^{Author | T800 Recently, the authoritative American publication Time magazine announced the list of the world's most influential top 100 companies, with Huawei, BYD and China's Transsion ranked among them. For Huawei and BYD's inclusion, it is believed that the public generally holds a recognized attitude, and the strong strength displayed by these two companies in their respective fields is obvious to all. However, for the brand of Transsion, except for some netizens in Shenzhen, it is believed that the public in other parts of the country are still unfamiliar with it. Transsion's exposure in the domestic market is relatively low, and many people are not familiar with its business scope. In the past China's top 100 companies and other lists, we rarely see its presence. Faced with such a relatively unfamiliar brand in the public eye, people may have questions about its inclusion in Time's list of the world's 100 most influential companies. However, although the brand awareness of Transsion may not be as well-known as Huawei, BYD and other well-known companies, and even unable to compare with DJI which is a well-known local enterprise in Shenzhen, its influence in the mobile phone field, especially in Africa, cannot be underestimated. Why is Transsion listed at the same time as Huawei and BYD? 01 Hidden Chinese mobile phone giant In the turbulent global smart phone market, Chinese power is rising at an unprecedented rate. According to the latest data released by Counterpoint, the global mobile phone shipments will reach as high as 296 million units in 2024, an increase of 6% year on year. Behind this growth wave is a behind-the-scenes Chinese mobile phone manufacturers. However, in this wave of growth, a low-key and mysterious figure is particularly noticeable, Transsion - a Chinese mobile phone brand known as the "African King of the mobile phone". In the fiercely competitive smart phone battlefield, Samsung and Apple are undoubtedly two old giants. However, in the first quarter of 2024, these two giants showed a rare trend of declining shipments. Samsung's mobile phone shipments were 60.10 million units, a year-on-year decline of 0.7%; Apple's mobile phone shipments were 50.10 million units, a substantial year-on-year decline of 9.6%. Against the backdrop of a slight increase in global smartphone shipments, such data is undoubtedly shocking. Meanwhile, China's phone makers are showing a prosperous picture. Xiaomi, as one of the leaders, shipped 40.80 million units in the first quarter, an increase of 33.8% year on year. However, the most eye-catching performance comes from Transsion. In this quarter, Transsion's intelligent phone shipments reached an amazing 28.50 million units, a year-on-year increase of as much as 84.9%! This figure not only allows Transsion to successfully surpass OPPO and vivo, but also smoothly enters among the top four global smartphone shipment lists, completely getting rid of the embarrassing ranking of "others". Having seen this data, many netizens may feel puzzled. In the domestic market, we seldom see Transsion's presence. Why is its sales volume so large? Did Transsion's sales data fraud? Actually, the answer is simple. Since its inception, Transsion has positioned its target market in emerging markets such as Africa. In this market, which is overlooked by many people, Transsion has successfully created mobile phone products that meet the tastes of local consumers through deep insights into and accurate grasp of local consumer demands. In the African continent, the most popular mobile phone brand is not Apple, Samsung or Xiaomi, but Transsion, which has no reputation in the country. After more than a decade of development, Transsion has achieved remarkable results in the African market. Currently, in the sub-Saharan Africa market, Transsion's market share exceeds 40%, which is equivalent to 4 out of 10 smartphones sold in these markets being from Transsion. Even international giants like Apple and Samsung are difficult to reach such results. Transsion's success is not accidental. They know well the characteristics and complexity of the African market, so they have carried out in-depth localization exploration and innovation in product development, marketing and other aspects. For example, they have developed mobile phone cameras with powerful beauty functions for African users' skin color characteristics; for the problem of unstable power supply in Africa, they have launched mobile phone products with large battery capacity and long standby time, in addition, they have also provided rich localized service support to cater to African users' language habits and cultural characteristics. These considerate designs and services have won widespread praise and recognition for Transsion in the African market. Nowadays, Transsion has become the "mobile phone king" in the African market. They have not only established a complete sales network and after-sales service system locally, but also gradually expanded their business scope to South Asia, Southeast Asia and other regions through continuous innovation and expansion. It can be said that Transsion has embarked on its own path of global development. 02 The most understanding mobile phone brand in African markets.}

Tesla's CEO Musk once said, 'If there were no tariff barriers, Chinese cars would sweep the world and destroy most of the other car companies.' Although this statement was somewhat provocative, it also revealed his deep concern about the rise of China's auto industry.

The American auto industry and auto media have dissected China's new energy vehicles multiple times. This time, the protagonist is the BYD Seagull.

Recently, a US company called Caresoft Global brought back a BYD Seagull from China. Previously, the company had disassembled BYD cars multiple times. Terry Vojnovich, the president of Caresoft Global and an old veteran who had worked at General Motors for 45 years, decided to personally disassemble this 'Seagull' and find out what it was all about.

