Chapter 0104: The Crown Prince Salesman
Within less than a week, the upper echelons of the empire and renowned entrepreneurs had all received gifts from Qin Tian. They expressed immense satisfaction with the Daimler B-Class vehicles he bestowed upon them, which far surpassed the cars they had previously driven.
Simultaneously, these individuals had a substantial demand for automobiles; one vehicle could hardly suffice. Many sought to purchase for family members or to acquire a fleet for departmental or corporate use. However, the fact that the B-Class had not yet been launched meant they had to wait. Yet, anticipation for the B-Class grew, as anyone with a modicum of wealth yearned to own such a car, which would undoubtedly elevate their status.
"Your Highness, the ministers are exceedingly pleased with the vehicles you gifted to the government. The administration has decided to procure a batch for official use. We kindly request that you offer us a generous discount," said Prime Minister Bernhard von Bülow, smiling as he spoke to Qin Tian after a court meeting.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, von Kidderlin-Waechter, looked on with a grin.
"Prime Minister, that is absolutely no issue. How many vehicles does the government wish to acquire? I shall ensure Daimler provides you a ten percent discount and prioritize your orders," Qin Tian replied with delight. If the government designated the Daimler B-Class as an official vehicle, various government levels would undoubtedly follow suit. The procurement from the government alone would keep Daimler's production lines busy.
"That would be splendid," Prime Minister von Bülow nodded approvingly.
As January 1 approached, Daimler had prepared a stock of ten thousand B-Class vehicles. To their astonishment, all were sold out within a single day. Half were claimed by the central government, state administrations, and royal governments, while the remainder was snatched up by affluent businessmen, many of whom were left empty-handed. Orders poured into Daimler like snowflakes, leaving General Manager Paul Daimler both astonished and elated.
The influx of orders signified substantial profits, meaning Daimler merely needed to ramp up production capacity without worrying about unsold vehicles. However, the sheer volume of these orders suggested that Daimler's output would need to expand to fifty thousand per month. After all, these orders stemmed solely from the domestic market; once international markets were tapped, demand would likely increase even further.
Moreover, this was just for the B-Class. Once the lower-priced C-Class was introduced, sales would surely be even more explosive. If they didn't expedite the expansion of production capacity, they would struggle to keep up.
After consulting with Qin Tian, Paul Daimler immediately accelerated the construction of new facilities and began planning a large-scale automobile plant in northern Germany to serve that market. The booming sales meant that Paul no longer needed to worry about unsold vehicles. He had no idea how long the supply-demand imbalance would last.
As the B-Class vehicles flew off the shelves, Qin Tian was busy marketing the Daimler company's Maybach trucks to the army and navy. He had wholly transformed into a salesman, fervently promoting his company's products to the military.
Of course, Qin Tian's motivations extended beyond mere profit. He aimed to fortify the military's capabilities through these products. In his eyes, while earning money was vital, winning future wars remained paramount. He sought to bolster the army's strength—both hard and soft power—before the outbreak of conflict. This, he believed, would enhance Germany's chances of success in future battles.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the latest offering from Daimler Automobile Company. This truck can carry a load of 1.5 tons and travel at a speed of forty kilometers per hour. It is also capable of towing a cannon. This means it can transport an entire squad of fully armed soldiers swiftly to the battlefield. While Germany's railway network is dense, allowing for quick troop movements and logistical support, once we cross our borders and invade enemy territory, the situation changes dramatically. Western Europe may fare better with its infrastructure, but the vast plains of Eastern Europe are quite inadequate. Should we invade there, simply supplying our troops would become a logistical nightmare. If our army can be equipped with sufficient trucks, it would undoubtedly alleviate this issue," Qin Tian explained with a smile to the gathered generals.
"Transporting an entire squad at forty kilometers per hour is indeed impressive," nodded General Waldsee, the Deputy Chief of Staff. The German army relied primarily on railways for logistical support within the country, but once outside its borders, reliance on horse-drawn carts would be necessary. This forced the army to maintain a significant number of mules. Replacing these with trucks would conserve considerable manpower, resources, and finances.
"Your Highness, what is the reliability of these trucks?" asked von Moltke.
"General, I can assure you that these trucks are quite reliable. While I cannot promise they will be entirely without issues, major problems are unlikely; any minor issues that arise are easily resolved," Qin Tian replied.
"If an infantry division could be equipped with one hundred or two hundred of these trucks, it would adequately meet their supply needs. What is your perspective on this, General?" Waldsee inquired.
"That sounds promising, but currently, our military budget is extremely tight," von Moltke countered, clearly hesitant.
"Your Highness, may I inquire about the price of these trucks?" asked General Waldsee.
"The market price will be eight thousand marks. However, I can extend a discount to the military; you need only pay six thousand five hundred marks per vehicle," Qin Tian replied with a smile.