Chapter 1090: Chapter 99: Automobile Orders
As June arrives, the Nanyang Industrial Promotion Conference officially begins, with a large number of Imperial People flooding into the exhibition area. Undoubtedly, the most captivating section is East Africa’s automobile exhibition.
The East Africa automobile exhibit features a staggering eleven car brands, covering products across various price ranges.
A Jinling official, with great interest, looked at a black car and asked East African staff member Laird, "Could you introduce this car to me?"
Laird: "Sir, you have a keen eye. This is our East African Mercedes car, priced at only eight thousand silver taels. It is one of the most luxurious cars on the market today, handcrafted, with impressive sales in the Europe and America markets. The interior is quite luxurious, with a crocodile leather steering wheel and genuine leather sofa seats..."
"Too expensive! This is practically daylight robbery. Although cars are quite magical as a means of transportation..."
Eight thousand silver taels is not a trivial amount for anyone, even though this Jinling official looks to be wealthy. In the past, a high-ranking official surnamed Yuan bought a top-of-the-line luxury car to please Empress Cixi for only ten thousand silver taels, the Empress’s car cost just ten thousand silver taels, and this car dares to have a price tag of eight thousand silver taels. That’s daylight robbery.
Laird explained in response, "Sir, this Mercedes is a top luxury car, so the price cannot be low. It is a status symbol. Those who own such luxury cars are either wealthy or noble, and this car is not the most expensive. Do you see that luxury car surrounded by a fence? The one with gold trim and diamonds, that one is the most costly."
The Jinling official had actually noticed the surrounded luxury car earlier. It’s obviously very expensive, and for the current Far East Empire, cars remain a luxury item. Although due to East Africa’s price war, international car prices have decreased, the effect is primarily reflected in high-consumption markets like Europe and America.
"That car is the famed Crown car, completely out of reach, with fewer than twenty in the world. The Central Government only possesses one as it was a national gift from us East Africans. Those who own a Crown car are mostly royal families or top nobility worldwide, each worth over a hundred thousand silver taels."
As Laird introduced these, waves of astonishment surged through the Jinling official’s mind. Though well-traveled, he hadn’t heard of the Crown car, such a top-tier luxury product. Its production is extremely limited, albeit fairly famous in European and American countries.
"Ahem, do you have any cheaper cars here?" asked the Jinling official.
The Crown car was out of reach; though he could afford the Mercedes, he felt it was not worth it, thus he could only lower his expectations.
"How about this Otto? Otto offers great value for money. You should know that many East African government cars are Otto. This Otto is priced at only two thousand silver taels, a high-end model," recommended Laird.
"What is a government car?"
"Just as it sounds, it’s the regular configuration for East African government officials when traveling for business. It’s respectable and the driving and riding experience is quite comfortable," explained Laird.
This piqued a great interest in the Jinling official. Though still slightly expensive, it was entirely within his acceptable range.
Laird took advantage of the moment, "As is well-known, East Africa is the world’s most powerful country in the automobile industry. Even traditional industrial giants like the United Kingdom cannot compare to us. In the world, East African cars are synonymous with high-end, and for someone of your distinguished status, a vehicle befitting your stature should be owned."
"You make a valid point, but it’s a pity that even if I buy this car, experiencing it might be difficult because I don’t know how to drive it. Could you provide corresponding services?"
For Imperial People, cars are certainly a new thing, and new things come with complications, such as how to drive them.
If it’s a carriage, then hiring a coachman solves it, but in the present Far East Empire, car drivers are as rare as phoenix feathers.
Not only in the Far East Empire but even in East Africa, as the world’s largest automobile nation, car drivers are quite scarce. Fortunately, training drivers is not difficult for East Africa, allowing them barely to keep up with automobile production.
Laird said, "We have indeed set up a few relevant training schools in your country. However, they are currently in cities like Tianjin, Jiaozhou, Xuzhou, and Shanghai. This is our first time in Jinling, so we haven’t established related services yet. If you’d like, we can liaise with schools in Xuzhou or Jiaozhou to help you find a driver."
The Jinling official asked, "How long would that take?"
Laird replied, "It wouldn’t be too troublesome, especially since communication technology is so advanced now and these cities aren’t far from Jinling."
The Jinling official thought it over. Apart from Tianjin, the other cities are indeed not far from Jinling, even Jiaozhou can be reached quickly via sea route.
"Are you sure there are available personnel?"
Laird assured, "No problem at all. Given the Far East Empire’s current vehicle count, many who purchase them treat them as toys, not requiring a professional driver, so the personnel is quite sufficient."
The Jinling official nodded, "If that’s the case, then I’ll place an order for one!"
Soon enough, East Africa sold a "luxury car" worth two thousand silver taels at the Nanyang Industrial Promotion Conference. Indeed, the automobile industry is immensely profitable, no wonder it could directly elevate East Africa’s industrial output for the Twenty-Five Plan.
And within less than three days of the exhibition, all thirty-odd vehicles East Africa brought were sold, including the Crown, which was purchased by a bigwig from Hankou.
Previously, the Crown was essentially non-commercial; however, for this Nanyang Industrial Promotion Conference, East Africa specially prepared one, proving that the Far East Empire doesn’t lack wealthy people.
Apart from the vehicles East Africa brought to exhibit, a large batch of orders was signed, totaling over three hundred cars, showcasing the significant impact of this Nanyang Industrial Promotion Conference.
This is to be expected; every province of the Far East Empire participated in this Nanyang Industrial Promotion Conference, and which province doesn’t have affluent individuals? An order of over three hundred cars, honestly, could be fully digested even by some more developed cities in the Far East Empire. Moreover, given the many cities in the Far East Empire, if the richest person in each district buys a car, it would at least contribute a market of ten thousand vehicles, further proving the potential of the Far East Market.
Furthermore, as East Africa’s automobile production cost decreases, car prices will become more affordable, allowing many more people to afford them. Cars, at least, won’t remain as luxurious as one might imagine.
In fact, in East Africa, automobiles are already considered a relatively common mode of transportation. Although the automobile industries of the United States and Germany are currently far behind East Africa, given several more years, annual production in the millions wouldn’t be a mere fantasy. At least the United States’ annual car production currently reaches hundreds of thousands.
