Four brand-new sports cars were lined up on the central display stand, covered with red silk that veiled them from prying eyes.
Accompanied by a live symphony orchestra, the owners of the four major automobile companies, dressed in suits, walked the red carpet with their female companions and ascended the stage.
Andrew Ford, the CEO of Ford Motor Company, took the microphone from the host and slowly began to speak under the glare of countless camera flashes, "It's a great pleasure to have everyone here for this new product launch."
"One hundred years ago, we created the world's first automotive production line, capable of assembling a car in just twenty-four seconds, a feat hailed as a miracle in human history."
"Today, we have redefined the automobile with an environmentally friendly electric vehicle that produces no exhaust fumes and pollutes no environment."
As soon as he finished speaking, a prepared plant stood up and asked, "Mr. Andrew, aren't there already many manufacturers producing electric vehicles that use new energy sources?"
Andrew Ford replied dismissively, "The electric vehicles on the market today are nothing more than oversized toys."
"They claim a range of five to six hundred kilometers, but in reality, they can barely go two to three hundred kilometers before running out of power. What's the point of that distance?"
"When a conventional car runs out of fuel, you can drive to a gas station and refuel in five minutes. When an electric car runs out of charge, it takes at least eight hours to recharge."
"These electric vehicles are only good for driving around the city. Would you dare to drive one on a longer journey?"
Andrew Ford's words struck a chord with the pain points of current electric vehicle owners, their eyes lighting up as they began to guess what kind of products the four major American automotive groups were about to unveil.
A reporter suddenly stood up and asked, "Mr. Andrew, if I understand correctly, has your company solved the problems of insufficient range and slow charging for electric vehicles?"
"Don't rush," Andrew Ford said, raising his hand and patting it gently, "To show you how much we value your presence, we have specially invited the top girl group from South Korea, Axo."
"We will now enjoy a song and dance performance to relax your spirits, after which I will introduce our newly developed products in detail."
"Oppa, sarang..."
To the rhythm of upbeat music, a group of scantily clad, fair-skinned, and long-legged Korean girls rushed onto the stage, twisting their bodies and showcasing their curves with passion.
Whether the dancing was good or not was secondary; what was undeniable was their fair skin, ample figures, and the way they made many men's noses bleed.
After performing three songs, the girl group members did not leave the stage but instead transformed into car models.
Shedding even more of their already minimal clothing, they revealed bikinis underneath and struck alluring poses against the backdrop of the four sports cars in the center of the stage.
The opening performance, naturally, wasn't limited to a single act. Soon, several other so-called celebrity singers took to the stage to perform their signature songs.
After singing and dancing, Andrew Ford returned to the stage and once again took the microphone from the host. Under the expectant gaze of the audience, he activated a specially made projector, and the blank screen was instantly filled with a kaleidoscope of lights.
However, Andrew Ford did not immediately present the company's latest products as everyone anticipated. Instead, he first showed a corporate promotional video for Ford, followed by those of General Motors, Buick, and Lincoln...
After showing the promotional videos, Andrew Ford still hadn't revealed the new products. He continued to ramble and stall, deliberately building up everyone's curiosity and wearing down their patience.
Finally, Andrew Ford gestured grandly and walked to the four sports cars, removing the red cloths covering them.
"Now is the moment to witness a miracle. Let us all appreciate these new products that are set to redefine the automobile: the Tesla electric vehicles."
"With a genuine range exceeding a thousand kilometers, it's double that of current electric vehicles, sufficient to meet all your travel needs."
"We have also made improvements in charging. Using our specialized multi-power hybrid charging stations, a full charge takes only thirty minutes."
The announcement sent the audience into a frenzy.
The average gasoline car had a maximum range of just over eight hundred kilometers. The Tesla electric vehicle, with its range exceeding a thousand kilometers, had surpassed ordinary passenger cars.
While a half-hour charging time might seem long, considering the time spent queuing for gasoline at a gas station, and the convenience of self-service charging at a charging station, the actual charging speed for electric vehicles might even be faster.
"This, this is unscientific!" the Chairman of Daimler-Benz, the German automotive giant, exclaimed, suddenly standing up. "These figures are too exaggerated. Given the current quality of batteries, achieving a range beyond a thousand kilometers would require the volume to at least double."
"And the charging speed is even more unbelievable. To fully charge such a large battery in just half an hour, the charging voltage would need to reach tens of thousands of volts, far exceeding the safe voltage that the human body can withstand."
"Indeed," the President of Bugatti Automobiles, the French luxury car manufacturer, also stood up. "Mr. Andrew, the data for the Tesla electric vehicles is too impressive. Do you dare to stand by your words?"
Facing the skepticism from the two top German and French automotive groups, Andrew Ford looked down upon them with disdain and brought up the detailed test data.
"Heh, I will certainly stand by my words. If you had even a little common sense, you wouldn't doubt that I would dare to falsify information in such a setting, in front of the whole world."
"It's time to admit when you're outmatched. We in the United States have always strived for innovation, investing heavily in human and material resources to research new technologies. Unlike you, who cling to your ancestors' legacy and refuse to progress!"
"If you doubt the test data, here's a simple solution. Buy one and test it yourself!"
Andrew Ford's unwavering confidence completely shattered the psychological defenses of the automotive groups from all countries except China.
Electric vehicles were energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, and their performance was comparable to that of gasoline cars. The biggest drawbacks were charging speed and range.
To address these issues, they had explored numerous solutions and attempted various methods, but all ended in failure.
To their surprise, the four major American automotive groups had actually solved this problem, completely filling the last gap in electric vehicles. This truly was, as they had advertised, a redefinition of the automobile.
If a small company had overcome this technological hurdle, they might have had a chance to acquire the technology.
However, it was the four major American automotive groups, working in unison, that had developed this technology. No other group had the capability to contend with such a behemoth.
It seemed that the burgeoning electric vehicle market, with its trillions of dollars in profits, would be entirely monopolized by the four major American automotive groups!
The executives of these Western automotive companies were all as anxious as ants on a hot pan, abandoning all pretense of aristocratic decorum.
Andrew Ford stood on the stage, enjoying their awkward displays, when he noticed the Chinese automotive representative sitting calmly below.
Recalling the plan, Andrew Ford deliberately slapped his forehead, feigning regret, and walked over to the Chinese representative.
"Oh, my dear Chinese friends, I almost forgot! We are the closest of partners!"
"If I remember correctly, the first batch of cars we ordered are about to be shipped. Please be careful not to breach the contract, especially Article Three..."