35-year-old Zhao Dong has always had a "car dream".
While studying at Beijing Institute of Technology , Zhao Dong built "strange cars" such as electric tractors, electric drift tricycles, and electric suitcase cars. After graduating from the master's degree, he was obsessed with his dreams and came to Weihai Nanhai New District to establish Shandong Mingchuan Automobile Group Co., Ltd. From zero income in three years to an output value of over 100 million yuan, how did Mingchuan Automobile cross the "Death Valley" and become the gazelle enterprise in Shandong Province in 2022? In Zhao Dong's words, "If you do R&D, you have to have a newborn calf not afraid of tigers!"
On the morning of September 1, motors roared in the Mingchuan Automobile Factory, and R&D personnel started a new round of testing of the "fighting" all-terrain vehicles. This vehicle is lightweight and has a large horsepower, and can easily pass through harsh terrain such as swamps, snow, mountains and forests, 1.5-meter deep streams, and will bring Mingchuan a production value of 20 million yuan this year.
"Fighting" All-terrain vehicle is undergoing a new round of testing
From "0" to "1", the "real-time"
Unlike the just-starting "Fighting" , the exhaust particulate matter sensor produced by Mingchuan Automobile has launched the seventh generation, which can conduct real-time detection of the exhaust particulate matter content like "Classic Eye".
This flagship product is like Mingchuan Automobile's "lifeline". An accidental annual vehicle inspection allowed Zhao Dong to see the development prospects of accurate inspection. As my country's "Blue Sky Defense War" is fully launched, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and other ministries and commissions jointly issued a document requiring real-time monitoring of vehicle exhaust emissions. Zhao Dong said: "It was the 'hot' that blown this product to the forefront."
The word "real-time" seems simple, but at that time, advanced foreign products could only be transmitted once every half an hour, and the conduction delay of electrochemical is difficult to overcome. This means that what is placed in front of Zhao Dong is an original innovation that needs to be found in another way.
The optical probe seen in an exhibition has become the key to breaking the deadlock - can it be applied to the sensor? Breaking through thinking patterns and finding a direction is only the first step. The real difficulty lies in turning theoretical assumptions into applied reality.
In three years, at the Wuhan R&D Center of Mingchuan Automobile, Dr. Qian Feng and others started a day and night R&D process; more than 1,200 kilometers away, Zhao Dong and others entered the continuous cycle of "experiment and feedback"; after the samples came out, they experienced a year and a half of professional tests such as high cold and high temperature... Zhao Dong said with a smile: "We did not have any income in those three years, but we just had the determination not to be afraid of difficulties!"
As the successful certification of CMA and CNAS, it marked that the "later" Mingchuan Automobile achieved a catching up with similar foreign products in the optical track. Since then, orders from environmental protection departments across the country and OEMs such as Heavy Truck Truck, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle , Cummins , and other market share has reached 90%.
Dare to be in the first-class product " arm wrestling "
Is it enough to be ahead for the time being?
In order to build a solid "moat" for innovation, Mingchuan Automobile has to iterate and upgrade its products every month. Now, the group standards for multiple products such as "Diesel Sulfur Sensor" released by the Mingchuan team have filled the domestic gap. The latest orders for the "two-in-one" product of particulate matter sensors and OBD have been sent to Cummins and other car companies.
On the other side, 12 "battle-by-war" all-terrain vehicles orders have also been sent to Tai'an , which will be used for local rural revitalization cultural and tourism projects. An all-terrain vehicle, also known as ATV and UTV, is a special vehicle integrating practicality, entertainment, sports, off-road and other aspects. This widely used "all-round car" has made Zhao Dong's "car-making dream" no longer hold back.
However, the high technical barriers block the way like a "stumbling block". The United States, Japan and other countries have always occupied the commanding heights of all-terrain vehicles such as technology, brand, and market. Even industry analysts suggested that Zhao Dong should not rashly enter the all-terrain vehicle field without absolute technological advantages and downstream support.
