[Chapter 493: Learning Isn't That Simple]
If William White wasn't the owner of Tesla, this problem would have been easier to solve. Since you're so impressive, let's just go ahead and acquire the whole thing; it's not such a big deal.
With an impressive company and an impressive owner, this problem becomes much more complicated. Forget about the acquisition; the difficulty level is exceptionally high.
Comparatively, Ford was more pragmatic. Since Europe had better designs and technology, they could just change the style a bit. Can you really bully us just because William White can open factories elsewhere?
The American auto industry had many problems, the most significant being the United Auto Workers.
Want to open a factory overseas? You had to get their approval and ensure that American jobs wouldn't be cut.
You have to...
After hearing so many "haves to," William White felt a little dazed.
Good grief, if I didn't know better, one would think they were the hidden bosses behind the scenes.
"I'm telling ya, Tanner, are you sure you didn't mess this up? What kind of ridiculous demands are these?"
Tanner felt a bit awkward. He had come to understand why the boss was dead set against opening a factory in the States. To be honest, the land and overall costs here weren't much higher than in Canada.
If you accounted for transportation costs, the U.S. might actually be a better fit.
Now it was different. The news coming from Detroit left him stunned. Given the young master's temper, the chances of him directly shutting down the factory were over ninety percent.
"Master, I'm afraid that's the case. I personally confirmed the source. Those guys are already simmering for a strike."
Hearing this shocking news, William White fell silent again. Strikes were pretty common in America. But come on, can't you at least find a somewhat credible reason?
"Master, there are some instigators stirring the pot. They're getting a bit reckless. Also, in Detroit, the unions are no joke. Some Ford executives had dead fish thrown in their yards."
William White could only sigh in admiration; these guys were indeed tough.
"Tanner, keep a close eye on them. If they plan to go after my business, don't even bother to ask for permission. A bunch of punks really think they can push us around."
"Okay, master. There are indeed some discontented voices over there. I was planning to check whether we need to give them a warning."
"No need. Just give them a painful memory. I'm not Kennedy; I'm not afraid of their retaliation."
Why did Detroit transform into the crime capital of America?
There could be many reasons.
The most important one was the alliance between the mob and politicians. This wasn't uncommon; Chicago and Miami had similar issues. Detroit's case, however, was outrageous.
As previously mentioned, no money means no police. Or rather, very few police.
The wealthy were fleeing Detroit, and prices for shops and homes were plummeting. In such a situation, unemployment naturally rose, increasing social instability.
However, as property prices fell, property tax revenues sharply declined.
Without funds, it was impossible to hire more police. As a result, Detroit almost resembled Somalia.
"Master, won't making a move now indirectly help the Big Three auto companies?"
"Don't worry. They now act more like government agencies; nothing will change in two or three years. Besides, you always cultivate bad habits. If they don't get a harsh lesson, they'll really think we're easy pickings."
"Okay, master. I'll arrange it."
...
William White wasn't going to lose sleep over this bunch of petty thieves. Even with cash, he'd definitely make sure these guys were knocked out.
Tycoon bosses faced this kind of trouble with equal helplessness. They were all well-off; no one wanted to waste their time with the dirt poor.
However, William White didn't possess the wisdom of a big boss; he intended to deal with these down-and-out types without mercy. If he showed even the slightest weakness, those punks would push their luck.
The best place for them wasn't a pit in Africa; it was hell. Alright, those two places were basically the same.
"Max, how's it looking in Africa?"
"Sir, there hasn't been much going on. Gaddafi seem to be in a bit of trouble."
"Ha, better be cautious. Send a team back; the Detroit fools are getting a bit restless."
"Got it, sir. I'll make the arrangements right away."
Don't think this is an overreaction; the dark corners of America are far scarier than what's depicted in mobster movies. Let alone those half-shady characters, slave trading has never stopped in America.
As for other details, let's not get too specific. It's like making a cop drama -- the more precise you get, the easier it is to incite crime.
...
"Damn it, let them strike and fire the loudest ones."
"Sir, this could get a bit messy."
As an investment bank, Morgan Stanley rarely got involved personally in such matters. But this time, they couldn't hold back. Damn, it's the same auto factory, yet we're drowning in inventory. Tesla's cars are flying off the assembly line.
You might shrug it off if it were a handcrafted Bentley, but why is there a mountain of inventory for factory-made cars?
Tesla producing too few cars?
You can brag all you want outside, but say that internally, and you'd be out on your ear.
They were genuinely shocked by Tesla's sales figures. If this kept up, it could affect the top spot. After all, GM had dozens of brands.
The second spot might not even go to Ford. They were already aware that Tesla had big plans; not only were their C-class cars at a critical stage, but the R&D for their SUVs and pickups was also moving fast.
They even knew that the engine center in Europe had successfully tested a new engine. The next generation of Tesla cars could fully surpass existing models.
That was discouraging news. If they couldn't change things now, they might not get another chance.
Unfortunately, just when they had some ideas, the union jumped out to stir trouble.
If you think you're so capable, why not go after Tesla instead?
A bunch of old fogies, their bad predictions seemed to have a sort of dark magic. Three days later, a massive shooting occurred in Detroit. Outrageously, one side used a recoilless rifle.
The next morning, NBC was quick to criticize the Detroit police for inaction. Their scathing criticism of politicians reached unprecedented levels.
Good grief, you're really low. To win votes, you actually encourage the mob to expand; what's your plan with that?
Are the votes from mobsters even real votes?
NBC's morning news caused a storm. The American people couldn't believe their eyes -- Could it be that we are now in Africa?
Sixteen people were missing, and the scene left behind twenty-nine bodies. The traces left by the gunfire were utterly untraceable. No matter how skilled you were in ballistics, there was no way to tell how many guns were involved.
Good lord, was this a war?
*****
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