Chapter 103: Scorched Earth
Detroit, Michigan – Ford Motor Company Executive Boardroom
Rain struck the glass with a quiet rhythm. Inside the chrome-accented boardroom, tension buzzed like static.
"Run it again," said Douglas Hanley, Ford’s Director of Global Strategy. His jaw was tight.
On the central screen, a looping teaser video showed the Bull ZS-1—a sleek, aggressive electric sports car, lime with gray gradient. Its acceleration footage ended with a shot of the battery core spinning in a stasis unit.
The label pulsed beneath it: SOLID STATE BATTERY. Range: 1,100 km. Charge: 0–100% in 8 minutes.
"Where the hell did they come from?" one executive muttered.
"They’re not even based in a Tier 1 industrial nation," another said. "They’re Filipino."
Hanley replied flatly. "Doesn’t matter. They’re backed by Bytebull, and that means we’re no longer dealing with a startup. We’re dealing with a tech conglomerate disguised as a car company."
A younger analyst chimed in. "Bull ZS-1 is the size of a Porsche 911. Design language is Lambo-esque—overengineered for attention. But the battery specs... nothing close exists in mass production."
"Tesla?" someone asked.
Hanley shook his head. "They recently partnered with them. Bytebull’s got a solid-state monopoly now. Tesla’s working closely with them in exchange for priority supply."