The design process can be very expensive and time-consuming. This is why some companies choose to use other company's designs instead. By this, they save time while not risking too much capital on a possible failed project. Of course, over the long run, using other company's designs will not make you as much money compared to an in-house design. But just as you can make more money from an in-house design, you can also lose much more money than buying someone else's design.

We call the entire system “Outsourcing.” But it is actually three distinct systems. All three of these systems use the same UI, which we'll refer to as the Outsourcing system.

To access the outsourcing system, visit the Research and Development room. Then click on the “Outsourcing” button (#1). A menu will appear, allowing you to select what you want to outsource. The bottom button, “Manage” (#2), we cover in the Outsource, Managing Contracts section of this chapter.

All three styles of outsourcing share the same window and UI. We'll cover the generic parts of this system before going into details about the three different types of outsourcing.

The outsourcing window is divided into 5 sections. The first section is on the left side of the window (#2). This section contains radio buttons to switch between the three methods of outsourcing. And 5 standard buttons to switch between the different component types, vehicle types and to manage outsourced contracts.

The center panel (#2) is used to filter the model list. In the upper right is the list of models that meet the filter requirements (#3). The panel below the list (#4) is where you'll make your purchase and sales decisions. Finally, spanning across the bottom is the selected model's information (#5).

As mentioned previously, the three radio buttons to change the type of outsourcing is in the top left of the window (#1). By default, licensing is selected, but you can switch between the systems by clicking the circles.

Below are the four buttons for the different types of models you can order (#2). You may click any of these buttons to change the type of design you want. Please note, the game does not change your search criteria when you change types.

The bottom button is the “Manage” button (#3). This button takes you to the window which manages designs you purchased from other companies through the Outsourcing / Purchase system. We cover this in more detail in a later section.

Looking at the filters, the top drop-down is common across all outsourcing types (#4). This drop-down allows you to select which company's models to display in the list. By default, the game selects your company. When your company is selected, the system is in sell mode. When another company is selected, the system is in buy mode. And if “All Companies” are selected, this is all non-player companies, and the system is in buy mode.

Below are filters specific to the type of unit you've selected (#5). In the picture, we have vehicles selected. Any place that says “Minimum” means the lowest acceptable value, and “Maximum” is the greatest acceptable value.

The bottom drop-down allows you to change how the list is ordered (#6).

If you make any changes to filtering, you'll need to click the “Apply” button (#7). Otherwise, the list may not be filtered by the criteria you selected.

Licensing is a common form of design outsourcing where a company purchases the license and blueprints to a design and then produces it themselves. They pay a nominal fee for the license, which we call a Signing Fee. And they pay a royalty price for each unit they produce. This type of outsourcing is only the outsourcing of the design phase. It reduces the cost of getting a product on the market. While still leaving the licensee production flexibility and potential profits.

By default, the game selects your company in the company filter drop-down. When your company is selected, the system is in sell mode. In this mode, you can make your designs available for licensing. Any company that purchases your design can use it. The game does not give you the option to approve or deny a licensing deal, nor does it allow you to cancel a licensing deal. So be sure you want to license the design out to anyone that wants it before you set it for sale.

To make a license available for purchase, select a green entry from the top list (#1). If any entry is red, it's already for sale. You can follow the same procedures to change the price of units for sale.

In the panel below the list, you'll find the sales status (#2). If the unit is already for sale, this will list the current fees and royalty rates.

The first textbox is the Signing Fee (#3). This is the amount of money the buyer will give you to have access to the design. The game gives you a recommendation range next to the text box.

Below that is the Royalties rate (#4). This is the amount of money the signing company will pay you for each unit they produce. Again, the game offers a recommended value range.

The lower your fees and royalty rates, and the better your design, the more likely companies will purchase them.

When you're ready to sell your design, click the “Agree” button (#5). That's it. There is nothing more you need to do other than wait. The game will notify you in the memo system when someone licenses the design.

You can change the sales prices by changing the values in the text box and clicking the Agree button again. This will not change the prices of the companies already licensing the design. You can also remove the design from the market by clicking “Remove.” Again, this will not take away the license from anyone that already purchased it. If you end the production of the design, it will remove the design from sale, but it will not remove the design from use at any companies that purchased it.

If you're interested in purchasing a license, you need to select another company from the company filter (#1). If you select “All Companies,” this will list designs from every company except your own. When a company other than your own is selected, the system will be in buy mode.

Select a design that you're interested in from the list (#2). You are currently licensing any green entries in the list. You are not licensing any red entries.

In the panel below, you'll find the signing fee and royalty rates (#3). The signing fee is the amount of money you will pay to have access to the design. And the royalty rate is the amount of money you'll pay for each unit you produce.

Select which marque and design name you want with the drop-down and text boxes in the bottom right of the panel (#4).

When you are ready to purchase the design, click the “Agree” button (#5).

When you purchase a license, it will work like any other design. Your royalty payments will come out of the costs automatically. When you do not want to use the design anymore, end the production of it.

The Outsource / Purchase system is used to purchase already manufactured units from another company. Purchasing manufactured units is a great way to eliminate design and manufacturing costs. While selling manufactured units is a great way to have guaranteed sales of a model.

When you decide to sell fully outsourced units, you're allowing other companies to purchase and sell vehicles that you have to manufacture. The game does this via the contracting system.