Four days after the development of the continent's first car was completed...
In the last few days, the Ritter Motor Company continued its operations related to the development of the different models of vehicles designed by Lothur.
From the first vehicle to be developed flawlessly, Lothur would make three other models on the same basis. That is, except for the exterior design of the cars, they would be basically identical in terms of engine, transmission, etc.
Obviously, some of them would be designed to be more powerful and hold more weight than others. So there were also some distinctions at the heart of these cars. But this was not enough to make such a big difference that the men of Lothur needed to develop these cars from scratch.
Because of this, with the previous success, the Ritter Motor Company now had four different models, and some employees were already producing these vehicles daily.
By now, the factory could produce one model of each type daily. As the first model had been produced daily since its completion, it now had five units in the factory yard.
The other three models, hatch, sedan, and pick-up, had been produced in their respective quantities on these days: three, two, and one.
So there were currently 11 units in the yard of the Lothur plant, each in different colors.
But only 60% of the Ritter Motor Company's staff had participated in the building operations of these vehicles. The remaining personnel focused on creating the minibusses, which needed components and had different needs than ordinary vehicles.
And on this very day, the first minibus would be ready before the Lothur partners' car delivery ceremony!
...
"Incredible!"
"So that's a minibus?" The Lothur associates formed a line at the minibus entrance, amazed at this fellow's 'creation.'
A bus was totally different from a car!
Unlike having only four wheels and being the size of a large carriage, a minibus was the size of a three carriage with six wheels.
It was almost 2 meters high from the ground, 1.8 meters wide, and 8 meters long. It had many side windows that made the view of the passengers wide and a small staircase at its entrance, through which Lothur's partners were passing.
When going up the minibus' stairs, those people would find themselves at the bottom of the vehicle, where the entrance and exit turnstile were.
At the entrance, there was a place for one person to sit, the collector who would regulate the entry and exit of people using the service to be offered by this means of transport.
Passing through the entrance, one would come to an area with six rows of chairs, two on each side, and a central aisle.
Lothur told the people who arrived there where he was, behind the driver's area. "This minibus can hold 24 people seated and 12 standing if it is used only within the city.
Behind me, you can see the driver's area, which is very different than what you can see in cars. So the driver will be adequately trained to drive this vehicle in the coming days.
Next to the driver is the security guard's chair." He showed with one of his hands the chair facing back towards the front of the minibus. "Each vehicle will have a security guard to maintain order inside it, preventing people from entering without paying or crimes from happening inside it."
Those local leaders heard that and nodded their heads, understanding that this was necessary.
Aiken then asked. "Lothur, that such a minibus seems perfect for transporting people... When can we expect our transport company to start? We will start operations with how many vehicles like this?"
Lothur replied. "When we have five vehicles like these, we can start our operations."
He and his staff had set up six stopping points in Peters City. One is in the city's center, and five others are about 10 kilometers from this post at different points around that city.
He continued. "So since we will be able to produce one of these a day starting tomorrow, we will need another four days before we can deliver the minibusses to the transport company."
"Oh? What about intercity travel? When will we start that operation?" The leader of the Becker family asked his son-in-law.
"When we produce a real bus. These will be more than twice the size and capacity of these minibusses. But that will take a few weeks...
Not to mention that we still have to build the Peters City bus station and also the one at the first destination, besides the road, of course..." He said, looking at the Duke, who was there because of the need for his approval for several of these plans to happen.
The Ritter Motor Company and its subsidiaries could develop all their services only with Duke's approval. Among them, the road service had already been negotiated, and the family of the province leader would have 10% of the road profits and 30% of the stations' earnings.
In return, the Duke would give the land needed to build the stations and highways necessary for this operation.
The Duke would also earn 5% of the profits from the public transport operations within Peters City through these minibusses that would start operations.
As such, upon hearing all this, Chris was delighted with his current position and also with Lothur's plans going from paper to reality.
Gomeric also smiled, already making a profit with Lothur in the glove business and now close to starting to get the returns on the investments made in the Ritter Motor Company.
"Anyway, I won't show you how to drive this vehicle. It is much bigger and less easy or fun to drive than a car.
So I'll just teach the instructors at the driver training school, and anyone who wants to test this out will have to sign up for classes at that company." He smiled as he showed everyone there the way out.
No one was disappointed to hear this as now it was finally time for them to get their cars!
The Ritter Motor Company had 11 partners, counting Lothur. So the 11 cars in the yard of this company would immediately be delivered to the leaders of the organizations associated with it.
Aiken, Gomeric, Elisabeth, August, Luis, and the other partners, went into the factory yard smiling, eager to take their cars home.
Halfway there, Lothur said. "Those who will use these cars only in the city won't have to worry about their autonomy. But if anyone here decides to venture out, I would advise you to stop every 150 kilometers for your car formations to recharge its batteries."
Those people just listened to him and nodded that they understood what should be done.
After that, Lothur assigned the cars that would go to each person. "Today, you cannot choose much since these cars are only gifts.
I will distribute the cars from those with fewer units, giving them to those organizations with larger fractions of my company.
So whoever gets their vehicle and wants to trade, I won't mind. That will be up to you.
But if anyone here likes a model they didn't receive, just order with the store.
Naturally, you will have to pay."
Those people understood the basics of business to know that partners or owners could not just consume their company's resources for free. Even if the coins would come back to them, they had to pay to keep correct accounting records and avoid unexplained losses.
So Lothur began distributing his vehicles!
...