The disassembly process was like a war without gunpowder. Terry Vojnovich led his team, used precise tools and professional vision to disassemble this BYD step by step. As parts were removed one by one, the technology content and superb craftsmanship hidden within gradually emerged.

The first thing they were shocked by was the Seagull's battery system. This battery had not only high energy density, but also extremely good safety. Terry Vojnovich looked at the light battery pack in his hand and couldn't help feeling a chill in his heart. He knew very well that such a level of technology had already far exceeded the current level of the American auto industry.

Next, they discovered the Seagull's electric motor and electronic control system. The high degree of integration and strong performance of these two critical components made them feel incredible. Terry Vojnovich took a deep breath, realizing that BYD's strength in the new energy auto field was not to be underestimated.

Finally, they arrived at the Seagull's body structure. Lightweight materials, reasonable layout, exquisite workmanship... everywhere displayed BYD's ultimate pursuit of auto manufacturing. Terry Vojnovich stood in front of the disassembled frame for a long time in silence. 'We lost,' he finally said. These three words were like a heavy hammer, striking the chest of the American auto industry.

01 The insider sees the doorway.

Terry Vojnovich, the president of Caresoft Global, was looking at a BYD Seagull from China. This was not only just a car, but also a microcosm of the rise of China's new energy auto industry.

For a auto expert like Terry Vojnovich, disassembling a car is like cracking the code of an era. He knows very well that the true value of a car often lies in those seemingly insignificant details. While other auto engineers value the battery system, electric motor and control system, and body structure, he believes that the key to victory or defeat lies in the welding points and sealant, the decoration and braking system inside the car.

Before dismantling the car, Terry Vojnovich and a senior auto media person test drove this Seagull together. The Detroit scenery outside the car window overlapped with his memory, but the world inside the car made him feel strange. They carefully inspected the Seagull's configuration, especially the seams of the trunk. The precision of the welding points and sealant there was astonishing. The clean lines and flawlessness seemed to be telling the world that this was not just a car, but also a work of art.

Terry Vojnovich couldn't help but sigh, 'The craftsmanship of these welding points and sealants is really unbelievable. Compared with the cars that cover up with plastic shells, this is simply a world of difference.' His words revealed his helplessness and disappointment with the current state of the American auto industry.

When he got into the car, the car's interior decoration was particularly dazzling. The stitching on the seats and the material of the armrests revealed the ultimate pursuit of quality. As he touched these exquisite details, a sense of respect arose in his heart. He couldn't help but think, 'Is this really a car that sells for only ten thousand dollars? Its quality completely surpasses its price.'

However, what really shocked him was the "Seagull" braking system. In this price range, most models choose to use drum brakes to reduce costs. But BYD unexpectedly used four-wheel disc brakes. This configuration is common only in high-end models, but BYD uses it on the "Seagull". Terry Vojnovski exclaimed: "Such a configuration really impresses people. BYD has found a perfect balance between cost control and quality pursuit." Product structure, 100-300 billion yuan product operating income is 401/1288/60 million yuan respectively.

Of course, he also believed that the "Seagull" was not perfect. During the test drive, Terry Vojnovski and the media found that the vehicle would be a bit bumpy in poor road conditions. But even so, they still believe it is acceptable. After all, the same quality of American cars is three times more expensive than it.

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The American media present also believed that Chinese car companies are no longer the imitators they used to be. They are gradually moving towards the center of the world stage with their own strength and wisdom.

02 Supply chain is the foundation of excellent quality and low price

Caresoft Global engineers were surprised to find that almost all of the parts of the BYD Seagull came from BYD's own supply chain. They couldn't help exclaiming: "BYD's supply chain is really strong!"

Caresoft Global engineers said that the reason why the BYD Seagull is so cheap is because China has sound industrial chains and strong vertical integration capabilities. Caresoft Global believes that Chinese electric vehicles are efficient and simple in design, engineering, and execution, but with unexpected quality and expected reliability. They also expressed concern about American cars, saying that two years ago, Chinese manufacturers had almost no sales of electric vehicles in Europe, but now they occupy 10% of the electric vehicle market. If Chinese cars enter the American market, American car companies will be defenseless.

Indeed, unlike many car companies that rely on global procurement and international cooperation, BYD is more like a self-sufficient kingdom. From power systems to electrical assemblies, from intelligent networking to air conditioning systems, BYD almost has its own entire supply chain. This vertical integration capability gives BYD a unique advantage in cost control and quality management.

