In June 1906, in Berlin on Linden Street, the headquarters of the German Lottery Company stood prominently.
Passersby were startled to find the building's walls draped in black canvas, leaving many puzzled as to the reason behind this sudden transformation. Curiosity compelled some to inquire about the situation, but they were met with the promise that all would soon be revealed.
On June 18, when the people passed by again, the black canvas had indeed vanished, revealing a magnificent poster. The poster was divided into two sections: on the left, a dashing young man rode a powerful-looking motorcycle, exuding an aura of charm and confidence; on the right, a blonde beauty perched on a petite motorcycle, exquisitely painted in red, a temptation few women could resist.
"Oh my God! What is that? A motorcycle? How could it be so stunning!" a young man exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief, utterly captivated by the poster, consumed with the desire to purchase one immediately.
"It's absolutely beautiful and adorable! Does anyone know where I can buy the motorcycle featured on the poster? I simply must have one," a young woman cried out.
Many halted in awe before the poster, animatedly discussing their astonishment at the unprecedented design of the motorcycles.
This captivating poster was not confined to Berlin alone; similar advertisements had emerged in major cities across Germany. The German Lottery Company had also displayed tickets for the two motorcycles at its various outlets, ensuring that all Germans were made aware of these remarkable machines.
Simultaneously, the Daimler Company had purchased extensive advertising space in leading newspapers, detailing not only the performance of the two motorcycles but also their impending sales launch.
"Oh my God! They're not going on sale for another month? How can that be? I'm utterly enchanted and want one now!" a young man lamented, tugging at his hair in frustration.
"Damn the manufacturers! Can't they move any faster? Don't they realize that teasing our anticipation will drive us mad?" a young woman muttered through gritted teeth.
Although the Daimler motorcycles had yet to hit the market, they were already well-known throughout Germany. Many potential buyers counted down the days, eagerly awaiting the chance to purchase these coveted machines.
In just one month, the Daimler Company had secured or rented storefronts in major cities across Germany to sell their motorcycles and future automobiles, also providing maintenance services for them. This arrangement was, in essence, the prototype of the modern 4S dealership.
On July 18, the first batch of twenty thousand motorcycles—ten thousand for men and ten thousand for women—was launched. The price for the motorcycles was set at fifteen hundred marks for the men's version and one thousand marks for the women's, making them exceedingly expensive by contemporary standards. A typical worker would require nearly two years' salary to afford one. Nonetheless, such prohibitive prices did little to quell the public's desire to purchase.
"Oh my God! Is it really that expensive?" a young man complained.
"Fool! Such a magnificent motorcycle obviously comes at a price. If you're not buying, then step aside!" a burly man in the line retorted.
"Who said I wasn't buying? I'm merely expressing my frustration. Everyone wants such a splendid motorcycle. If I don't buy it now, who knows when the next opportunity will come?" the young man grumbled. He was no fool; he recognized that once the Daimler motorcycles were available, they would undoubtedly be snapped up in an instant.
Indeed, the twenty thousand motorcycles sold out within a single day, leaving Daimler's executives utterly astonished and causing other motorcycle manufacturers to drop their jaws in disbelief. They had never anticipated that such pricey machines would fly off the shelves. When they had learned the motorcycles' prices, they had confidently predicted that they would struggle to sell.
Equally shocked were those who had hesitated. The steep price tag was significant for many, and as they wavered, the motorcycles vanished, leaving them filled with regret. Numerous individuals lamented their indecision, wishing they had seized the opportunity when they had the chance. Many began writing letters to the Daimler Company, urging them to expedite the next batch of motorcycles to satisfy the mounting demand.
"Your Highness, it's truly unbelievable! Twenty thousand motorcycles sold out in a single day. When did the purchasing power of the German public become so formidable?" Paul Daimler personally rushed to Berlin the next day to report on the sales figures to Qin Tian. The entire Daimler Company was taken aback by the astonishing sales rate.
"Mr. Daimler, this is merely the beginning. With the new motorcycle owners acting as our free promoters, our motorcycles will soon sweep through Germany and eventually all of Europe and the world. Are you and the company prepared for the deluge of orders that will follow?" Qin Tian remained composed, seemingly unfazed by the impressive sales statistics.
"Your Highness, the company is ready. After selling the twenty thousand motorcycles, we still have another twenty thousand in stock. With our expanded production capacity, we can now sell forty thousand motorcycles each month," Paul Daimler responded. In his view, this was already an impressive output, achieved only due to Qin Tian's insistence on increasing production capabilities. Without that push, the factory might have been limited to a mere twenty thousand monthly.
"Is producing forty thousand really sufficient? We might struggle to meet even the demand within Europe," Qin Tian mused, shaking his head.