No one knew whether Tesla's proprietary brand would succeed; after all, Bentley was doing just fine.
After being acquired, Aston Martin remained lukewarm and seemed unlikely to pull off another Bentley-like miracle. Rumors of someone's lucky break circulated within the industry.
The executives at Bentley dismissed such ridiculous claims. The current Phantom was entirely crafted by the boss himself, and the design team continued to work without any signs of slowing down.
A new supercar? Please, if it were that easy, who would spend such a hefty amount to purchase one?
"Wow, what kind of car is that? It's absolutely gorgeous," one person exclaimed.
"Hey, I don't recognize that emblem," another noted.
"Ha! Look at these two foolish wannabes. With you two around, you think you're paparazzi? The kid getting out of that car is Jason Garrison," one insider chuckled.
Two paparazzi shrugged off the jibe. This was their line of work, and if they were clueless, they deserved the scorn.
"I get it now; that's the Aston Martin, the only one in the world." After saying this, he realized he was alone. Turning around, he saw his pals had dashed off, totally ignoring him.
If he knew it was the only one, why didn't he rush over to snap a picture?
...
The new Aston Martin supercar made its debut, and it was indeed stunning. Every competing brand on the market was utterly crushed.
"Gee, our wealthy friend might just change a few things," one commented.
"Sir, why is this guy so stubborn? If he buys an American car company, wouldn't his production issues be resolved?" another inquired.
"What? Does he have significant production problems?" the boss asked.
"The ordinary models at Bentley take a year to produce, and the armored versions need around 18 months. As for that supercar, it won't even be available for orders until next year."
"Wow, did we misjudge him?" The assistant looked dumbfounded. The current board at Morgan Stanley felt like a battleground; if the boss couldn't mend relations soon, he might just be kicked to the curb.
"Yeah, ask them if there's a possibility for debt-to-equity conversion. We'll underwrite it for them, and I assure you, the price will satisfy them."
"Okay, sir, I'll get right on it."
Such was the nature of relationships among titans. If you let go of part of your interests, everyone gets along. If you cling to your profits, you make enemies.
...
"What? You're sure? He wants to raise half a billion? Isn't he worried about diluting his shares?" another remarked.
"He invested $1.5 billion in personal capacity and remains the largest shareholder," he replied.
"Ha, so it's not just two assembly plants, then?"
Of course, there were more than two; in fact, the two large factories would be located just outside London.
Once built, the production capabilities for Bentley and Aston Martin would expand rapidly. While Hamburg was establishing an engine factory, a large assembly plant had already been selected.
This was quite the grand plan.
"Is he out of his mind? Are you sure he's serious?"
"They already signed a framework agreement. I believe a grand signing ceremony will happen soon," someone assured.
"This is going to make him the third-largest car company in America?" An older man pondered aloud, then sighed as his assistant could only smile ruefully, unsure how to respond.
Alright then, the third-largest car company in the US without a factory.
Such a convoluted situation, such a harsh reality -- it left the big shots in Washington scratching their heads.
...
Suddenly, American suppliers could no longer sit back. If this trend continued, they were facing total annihilation.
The billionaire wasn't short on cash and certainly preferred the Germans' products. If the factories were in America, they might hold a glimmer of hope, but with not a single factory built, how was that even constructive?
Steel and chemical enterprises were dissatisfied as well. Automobiles were just the final product; they supported an entire network of related industries.
Everyone had struggled for years now. If they didn't get a lifeline soon, they might indeed face disaster. Unfortunately, the auto industry's changes wouldn't benefit them in the slightest.
In the US, even with tight budgets, they still opted to provide significant subsidies to car companies. The powerful unions were just one factor, and the number of related industries was crucial.
Many American industries had relocated; even the so-called tech industries were exported without hesitation. The only sectors they clung to were agriculture and automobiles.
Agriculture was non-negotiable; no country could afford to abandon it.
With so many related industries clamoring, the head of Washington could hardly afford to ignore the pressure. Ironically, if he catered to this big shot, he'd probably fulfill most of his political promises.
Yet now, all of that had vanished. Sitting in that position, he knew it wasn't merely about the Department of Justice. William White was most concerned about the UAW -- the United Auto Workers Union.
This was a conundrum with no solution, and he felt powerless. That punk was just exploiting the situation, as he had no intention of actually establishing an auto factory in the States. What was happening now was all a ruse.
*****
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