49.1k views
5 votes
Suppose the farm equipment manufacturer from the previous question was able to charge $30,000 per tractor, and produces and sells 2,000 tractors per year at that price. As a reminder, the company originally spent $3 million in research and development costs. The company now spends $20 million at the beginning of each year to rent a factory, and $10,000 per tractor in materials and wages. If another manufacturer enters the market in the middle of a year and engages the company in a price war, what is the lowest price the company would be willing to charge for each tractor?

1 Answer

3 votes

Given Information:

Rent = $20,000,000

Materials and Wages = $10,000/tractor

Number of tractors = 2,000

Amount spent on R&D = $3 million

Required Information:

Lowest price to sell a tractor = ?

Answer:

Lowest price to sell a tractor = at least $20,000

Calculations & Explanation:

The company needs to sell at least at a price that all of its manufacturing cost can be recovered without the profit margin.

This happens at a break-even point where total revenue equals the total manufacturing cost.

Total manufacturing cost = Total revenue

The revenue is number of tractors multiplied by some price x

Total revenue = 2,000*x

Total manufacturing cost = fixed cost + Variable cost

Total manufacturing cost = 20,000,000 + 2,000(10,000)

Total manufacturing cost = 20,000,000 + 20,000,000

Total manufacturing cost = 40,000,000

so,

Total manufacturing cost = Total revenue

40,000,000 = 2,000*x

x = 40,000,000/2,000

x = $20,000

Therefore, the lowest price to sell each tractor should be atleast $20,000

Note: The R&D cost is not usually included in such scenarios because R&D cost is sunk and should not be added in these calculations.

User Miikkas
by
8.5k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.