Zhao Dong's enthusiasm for "not afraid of tigers" is coming again. In the second half of 2020, Mingchuan Automobile officially entered the all-terrain vehicle.Through countless times of design modifications, test adjustments, these "car makers" have made "war-by-war" 110-horsepower engines with independent technology, integrated fully welded roll cages, and cooperated with Jilin Bionic Research Institute to jointly develop "spider-shaped" body.
R&D personnel took reporters (left) to experience the "fight-by-war" all-terrain car
Recently, Mingchuan Automobile planned a professional off-road crossing route on the 1,000-acre site of Yantai Yangma Island to continue testing and upgrading and user experience feedback. Zhao Dong said: "We are targeting the Polaris all-terrain vehicle on the off-road field, and there is room for improvement!"
"Wrong proves that it is closer to the right product"
When we walked into Mingchuan Automobile's office building, more than 60 patent certificates and golden medals covered the entire wall. On the display stand, in addition to the main products such as particulate matter sensors and OBD vehicle remote monitoring terminals, some "new products" are also placed: servo , nitrogen oxygen sensors, water rescue equipment, etc.
From parts research and development to new model research and development, from the automotive field to aerospace... Behind the "large span", there are Mingchuan Automobile's selection criteria. Zhao Dong said: "We don't do what everyone can do; we have to do what everyone can do; we have to do what is leading abroad."
However, for Mingchuan, what is even more precious is the "trial and error products" that have not yet been put on the table. From 2017 to the present, Mingchuan Automobile has implemented 16 scientific research projects and developed hundreds of products. Every year, Mingchuan Automobile spends at least 30% of its sales revenue for research and development. Song Tongjian, manager of Mingchuan Automobile R&D Department, said: "It is our corporate culture that is not afraid of mistakes. If you are wrong, it is closer to the right product."
27-year-old Song Tongjian participated in the research and development of particulate matter sensors when he was in his sophomore year. After graduation, he and several classmates stayed in Mingchuan without hesitation. They also moved from a 4,000 square meter free workshop provided by Nanhai New District to a new factory with an area of 67,000 square meters, and moved into an expert apartment where they moved into a luggage.
Last month, this young team composed of 6 doctoral students, more than 20 masters, etc., just received a "talent loan" of 8 million yuan in Nanhai New District. Recently, Mingchuan is conducting a Series B financing and will also build the R&D center on the campus of Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai) through industry-university-research cooperation. Zhao Dong admitted: "A car consists of more than 20,000 parts, and we can do a lot!"
■ Reporter's Notes
Give more care to "newborn calf"
"This company and this group of young people are so rare! Let's have more such companies and young people!" This is the direct feeling of the reporter's in-depth interviews with Mingchuan Automobile several times.
Speaking of the original intention of choosing Weihai , Zhao Dong told the truth that only the Nanhai New District of several choices has provided it with a 4,000 square meter factory building that can be used for free within three years. What he did not expect was that in the early stage of the company's most difficult business, Nanhai New District did its best to provide all-in-one guarantees such as funds, land use, talents, and scientific and technological services. It can be said that in the jumping "growth trajectory" of this "gazelle", care and care from the local party committee and government are indispensable.
Enterprises are the backbone of 's high-quality development . Whether it is a backbone enterprise or a small and medium-sized enterprise, there are a group of young people with dreams who strive for it. Although the "newborn calf" is not afraid of tigers, they are afraid of bumps and bumps on the road to growth. They need more care - a solution to difficulties, a policy to deliver them to their doorsteps at once... Even a word of encouragement can help them muster up courage and confidence.
The business environment is a "old topic" that is always new. At present, Weihai has implemented the "Three Top Ten" 2022 action plan in depth, innovatively implemented the actions of enterprises to impact new goals, established the "Four Lists", established the "Weihai Entrepreneur Day", and built a youth-friendly city, in order to create a better business environment, so as to attract, retain and cultivate more good youth, good enterprises, and good projects. (Hi Weihai Client Reporter Du Xiaoying Correspondent Wang Xiaogen Text/Photo)
