Bab 60: The First Revolution
"Your Highness, who designed these two motorcycles?" William Maybach inquired, his eyes scanning the sleek designs laid before him. As head of research and development at Daimler, his experience gave him a sharp eye for innovation, and these motorcycles were unlike anything he'd ever seen.
"They were designed by me," Oscar responded boldly, a slight grin on his face. He wasn't one to shy away from taking credit, even if it meant admitting to borrowing ideas from future generations. After all, he had already long accustomed himself to the art of borrowing ideas from the future and reshaping them to his advantage.
Both William Maybach and Paul Daimler expressed admiration for the designs, understanding the potential these motorcycles held for the market.
"These motorcycles are for the civilian market," Oscar explained. "But, in addition to these, I also have plans for military motorcycles. After the civilian models are launched, we should prioritize developing military versions. I believe the army is in dire need of high-mobility vehicles like these."
With that, he retrieved another set of blueprints from his suitcase. The designs this time were for two different motorcycles—one was a two-wheeled motorcycle capable of carrying two people, and the other was a three-wheeled motorcycle with a sidecar. Unlike the civilian models, these military motorcycles were more robust and practical, with a heavier build and a more utilitarian design. They lacked the elegance of the civilian bikes but were built for durability, a key feature for military equipment.
"Do you think the military will purchase these motorcycles?" Paul Daimler asked, his brow furrowed. After all, the military didn't typically buy many motor vehicles, especially motorcycles.
"Performance is the key," Oscar replied. "If these motorcycles perform well, the military will buy them. Of course, they may not be highly profitable—don't expect huge margins from military contracts—but they will serve as a great advertisement. Once the military adopts these bikes, civilian sales will likely surge, and the profits from that will far outweigh the initial losses."
Both Paul and William nodded in understanding. Although military contracts wouldn't bring in significant revenue, they would give the motorcycles credibility and open the door to civilian success. Additionally, it would boost Daimler's reputation as a versatile manufacturer.
"How long do you think it will take to develop the two civilian motorcycles?" Oscar asked.
"Your Highness, it will not take three months," William Maybach assured him. "With the engine provided by the German Engine Manufacturing Company, we only need to focus on overcoming the remaining technical challenges. We can complete the R&D and produce samples in a month at most."
"Good," Oscar said with a nod. "We should also begin preparing to scale up production. We'll need extra workers and expanded production lines once the development is complete. When these motorcycles hit the market, they will cause a frenzy."
Paul Daimler's face lit up with excitement. He could already imagine the overwhelming demand for the motorcycles. It was a vision of success that his late father had longed for, and now it was within reach.
"We'll begin the preparations right away," Paul Daimler declared, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "Once we complete the R&D, we'll immediately ramp up production and get these bikes out to market as quickly as possible."
"Great," Oscar said. "Let's aim for a launch in three months. We'll start advertising two months from now to build anticipation."
The civilian motorcycles were to be the first major product to launch under Oscar's ownership of Daimler. His goal was clear: to make them a massive success and set the stage for even greater things to come.
"Yes, Your Highness," Paul and William said in unison. Despite their relatively small stakes in the company now, they understood that if the motorcycles succeeded, the profits—even from their 5% shares—would be immense.
After setting the plans in motion for the civilian motorcycles, Oscar left Stuttgart and returned to Berlin. He had other businesses to oversee, particularly the Deutsche Energy Company, which had already started operations. Moritz had sent a team to the United States to purchase oil, and construction on a large oil refinery and storage facility was underway in Rostock, located in northern Germany.
Three weeks later, Daimler had completed the development of the two civilian motorcycles. Oscar returned to Stuttgart to inspect the finished prototypes.
The motorcycles, with their steel bodies, rubber tires, and shock-absorbing springs, were clearly a leap forward. While they didn't yet match the performance of future models, they were a vast improvement over the crude, wooden motorcycles of the time. In comparison, those earlier motorcycles seemed laughably inadequate.
"These are magnificent," Carl von Jonareit, who had accompanied Oscar to Stuttgart, exclaimed. "These are clearly works of art. I can already picture every man in the empire wanting to own the men's model, and the women's model will undoubtedly become a favorite among the ladies."
Oscar smiled in approval. "Yes, I believe both models will be incredibly popular, not just in Germany, but worldwide."
"We'll do everything we can to ensure these motorcycles go into full production," Paul Daimler said. "Once we launch, we'll have to work around the clock to meet demand."
"Let's do it!" Oscar replied confidently. "This is just the beginning. We will make a huge splash with these motorcycles, and Daimler will be at the forefront of the motor vehicle industry."
With the two civilian motorcycles ready for launch, Daimler was poised to lead the market, not just in cars, but in motorcycles as well. The success of these bikes would fuel the development of more groundbreaking products, propelling Daimler to new heights in the coming years. Oscar's vision for the company was becoming a reality, and with it, the future of the German Empire.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
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