BYD's vertical supply chain system is one of its biggest features. The company has built its own supply chain and independently researched and developed core components such as batteries, electric motors, and electronic controls, covering the entire process of self-research, self-production, and self-sales of core components. This full control of the entire industry chain from source to end allows BYD to have great freedom in cost control. The self-produced items are not only cheap, but also have guaranteed quality. This win-win situation allows BYD to occupy an advantage in fierce market competition.

However, BYD is not satisfied with the status quo. In order to further improve the efficiency and quality of the supply chain, BYD converted its component business unit into a subsidiary between 2019 and 2021, allowing these component companies to operate independently. These companies are collectively referred to as the Fudi series component companies, which not only provide supporting services for BYD, but also supply components to other car companies. This open and competitive strategy makes BYD's supply chain more robust and flexible.

Of course, the reason why BYD's supply chain is so strong is also due to the support of its scale effect. In the automotive industry, scale means cost. BYD has lowered its costs to the minimum due to its large production scale and market demand. This scale effect not only allows BYD to have an advantage in cost control, but also provides it with more room for price adjustment in market competition.

However, low price does not mean low quality. While pursuing low prices, BYD has never relaxed its control over product quality. After all, in this "perfume also fears the deep alley" era, quality is the hard truth. BYD knows this well, so it always insists on the principle of quality first in supply chain management. Whether it is the procurement of raw materials or the production of parts, BYD strictly controls the quality and ensures that every car meets high-quality standards.

Looking back on BYD's road to success, we can easily find that the powerful supply chain behind it plays a crucial role. It is this supply chain that has enabled BYD to have an advantage in cost control, quality management, and market competition. And BYD is well aware of this, so it continues to strengthen the construction and management of the supply chain, ensuring that it can continue to lead the industry.

Today, BYD has already stood at the pinnacle of the new energy vehicle industry. The powerful supply chain behind it is the foundation for its excellent quality and low price.

03 BYD's patents are the real killer

Inside BYD's headquarters building, there is a wall that stands out. Unlike walls covered in certificates or trophies, this one is covered from floor to ceiling with about 1,000 frames, each carrying a BYD patent certificate. These patents are not only a testament to the wisdom of Wang Chuanfu and his team of engineers, but also to their more than 30,000 innovative achievements.

Among these patents, a low-cost lithium iron phosphate battery technology has particularly attracted attention. It has not only earned BYD popularity in the market, but it has also been adopted by global giants such as Ford, Tesla, and even Toyota. This technology is like a brilliant pearl set in the crown of the new energy auto industry, providing intangible asset support for BYD to become the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer.

In 2023, BYD had a year of great harvest. In that year, BYD sold an amazing 3 million electric and hybrid cars, achieving a whopping $85 billion in revenue. This achievement not only allowed BYD to shine in the new energy auto market, but also showed the industry the endless potential and possibilities of BYD. And behind all of this, are the patented certificates hanging on the wall that represent the power of innovation.

Wang Chuanfu is hailed overseas as the 'Chinese Musk' and has been investing in electric vehicle technology for over 20 years. He may not delve into multiple fields like Musk, but his focus and dedication to electric vehicle technology have nevertheless led him to achieve remarkable accomplishments in this area. He majored in battery metallurgy at university and understood that battery technology is the core of electric vehicles. Therefore, he led the BYD team to continuously research and innovate, and finally came up with revolutionary lithium iron phosphate battery technology.

Wang Chuanfu is not only a technological innovator, but also an excellent executive manager. He understands the importance of vertical integration, so in BYD's strategic layout, he always regards controlling the supply chain as a key link. Through vertical integration, BYD not only greatly reduces costs, but also gains significant advantages in quality control. This advantage has enabled BYD to stand out in the fierce market competition and become a leader in the new energy auto industry.

The late Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, Charlie Munger, spoke highly of Wang Chuanfu. He praised Wang Chuanfu as a passionate engineer and genius, whose ability to personally produce products exceeded that of Musk. This evaluation not only affirms Wang Chuanfu's personal abilities, but also recognizes BYD's spirit of innovation and execution.

Today, Wang Chuanfu is further disrupting the global electric vehicle market by launching cars priced at less than $10,000. This move not only brings affordable transportation to the masses, but also gives BYD a more important position in the new energy auto market. And what he relies on behind all of this is the power of innovation represented by the patented certificates hanging on the wall.

Some say patents are a company's core competitiveness. For BYD, this statement has been fully demonstrated. Those patented certificates hanging on the wall not only represent BYD's innovation and execution, but also represent BYD's leading position and endless potential in the new energy auto industry. In the future, with the continuous development of technology and changes in the market, BYD will continue to write a more brilliant chapter in the global market with the power of innovation represented by those patented certificates.