80: Chapter 80 Industry Shock! Star Technology's Ambition

Three days later.

News of Aima Technology and Daniu Dynamics reaching a "strategic energy cooperation" with Star Technology spread like wildfire within the industry through unofficial channels.

At first, no one believed it.

"It's fake, right? Zhang Jian and Wang Chaoqun have been fighting their whole lives; could they really sit down and cooperate with the same company?"

"And it's a new company like Star Technology, are you kidding me?"

But soon, official announcements from Aima and the Danew Group confirmed the rumors.

The wording of the announcements was ambiguous, only mentioning that they would engage in deep cooperation with Star Technology in the new energy field to explore the future together.

The entire industry completely exploded.

Everyone sensed an unusual atmosphere.

One week later.

Shanghai, Aima Technology's new product launch event.

Jing City, Daniu Dynamics' new product launch event.

The two launch events were held simultaneously on the same day, across different locations.

Live-streamed across the entire internet.

Aima's Chairman, Zhang Jian, personally took the stage to release the new flagship—the "Lightning".

"Maximum range of 320 kilometers."

"0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds."

The moment the data was announced, the live-stream comments froze for a second before being flooded with question marks.

"???"

"Am I seeing this right? Aren't these parameters exactly the same as the Jifeng?"

"Plagiarism? No, it's impossible to copy this!"

Next, Zhang Jian turned sideways and pointed at the rendering of the "Lightning" on the large screen behind him.

He raised his hand and drew a circle on a part of the vehicle body.

The camera zoomed in.

A silver-gray logo, composed of a lightning bolt and stars, clearly appeared on the side of the car.

Below the logo was a line of small text.

"Powered by Star-Energy".

At the same time.

Jing City, at the site of the Daniu Dynamics launch event.

Chairman Wang Chaoqun announced the performance parameters of their new flagship, the "Thunderstorm".

They were almost identical to the "Lightning".

Similarly, in his presentation, that "Powered by Star-Energy" logo appeared in the most prominent position on the vehicle body.

At this moment, everyone truly understood.

What the so-called "strategic cooperation" actually was.

Aima and Danew had set aside their status as giants and chosen to bow to Star Technology.

As soon as the new cars hit the market, they ignited it.

Pre-sale links for the "Lightning" and "Thunderstorm" were posted on the official websites.

Offline stores were packed with people.

Countless consumers who had been waiting on the sidelines immediately placed orders without hesitation after seeing the "Powered by Star-Energy" logo.

They weren't buying Aima, nor were they buying Danew.

What they were buying was Xingchen's super battery.

Dealers and high-end customers who once belonged to Diya flocked to Aima and Danew stores in a frenzy.

With the super battery available, who would still buy Diya?

...

Xi City, Diya Group headquarters.

Top-floor conference room.

On a massive holographic screen, Diya Group's stock price curve showed a precipitous cliff-like drop.

Vice President of Sales Wei Jianjun was standing.

"President Li... as of four o'clock this afternoon, the group's stock price has hit the limit down."

"The return notices sent jointly by dealers nationwide have already filled three storage rooms."

"Our capital chain can, at most... last another month."

Li Wenbo sat in the main seat, expressionless.

He hadn't closed his eyes for three days.

He knew this wasn't the end.

This was just the beginning of the collapse.

Aima and Danew had used actual actions to tell the market that without the super battery, it was a dead end.

"Is the ticket to Fei City booked?" he asked.

"It's booked, President Li. The earliest flight," the secretary replied.

Li Wenbo stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside the window was the industrial park that Diya Group was so proud of.

...

That afternoon.

Li Wenbo arrived in Fei City with his core team.

Instead of checking into a five-star hotel, he had the car drive directly to the Yaodong District, where the Xingchen Machinery Factory was located.

He wanted to use his actions to show his sincerity.

The car stopped in front of a hotel.

Li Wenbo didn't get out; he took out his private phone and dialed Guan Yi's number.

The phone rang for a long time before being picked up.

"General Manager Guan."

"President Li," Guan Yi replied.

"I've arrived in Fei City, right here in your Yaodong District. I wonder if President Chen has any time; I'd like to visit in person to discuss the possibility of cooperation."

On the other end of the phone.

"I'm sorry, President Li."

"The boss's schedule has been completely filled recently."

"If you have an intention to cooperate, you can send a proposal to my email first, and I will pass it on."

Li Wenbo's heart sank.

Schedule filled?

"General Manager Guan, Diya has come with the greatest sincerity. Any conditions, we can discuss."

"President Li, I'm very busy."

Guan Yi hung up the phone directly.

Li Wenbo held the phone, motionless for a long time.

Inside the car, the executives of Diya Group didn't even dare to breathe.

They watched as this business titan, who had led the group for twenty years, was turned away for the first time.

...

At almost the same time Li Wenbo was rejected.

Fujian Province, Dening Era R&D Center.

Founder Zeng lao watched the replay of the Aima and Danew launch events alone.

He wasn't shocked by the parameters and sales volume like others.

His gaze was locked on that "Powered by Star-Energy" logo.

Over and over again.

After a long time, he closed the video.

He finally understood.

From the very beginning, Star Technology's goal wasn't to build cars.

Their ambition was all new energy enterprises.

Confrontation?

Meaningless.

Star Technology's super battery was an industrial creation twenty years ahead of the entire era.

Any attempt to catch up was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Zeng lao picked up the internal phone and connected to the technical director.

"Pass the word down."

"Immediately terminate all R&D projects benchmarking against the super battery."

"We can't afford the cost."

On the other end of the phone, the technical director was stunned. "Then... President Zeng, what do we do next..."

"Pivot," Zeng lao's instruction was crystal clear.

"Form a new project team and immediately start researching how to become a secondary supplier under the Xingchen energy system."

"Since we can't build it, then forget it."

"As long as we can enter their supply chain, Dening Era can survive."

...

Fei City, Yaodong District.

Xingchen Machinery Factory, temporary office on the second floor.

Chen Xu stood before a massive electronic sand table, looking at the data streams representing the Jifeng and baofeng generation 2 production lines.

The production capacity of 2,100 units per day still couldn't satisfy the market's frantic demand.

Cars in the warehouse were taken away as soon as they came off the line, without even time to cool down.

Guan Yi pushed the door open and entered.

"Boss, Li Wenbo has arrived in Fei City, and I turned him away."

"Mm." Chen Xu didn't look back.

"On Aima and Danew's side, the first payment for the battery procurement has already arrived."

"They also want to add more orders, three times the amount of this one."

All of this was within his expectations.

Just then.

A slight commotion came from outside the office.

A security guard knocked and entered.

"Boss, General Manager Guan."

"Director Niu from the Yaodong District Management Committee is here; he says he wants to visit you."

Chen Xu finally turned around.

He looked out the window.

A black Audi A6 was parked at the factory entrance, with a very special license plate number.

The car door opened.

A slightly chubby middle-aged man in his fifties stepped out.

Behind him followed a young secretary carrying a briefcase.

The man looked up at the old factory building; there was no surprise on his face, but rather a solemn expression.

He straightened his collar, holding a thick file folder in his hand.

He walked quickly toward the office building.