpitz, Deputy Chief of Staff General Waldsee, and several prominent generals including Kluck, Bilo, Hausen, and Mawitz.
Qin Tian's substantial commercial successes had elevated his social standing, earning him considerable respect within military circles, particularly in the navy. However, his support for the army was perceived as lackluster, leading some army generals to grumble that he shared the same naval bias as Crown Prince Wilhelm. Nevertheless, their anticipation of Qin Tian's assistance was palpable; they believed that if he were to support the army with the same fervor as he did the navy, significant benefits would ensue.
In many respects, Qin Tian's influence had begun to eclipse that of Crown Prince Wilhelm. Without the royal facade, Wilhelm would find it challenging to compete with Qin Tian.
"Thank you all for gracing us with your presence today to witness our motorcycle demonstration. We hope our products meet your expectations," Qin Tian beamed.
"Your Highness, the motorcycles launched by your Daimler Company have ignited a purchasing frenzy across the nation and indeed all of Europe. I must admit, both models are classics; my son and daughter each own one. Were I twenty years younger, I too would spare no expense to acquire one, just like those young men," Minister von Falkenhayn chuckled.
"Your compliments honor us. It is our privilege to satisfy your esteemed self," Qin Tian responded with a smile.
"Your Highness, please proceed; we cannot afford to waste too much time here," General von Moltke urged.
"Apologies, General; the demonstration will commence shortly." Qin Tian noted von Moltke's growing impatience. Among the attendees, von Moltke displayed a relatively cool demeanor towards him, understandable given his close ties to Crown Prince Wilhelm, who had often viewed Qin Tian with hostility.
Soon, the demonstration began. Ten two-wheeled motorcycles rolled out, each carrying two fully armed soldiers. Despite the load exceeding two hundred kilograms, the motorcycles performed admirably.
"Gentlemen, these motorcycles can reach a maximum speed of ninety kilometers per hour on highways. They can also traverse unpaved roads, albeit at a reduced speed. Even in open grasslands without roads, they maintain limited off-road capabilities. If our army were equipped with such motorcycles, their march speed would significantly increase," Qin Tian explained.
"Your Highness, in combat, the battlefield rarely offers roads, and the terrain is often uneven. Hence, such motorcycles would be difficult to deploy effectively," General von Moltke countered.
"However, General, our troops often advance along established roads. Utilizing motorcycles would substantially enhance their speed," Qin Tian elucidated.
"In my view, the utility of this is limited. Our forces cannot expect to advance hundreds of kilometers daily on the battlefield," General von Moltke replied.
"General, I believe our reconnaissance units could greatly benefit from such military motorcycles, enabling them to gather intelligence and report back to command more swiftly," von Falkenhayn interjected.