118: Chapter 118 Major Changes in Jili

"Now that we are poaching people from Geely and BYD, they will say we are not following the rules."

He looked at everyone in the conference room, especially Wang Mengyang.

"But who makes the rules? They are set by those already at the poker table. If newcomers want to sit at the table, they have to break the rules. Besides, it's not like we aren't paying."

Wang Mengyang remained silent for a long time; this was indeed quite different from R&D.

Finally, he said, "I understand."

"You don't understand," Shen Fei shook his head. "Triple the salary is not the goal; it's a means to an end."

"Then what is our goal..."

"Ten billion in subsidies combined with triple salaries will let everyone who wants to move know that Transsion Auto can afford it, and at the same time, let users believe that although we are a new team, our engineers are reliable. We are trustworthy."

...

January 2nd, Geely Research Institute.

Chen Jianping took a half-day off. Carrying the printed recruitment email, he went to a coffee shop in the Binjiang District of Hangzhou.

The person who invited him was an HR representative from Transsion Auto, a young woman with the surname Zhou, whose voice sounded very young.

"Engineer Chen, thank you for making the time."

Chen Jianping sat down and pushed the menu handed to him by Zhou Fen aside: "Is the 1000km true?"

Zhou Fen didn't answer. She took a document out of her bag and slid it in front of Chen Jianping.

There was no need to feed such technical personnel empty promises; solid technology was the best way to move them.

"This is Transsion Auto's power battery test report."

Chen Jianping opened it. The moment he saw the number, his pupils constricted. It was exactly the same as the report the headhunter had brought yesterday.

He worked in powertrain, so he knew what this number meant.

The industry average was currently 90-120 Wh/kg. Although there were rumors about BYD having a blade battery, it hadn't been released yet.

Dongguan New Energy (the predecessor of the 'Ning King') was rumored to be researching power batteries, but crossing over wasn't that easy; these companies were all just PPT...

175Wh/kg, at least two years ahead of the industry.

"Is this submitted test data?"

"This is an official report issued by the Northern Automobile Quality Supervision, Inspection and Appraisal Institute (Jincheng)." Zhou Fen pointed to the stamp on the bottom right corner of the report. "You can verify the number and phone."

Chen Jianping didn't ask any more questions.

He closed the report and looked up: "If I go over, what would I be doing?"

"Deputy Chief Engineer of the Powertrain System at Transsion Auto. There is a six-month probationary period. The salary will not be affected by the probationary period."

Chen Jianping hesitated a bit, but he quickly understood. That made sense; they had invested ten billion, so how could they not poach some more capable people from abroad?

"What about the salary?"

Zhou Fen stated the number, and Chen Jianping thought he had misheard.

"Is this... an annual salary?"

"Annual salary." Zhou Fen nodded. "If the project milestones are met, there are also stock options. Project stock options."

Chen Jianping didn't care about the stock options; this salary alone was 3.7 times what he was making at Geely.

Only after coming out did he realize it wasn't that the industry was raining, but rather...

Mainly, this salary was enough to pay off his mortgage, enough to stop his parents from worrying, and enough to give his children a better future.

"I need to think about it," he said to her.

Zhou Fen didn't urge him, just handed him a business card: "Engineer Chen, feel free to contact me anytime."

It was already 3 PM when Chen Jianping returned to the research institute.

As soon as he entered the office, he noticed the atmosphere was off. People in the hallway were whispering; they stopped when they saw him, wanting to say something but then closing their mouths.

He was also curious. Just as he entered his office and was preparing to call someone to ask about it, the Deputy Chief Engineer from the office next door poked his head in and walked over, lowering his voice:

"Old Chen, something happened."

"What happened?"

"12 people." Engineer Li held up two fingers. "They resigned en masse."

Chen Jianping was stunned.

"Those 12." When Engineer Li listed the names, Chen Jianping's expression changed. They were all core backbones of the research institute.

Engineer Zhang from the powertrain system, Engineer Liu from the chassis, Engineer Wang from the electronic control. And a few young people he had trained, who were practically his apprentices.

"When did this happen?"

"This morning. At the Dean's office, they handed them in together. Let me tell you, you really picked the wrong time to take leave; you missed a good show. Our Dean has gone crazy; he's still in his office cursing right now."

Chen Jianping said nothing. He had been...

He sat down at his desk. His computer was still on, and the recruitment email from Transsion was on the screen. At this moment, Engineer Li poked his head in again...

"You got one too?"

Chen Jianping nodded.

Engineer Li lowered his voice again: "I heard it was Transsion doing the poaching. Triple the salary, more than double actually."

Speaking up to this point, Engineer Li suddenly choked, then turned his head to look at the door behind him. After confirming it was closed tight, he leaned his head toward Chen Jianping.

"Do you think... should we also..."

Chen Jianping didn't make a sound. He sat in his chair, looking at the gray-white buildings of the research institute outside the window.

It had been 12 years. He had gone from a fresh graduate with a master's degree to a Chief Engineer here, and his salary had risen from 1,500 to 12,000.

Projects had gone from improved versions of the Xiali to a true derivative platform.

It could be said that he had given his youth to Geely, but now someone was asking him if he was willing to leave for 3.7 times the price.

He found that he couldn't say "I'm not willing."

...

At 5 PM, the door to the research institute Dean's office was knocked open.

The Dean's surname was Wang. Born in the early 60s, he was an old car industry veteran transferred from FAW, so naturally, he carried some old-fashioned airs.

They believed that salary and such were not important, and that dedicating oneself to the enterprise was... but at this moment, looking at the stack of resignation letters on his desk, his face was livid.

"12 people," he said. "12 core backbones, all resigned within a single day, not to mention the others. What are you paid for?"

Sitting opposite him was the HR Director, sweat beading on his forehead.

He had indeed tried to retain these people, painting big pictures and offering salary increases, using every means available, but unfortunately, Transsion was simply too rich.

Salary increases, resolving household registration, housing subsidies... In short, resolving all worries, his methods had no effect in the face of cold, hard cash.

"Dean Wang, I've checked. They were all poached by Transsion Auto, most of their salaries tripled. It was a direct, forceful poach."

Dean Wang didn't speak again. He stood up and walked to the window, seeing the rows of test cars parked in the research institute.

"How many years has Geely been making cars?"

The HR Director didn't answer, knowing he was asking himself...

"Starting in 1997, that's 13 years. From the Xiali facelift to the Free Cruiser, from the Free Cruiser facelift to the Vision, every step was slogged through by these engineers."

Geely's development had no problems either; last year's revenue was 14 billion. It was just that recently, to acquire Volvo, they had cut some benefits, but the company's operations were still stable.

As long as the acquisition succeeded, Geely would enter a fast lane of development. At that time, stock options, salary... in what aspect would they not be able to compete with Transsion?

These people didn't know how to dedicate themselves to the company at all. He wouldn't have forgotten them; leaving now really makes them ingrates.