Chapter 154 AMG: You little bastard, are you worthy?
After paying 900 million US dollars, Fang Hexuan became a shareholder of the world's number one red wine winery.

Neither party had the intention of engaging in intense bargaining. One made a reasonable offer and the other agreed readily.

In 1868, the Rothschild family bought the estate for 440 million francs, which is equivalent to US$88.

More than 100 years have passed, and today Château Lafite is valued at over 5000 million US dollars.

But Eric Rothschild only offered a valuation of $4500 million for Hong Kong's richest man.
Therefore, Fang Hexuan obtained 20% of the shares, but it is not known whether he is the largest shareholder.

After not staying in France for long, he flew to West Germany, which was the focus of his trip.

According to the plan, BYD will be able to mass-produce EVO next year. Although it is mainly a small-displacement model, this car can also be considered a market-ready model.

According to WRC event rules, all participating cars must be mass-produced models that have sold more than 2000 units on the market.

Even if the BYD EVO performance version cannot participate in WRC next year, it will participate the year after, which is 1983.

In order for the EVO to perform well in a real race, the car must be significantly improved or upgraded.

However, the BYD team in Hong Kong is currently unable to push the performance of mass-produced models to the limit.

Therefore, Fang Hexuan came to West Germany this time to find help for BYD, or to put it bluntly, to buy technology.

The most famous modification company in West Germany at present is probably AMG, which even attracted the richest man in Hong Kong to come and learn from it.

AMG super modification company was founded in 1967 by Hans Werner Overecht and Erhard Melcher.

Before starting their own business, these two great men were both R&D personnel at Daimler-Mercedes Group, specializing in tuning racing engines.

At this time, Mercedes-Benz had temporarily bid farewell to racing, which made the two big names feel that their talents were wasted.

So, the two of them left Mercedes-Benz at the end of 1966 and founded AMG together in the small town of Grosaspach in 1967.

AMG is the abbreviation of Aufrecht Melcher grosaspach, which is a combination of the two people's surnames and the name of the town.

The company was founded with the goal of designing and testing racing engines.

This means that AMG is not only a top modification company, but also has the ability to develop automobile engines.

These two points are the most urgent and pressing technical capabilities that BYD currently needs.

Although BYD has obtained the technical data of the 4GXX engine that Mitsubishi is still developing,
However, BYD engineers still lack sufficient experience in how to make major improvements or upgrades in the future.

This kind of precision industry cannot be faked at all, if it works, it works, if it doesn't, it doesn't.
Either rely on long-term trial and error and accumulation, or seek help directly from companies that are far ahead.

Fang Hexuan was in a hurry, so he chose to walk on two legs. The research and development work that had invested a lot of money would not be interrupted, but he was also willing to spend money to buy technology.

In 1971, Mercedes-Benz restarted its racing activities, and AMG took over the work of modifying Mercedes-Benz racing engines, and successfully helped Mercedes-Benz get the second place in the 24-hour endurance race.

After becoming famous in this battle, AMG began its rapid advancement in the car customization industry as a car modification company.

By 1976, AMG had grown to a size with more than 40 technicians, which made the original old factory no longer able to accommodate AMG.

As a result, AMG moved as a whole to Affalterbach.

In the same year, Erhard Melcher, one of the founders of AMG, chose to withdraw his shares, but continued to stay in AMG's racing department as an engineer.

Hans Werner Overecht became the sole major shareholder of AMG.

Five years have passed, and AMG's equity has not changed much.

Daimler-Mercedes has not yet started to invest in AMG and only regards it as a pure modification company.

It was not until three years later that AMG developed a completely independent cylinder head and began to manufacture automobile engines with excellent performance. At this time, Daimler-Benz Group began to pay attention to AMG, but only acquired part of its shares.

Mercedes-Benz doesn't take it seriously, but the richest man Fang Da treasures it very much.

The meetings with Hans Werner Overecht were arranged in advance through the consulting company, so they were not abrupt.

"Mr. Ofrecht, I suppose you already know why I'm here?"

"Of course. To be honest, I had never heard of BYD before. After asking my colleagues, I found out that you had already started cooperating with Bosch, ZF and other companies last year."

"Haha, it doesn't matter if I haven't heard of it before. The most important thing is that I hope to get help from AMG in the future."

"Mr. Fang, with all due respect, racing requires not only passion but also technical prowess."

"According to the information I got from the consulting company, BYD has not yet started producing cars. It is really a fantasy to want to start the WRC event next year."

"Haha, I admit that what Mr. Ovrecht said is correct, but I hope you don't underestimate BYD. We also have a certain technical foundation."

“Even if BYD acquires some technology, there is still a long way to go before it can be truly applied on the field.”

"Haha, this is why I came to Germany to see you."

"Mr. Fang, to be honest, I have never worked with a newly established company. Your foundation is too weak. It is almost impossible for AMG to complete this modification task."

"I know it's difficult, but I hope AMG can take over this business."

"Forgive me."

“I want to acquire AMG!”

"what?"

“Buy AMG and make it a subsidiary of BYD.”

"Mr. Fang, AMG was originally established to modify racing engines for Mercedes-Benz cars. Even if you acquire AMG, we won't be able to work together well."

"Haha, there is an old Chinese saying 'Everything depends on human effort'. BYD needs AMG to provide comprehensive technical assistance. I am willing to give it a try."

“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to sell the company.”

"You can name a price!"

"Mr. Fang, AMG is a company that values ​​technology. Money, in our opinion, is not that important."

"But it's still important, right?"

"According to the information I have obtained, you are currently developing engine technology. If you join BYD, the parent company is willing to provide you with the funds you need. You only need to share the technology."

"."

"My conditions are very generous. Although Mr. Ofrecht is fond of Daimler-Benz, it seems that this group has never thought highly of the company and you."

"Think about it, once you join the BYD family and help our first car achieve brilliant results in the WRC, doesn't this further prove the excellence of AMG technology?"

“I can also pledge that while I will provide funding to help you develop new engines, I will also support your continued peacekeeping cooperation.”

"Even if one day in the future, Mercedes-Benz opens its arms to you, I am not unwilling to give it up. I just need your technical assistance."

(End of this chapter)