Chapter 321 Customers Become Shareholders

According to Fang Hexuan's estimation, the automation rate of Gulfstream's final assembly workshop should be over 60%.

However, BYD's Shenzhen factory has a similar automation rate, but the proportion of robots used is definitely higher than Gulfstream.

This is the result of Fang Hexuan deliberately leaving some operating procedures to workers in order to boost employment in the mainland.

But no matter what, although Gulfstream is not very famous at present and its models are not very popular, but in the 80s, this production line is considered advanced enough.

Alan Paulson personally explained to Fang Hexuan some of the technologies that Gulfstream was worthy of showing off, and the latter nodded politely and frequently.

It took the group nearly an hour just to visit the final assembly workshop.

Fang Hexuan didn't know what Paulson was planning. Was it necessary for him to speak out in person and get hoarse with anger?

How could he know that the other party had also studied him specifically.

In fact, Gulfstream has classified the world's wealthy people into different categories. People like Fang Hexuan belong to the S level in their customer database.

What does it mean? Actually, it means a type of super-rich people who have a significant influence and can attract others to follow suit and buy.

What's more, private jets are also consumables, and wealthy people may replace them with new models after a few years.

Therefore, in the eyes of Gulfstream and Paulson, people like Fang Hexuan are precious customers who must be won over by all means.

After visiting the final assembly workshop, Fang Hexuan and his friends were not taken to see anything more hardcore such as the aircraft engine assembly workshop, but went directly to the reception and meeting room in the office building.

Here, we basically discuss the specific purchase details.

However, Alan Paulson was no longer there, and instead the sales director of Gulfstream Ontario was in charge.

The female assistant handed Fang Hexuan the model information. As he flipped through the pages, the sales director asked:
"Mr. Fang, do you have any specific requirements for your business jet?"

Fang Hexuan must have thought about this question before, so he didn't think about it at all, and didn't even look up, and said directly:
"First and foremost, it must be able to cross the Pacific Ocean and have a range long enough to fly from Hong Kong to San Francisco or Los Angeles."

As soon as he finished speaking, the conference room suddenly fell into silence.

Fang Hexuan's bodyguard standing behind him naturally didn't say a word, but the people from Wanliu were also silent, which made Fang Hexuan a little strange.

The sales director coughed twice to ease the embarrassment.

"Mr. Fang, I'm sorry, our company currently doesn't have this kind of ultra-long-range model!"

This time it was Fang Hexuan's turn to be silent. He was a little dazed and thought he had heard it wrong.

Although I didn't have a private jet in my previous life, I had thought about buying one. However, I only looked at the information of the latest models at that time. I didn't know that Gulfstream Aerospace might not have a business jet with a range of more than 10,000 kilometers.

He tried to ask with some uncertainty.

"How could it not be?"

The sales director of Gulfstream was embarrassed again. What could he say? He couldn't say that the company was not strong enough and had not even started the development plan of long-range business jets.

Helplessly, he could only fake a smile.

"Mr. Fang, short- and medium-range business jets are now the mainstream models in the global business market. As for long-range and ultra-long-range models, we at Gulfstream are currently developing them. I believe they will be available to you soon!"

Fang Hexuan didn't believe the other party's words of saving face. He had his own factory and R&D center, so he didn't believe that an aircraft with very high safety requirements could complete the entire process of R&D, production, testing, and flight trials in just a few years. Even if there really was a company with such high efficiency, it was estimated that not many wealthy people who valued their lives would dare to buy it.

Perhaps unwilling to lose such an important customer, the sales director advised:
"Mr. Fang, in my opinion, you don't need to buy an ultra-long-range aircraft. Although this type of aircraft can fly directly from Hong Kong to the west coast of the United States, only Boeing's large passenger aircraft on the market can meet your requirements. They are not only expensive, but also difficult to repair and maintain. The commuting rate is not as good as that of small business jets. Our Gulfstream 'III' model is very suitable for you. You only need to refuel once in Australia and you can still fly to the United States."

After hearing what the other party said, Fang Hexuan turned the information in his hand to the page about Gulfstream III.

There were a total of 23 crew members, the aircraft was 25.3 meters long and 7.4 meters high, with a maximum flight speed of 0.75 Mach and a maximum range of 6760 kilometers. Its first flight was on December 1979, 12.

Looking at these data, Fang Hexuan had to admit in his heart that if we rank the world's many private aircraft manufacturers, Gulfstream is currently considered to be outstanding.

But he was still a little disappointed because he had to go to Australia to refuel, which greatly affected his travel experience.

Normally, a large passenger plane would take at least 12 hours to fly directly from Hong Kong to Los Angeles. If a Gulfstream III is used to refuel, the final journey would probably take 14-15 hours.

For Fang Hexuan, each trip takes 2-3 hours longer. If he runs frequently in the future, wouldn't it waste more time?

"Sorry, I still hope to buy a plane that can fly non-stop. Since Gulfstream doesn't have it, I wonder if other private jet manufacturers have such a model?"

The sales director snorted in his heart when he heard this. If Gulfstream didn't have it, no other company would have it either.

"Mr. Fang, as far as I know, the only two series of aircraft that can meet your requirements are the Boeing 747-200 and 747-300. Even Airbus in Europe does not have long-range passenger aircraft."

Fang Hexuan nodded, but asked again with some reluctance:

"Where's the Bombardier from Canada?"

The sales director raised his mouth slightly, shook his head and said:
"They don't either. Ultra-long-range business jets are not the mainstream in the current market."

“But it will be mainstream in the future!”

"Mr. Fang, I believe that too, but that is a matter for the future."

It is obvious that there is not much point in continuing to communicate with the Gulfstream Sales Director, or this visit to Gulfstream may be a mistake.

Last month he decided to buy a private jet. He was so impulsive that he didn't ask for details and thought that this kind of long-range business jet had always been available.

He decided to go to Seattle to take a look, or find a consulting agency to ask about the current market conditions for private jets. He couldn't be so confused anymore.

If it is true as the Gulfstream sales director said, then Fang Hexuan will have to spend more dollars to buy a 747.

Although the space is a bit luxurious, the fuel costs are high, and the subsequent maintenance is expensive, it is not without advantages. At least, when he goes out with his team and bodyguards in the future, he will no longer have to take the plane in batches.

Fang Hexuan felt embarrassed, so he didn't plan to say goodbye to Paulson. Just as he was about to return to Los Angeles, he was stopped by Paulson at the door of the office headquarters.

"Mr. Fang, please stay!"

"Mr. Paulson, you don't have to be so polite!"

"I'm sorry that Gulfstream doesn't have a product that satisfies Mr. Fang, but maybe we can work together again?"

Fang Hexuan was a little confused, and he said doubtfully:
"Speaking!"

Paulson smiled mysteriously and said in a low voice:
"Mr. Fang, are you interested in becoming a shareholder of Gulfstream?"

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(End of this chapter)