Build a Car Company Research Priority Tier List
Spend Research Points on technologies that raise Cash per minute first.
Build a Car Company advertises 130+ technologies spanning petrol upgrades, factory systems, hydrogen, and flying-car dreams. This research priority tier list tells you which nodes deserve Research Points (RP) first so progress stays funded.
RP often arrives from gameplay and codes like VROOM—see the Codes Hub.
S tier — research these early
- Assembly / production speed — more cars per hour multiplies every design
- Quality / reliability fundamentals — supports higher prices and fewer failures
- Core petrol efficiency upgrades — better volume sellers without exotic costs
These nodes feed the Factory Guide loop directly.
A tier — strong follow-ups
- Robot / automation efficiency
- Chassis and safety research that unlocks stronger engines cleanly
- Sales or logistics tech that clears inventory faster
- Entry race tech once you commit to Racing
A-tier unlocks shine right after S-tier foundations.
B tier — situational mid game
- Premium interior tech for halo street models
- Specialized drivetrains for rally or drag niches
- Brand / showroom unlocks timed with motor shows
- Early hydrogen previews if you already print Cash
Pick B-tier when it unlocks a specific SKU strategy.
C tier — delay for most saves
- Cosmetic-only trees
- Deep flying-car branches before HQ scale
- Narrow race tech for series you never enter
These are fine later; they rarely fix a Cash drought.
D tier — common RP traps
- Spreading RP one point across ten trees
- Unlocking endgame fantasy nodes while lines idle
- Ignoring safety research then wondering why crash tests fail after engine buys
Suggested RP roadmap
| Phase | Spend focus |
|---|---|
| Hour 1 | Production speed + reliability + basic petrol |
| Early mid | Robots/automation + chassis safety |
| Mid | Race entry tech + premium street support |
| Late | Hydrogen / experimental / flying-car trees |
Adjust if you are a pure racing specialist, but keep at least one production node ahead of vanity trees.
Synergy with engines and staff
Research that unlocks higher engine tiers should land just before you buy those engines. Hiring engineers (Hiring Guide) can accelerate how fast RP converts into usable unlocks—fill that seat when Cash allows.
After updates
Patches and Admin Abuse can retune costs or unlock order. Re-read this list and the Updates Hub before dumping a big RP bank into a newly nerfed branch.
Related pages
Spend RP like investment capital: favor nodes that make the next hour richer, then dream about flying cars once the plant hums.
RP banking habits
Bank RP only when the next S-tier node is one unlock away and you need one more match or sales cycle. Otherwise spend. Idle RP does not earn interest while your assembly line crawls.
When codes grant lump RP, open this list before the shop UI so you do not impulse-buy a flying-car teaser. Pair the spend with an engineer hire if quality scores lag, then re-check factory Cash per minute after the unlock lands. That single habit separates companies that snowball from companies that stall on vanity tech.
Example unlock paths
Path Street First: production speed → reliability → basic petrol → robot efficiency → chassis safety → entry GT tech.
Path Race Curious: same production foundation for two nodes, then entry race tech, then return to automation before hydrogen.
Path Showroom Flex: finish Street First, add premium interior tech, then schedule motor-show cars. Never start on flex trees while the line idles.
Print the path you chose and stick it near the RP counter. Consistency beats clever detours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
What should I research first?
Production speed, reliability/quality, and core petrol upgrades before exotic trees.
When are hydrogen and flying cars worth it?
After your factory Cash flow is strong and prerequisite nodes are finished—typically late game.
How do I get more Research Points?
Play through progression loops, redeem codes that grant RP, and keep engineers staffed when possible.
Should I unlock every tree evenly?
No. Focus RP on S and A priorities so each unlock changes Cash per minute.