A Question from Newbie

[Arakash]

I don't know if I'm right or wrong, but the infrastructure level affect the sale more than the per capita. That's why I always failed when opening a branch where the infrastructure level is at minimal, compared to countries who have a better infrastructure level. My question is what should I do to affect this infrastructure level in a city?

Like the example is that I have a factory in Ninbo China. I sell my cars to Japan and Australia. But I have a dream to sell my car in China. Yet, the infrastructure level there is not friendly for my business. What should I do? Waiting for the infrastructure to raise by itself? Or can I effect the growth of a town indirectly?

For your direct question, i dont know the answer, so i wont weigh into it. I can discuss whether infrastructure is more important than per capita tho.

Before i do, ill mention that playing a company in Japan before you do one in China would be a good idea if you haven't already. Japan is possible in 1900 (ive done it before) and is easier than China. Its a good stepping stone imo.

Personally, ive always thought it was mostly the per capita, though the infrastructure is always a factor.

Let me break down the per capita a bit, so you can see what your dealing with a bit better.
Its becomes clear when you compare the big cities to the backwater ones. (backwater in 1900's at least)
Ill share an example, with per capita numbers from my 1908 game.
London is 521
Ninbo is 152

In London, most people sell their vehicles for 1100-2000 in the early game (roughly speaking) which is about 2-5x the per capita.
If you try to set the same relative figures in Ninbo(2-5x per capita), here is the prices you have
$304-$760
That is extremely low. You'd have to make an extraordinarily terrible vehicle to even sell at that price. (it would probably have to be $200-400 production cost or lower)

The problem you run into is that from what i can tell, even if you do sell a vehicle at 700, it will likely be a cheap car like a compact, but your still selling it at 700, which is the equivalent of 2000 in London.
So a car that you would probably designed for what, the upper middle class in London, now has to be sold to the upper classes because their income bracket/percapita is so low? Such a cheap car is going to have difficulty meeting the increased demand for luxury that the upper classes have.

Also, you have other problems to deal with.
Labour skill in the city at half a star will penalize you for making a vehicle with a higher manufacturing requirement than half a star.
Fuel prices are pretty bad, which means there will be more demand for fuel efficiency.
Infrastructure is terrible which as i understand it will reduce your overall sales and increase your other business costs in the area.