332: Chapter 332 Smart Ecosystem Launched Simultaneously?

Facing Lei Jun's sigh, Lin Bin also felt a bit dazed.

"Transsion has already done it"—that single sentence completely shattered their psychological defenses.

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"Let's go," he said to the driver.

After the car left the isolated industrial park, Lin Bin leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.

Refrigerators definitely needed to be negotiated, as did washing machines and dishwashers. If Gree couldn't be negotiated with, there were still Midea, Haier, and Aux.

Even if Transsion was ahead, they could only negotiate one, and Xiaomi could do the same.

But he also knew in his heart, so what if they succeeded?

The solutions provided by the factories were always second-rate.

First-class technology and first-class production capacity were always reserved for the factories' own brands. Xiaomi was imitating, but in the end, it was still just imitating.

...

Lin Bin had just returned from Zhuhai and happened to run into the Marketing Department manager, who was holding an investigation report.

So, the two of them headed to Lei Jun's office together.

As soon as they entered, the head of the Marketing Department, Zeng Shuhui, said worriedly: "President Lei, the news that President Lin found out is true.

After investigation, we can confirm this is a solid fact.

They have already established a Smart Home Division in Shenzhen and poached many people from Haier and Midea.

The leader is the former general manager of Haier's White Goods Division, named Chen Wei.

He is highly regarded in the industry and is someone who truly understands home appliances."

Lei Jun flipped through the stack of papers one by one.

The papers were printed with recruitment information for Transsion's Smart Home Appliance Division, as well as some leaks from employees on Weibo.

After the Xiaomi smart ecosystem plan was exposed, Digital Chat Station also kept hinting in the comments section that Transsion also had some new products.

In short, all the evidence proved that Transsion was poaching people on a large scale, offering very high annual salaries?

"Chen Wei? The one from Haier? Are you sure it's him?"

Lei Jun frowned. He was very familiar with this person; he had once been on his candidate list, but he couldn't be poached!

Even though he offered the top salary in the industry, the other party remained unmoved.

This was Xiaomi's most common and effective method: poaching big talents at high prices to ensure research progress and better create promotional effects.

Interns for cost reduction and efficiency.

At the same time, casting a wide net—if you happened to catch gold, it was a profit. But this time he failed; he actually couldn't poach him.

He had thought the other party had aspirations, but now he realized his offer wasn't enough.

"Yes. He worked at Haier for 16 years, rising from the grassroots level to become the general manager of the White Goods Division, managing three product lines: air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines.

Many of Haier's hit products were led by him.

He resigned from Haier in March this year. Insiders thought he was going to start his own business, but unexpectedly, he was poached by Transsion."

"What conditions did Shen Fei give him?"

Lei Jun really wanted a definitive answer, and then compare it with his own... He wanted to know where he had lost.

"I heard it's Group Vice President, reporting directly to Shen Fei.

Then there's the corresponding equity, stock options, and a high salary. Added together, it's at least this much."

Lin Bin held up one finger!

"One hundred million."

"Per year."

Lin Bin was very certain at this moment that Lei Jun had completely let go of the illusions in his heart.

He really couldn't offer one hundred million; this price far exceeded Dami Company's budget.

At the same time, he realized once again the gap between them and Transsion.

Transsion spared no expense in poaching people either, but their entire team was at the industry's top level, not like Xiaomi where it was a leader plus rookies...

And they had money; this was one of the core reasons they could quickly replicate and succeed in various fields.

Just as Lei Jun was sighing, the real reason was slightly different from what he imagined.

At the time, Wang Hua just showed him a video, and Chen Wei decided to join instantly, without mentioning any conditions.

As for equity and stock options, that was nonsense, although the high salary was true.

And joining Transsion meant he didn't need to manage R&D; he only needed to manage production.

"There is one more thing." Lin Bin opened another document.

"Transsion isn't just poaching people. They acquired a piece of land in the Guangming District of Shenzhen, 2,000 mu, preparing to build a smart home industrial park.

They plan to invest 10 billion, with a planned annual production capacity of 10 million air conditioners, 10 million refrigerators, 12 million washing machines, and various small appliances.

This is to build their own factory, not to find an OEM to slap their brand on."

Regarding this smart home factory, Secretary Li from Guangzhou had talked many times, wanting Shen Fei to keep the industry in Guangzhou.

He promised many conditions, such as free land leveling and free factory construction. After all, this was a 10-billion-value factory; once listed, it would be worth at least 100 billion.

But everything he could offer, Zhang Shiqing could also offer, and...

Lei Jun was tapping his hand on the table at the meeting; this was his little habit when thinking.

The faster he tapped, the more unbalanced he felt inside.

Obviously, before they officially announced it, there were no issues. But just a few days after the official announcement, the poaching matter was exposed, and Transsion's factory was exposed.

Could it be that they were really waiting for him?

"What about us? Has the OEM for Xiaomi air conditioners been found?"

"Still negotiating.

Midea's quote is too high, Aux's capacity isn't enough, and Hisense's conditions are quite harsh."

Lin Bin also sighed.

"By the way, Old Lei, there is one more thing.

This time I went to Zhuhai, although Chairwoman Dong Mingzhu rejected us, she said one thing: she also rejected Transsion's people.

But based on my understanding, Transsion definitely didn't start laying the groundwork just two months ago."

Lei Jun's fingers stopped.

Two months ago? It's impossible for Transsion to have started laying the groundwork two months ago.

At least half a year ago, or even when he first entered the India market, Transsion was already laying the groundwork for this technology and the corresponding supply chain.

Now he had a terrifying answer.

Entering the India market might have been a trap from the very beginning, and now Xiaomi is trapped in India... Fortunately, he withdrew a large portion in time; there shouldn't be any other consequences, right?

"What about the progress? When can they ship products?"

Both of their attention was focused on Zeng Shuhui, who was facing the pressure from the two big bosses.

She hesitantly held up three fingers, and then slowly put up two more.

"Theoretically, Chen Wei joined in March, so it's been about three months now.

The development cycle for smart home products is shorter than for mobile phones, especially for white goods. Many use mature public solutions; just changing the casing and adding some smart modules allows them to ship.

But Transsion probably won't operate like that...

I estimate... at the fastest, the second half of this year, and at the latest, the first half of next year, Transsion's smart home products will be on the market."

"The second half of this year?" Lei Jun's voice raised significantly.

"This is the most conservative estimate; the launch time is the same as ours. If the situation is worse, they could launch at any time.

And Transsion's product line will be much larger than ours. They have money, so they are rolling out the full category from the very beginning.

Air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, small appliances, smart lighting, security sensors—they will definitely all be launched, while we can only do them one by one."

Lei Jun leaned back in his chair, and after sighing, he closed his eyes directly.