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SmartCar smart cars?

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#35 of 72 Re: SmartCar smart cars? [deaner14] by smartfortwo Jun 27, 2006 (9:44 pm)
Replying to: deaner14 (Sep 29, 2005 11:44 am) Canada was Smart's North American test market. DaimlerChrysler presented the Smart car to the Canadian market in 2004.   The Smart substantially exceed its Canadian sales targets, by almost four times!     The 2007 Smart Fortwo will meet the U.S. Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency requirements and be compliant for the world's largest car market, the United States.   Within the next few weeks, DaimlerChrysler's supervisory board will establish when to present the Smart to the United States.   They are debating whether to use their dealer network or a third party to distribute the Smart in the US. A successor to the Smart Fortwo will be on sale in Europe in less than 8 months and DaimlerChrysler will be selling the Smart car in the United States!   The 2007 Fortwo will be extended by 7 inches and weight will increase slightly. We're told this was done for U.S. requirements and compliance reasons. The new Smart will be embracing the Brabus appearance.   The Smart's headlights will be larger and more aerodynamic, tail lights will be restructured, improved horse power, enhanced gas mileage, superior safety features, additional color alternatives and added standard and optional equipment will be available. The Smarts windshield angle will be modified for new protection of pedestrians standards.   Remember, all available Smart cars are gray market vehicles and are not protected under the manufacturer's warranty.   link title
#36 of 72 by smartfortwo Jun 27, 2006 (9:58 pm)
Replying to: snakeweasel (Jun 26, 2006 10:56 am) Earlier this year several independent dealers started selling the Americanized version of the Smart.   The Smart ForTwo was offered in very limited numbers by a handful of independent dealers scattered through out the country.   Unlike an automobile intended for sale in the US, the available Smart cars are gray market vehicles and are not protected under the manufacturer's warranty.   The currently available Smart cars were acquired directly from Europe and modified to U.S. standards, which was required by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency.   Due to its limited availability, expense of conversion, shipping, and assorted duties, taxes, and other costs involved the Smart Car into the US, the US-modified Smart ForTwo was priced accordingly.   The definition of “Gray Market Cars” is cars that have been imported into the U.S. but not through authorized dealers. They may not meet American safety and emission standards. These cars may have significantly lower values than cars imported through normal channels.     http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/   In Canada, the Smart Fortwo; has already outsold the other niche micro-mini, the Volkswagen Beetle and BMW Canada's Mini Cooper.    The Smart was not marketed in Canada by any conventional automotive method.   The massive media exposure generated by the public; gave much coverage and was helpful for smarts success there.   Canada did not have enough vehicles to make a proper launch. Dealers had to tell prospective customers they would have an 8 month wait, even with a large deposit.   Marketing a new car by this method is not beneficial. However in the case of the Smart it only fueled the fire.   We believe the Fortwo will see enormous and steady growth in the USA and a following like the Mini Cooper.   In its fifth year in the United States, the Mini Cooper is still setting annual records with 40,000 sales last year.    http://smartcarofcanada.com/
#37 of 72 . by merc1 Jun 27, 2006 (10:37 pm)
Thanks for the info.   U.S. Market? Fingers crossed!   M
#38 of 72 Smart For Two by jim1462 Jun 28, 2006 (10:43 am)
Roger Penske(UnitedAutoGroup)will set up 30 to 50 dealers to begin selling the second generation Smart in the U.S. in 1st Qt.2008. About 20,000 units initialy.
#39 of 72 . by merc1 Jun 28, 2006 (8:37 pm)
Well it is official now:   http://emercedesbenz.com/Jun06/28_Its_Official_The_Smart_Car_Is_Coming_To_The_US- .html   M
#40 of 72 Distribution? by snakeweasel Jun 29, 2006 (4:45 am)
I am hearing scuttlebutt that the smart would have limited distribution. Somewhere I have heard between 30 and 50 dealers and on the news yesterday I hear that it would only be offered in a dozen metropolitan areas. Anyone hear anything on that?
#41 of 72 Smart Thoughts by stshepard Jul 03, 2006 (10:44 am)
I love the idea of the Smart ForTwo coming to the USA, infact I'm already planning for purchasing one. I've done some "Build-Your-Own" experiments on some of the european Smart Websites and the pricing appears to vary a great deal depending upon which country you are in. Basically, I was able to configure a Smart ForTwo convertible Gas fueled car for 11835.00 euro's which translated today to be about 15134.00 in us dollars. I'd pay that for the car I configured!   In the USA I think the success or failure will hinge on packaging and price, we here in the US of A won't pay much more than $15,000.00 for a car this small, no matter who designed or built it. IMO Daimler/Chrysler needs to be sure that a nicely equipped hard top (great stereo, cruise control, special roof, alloy wheels, front, side, and head airbags, ESP and AntiLock Brakes, durable high quality interior fog lights, and a good warranty 5/50 or more) Smart sells for no more than about 14500 and the convertible version of the same car needs to hit right around 15000. They need to keep the packaging simple and easy to understand and they need to make sure thay don't do silly combinations of equipment. for instance on the new Jetta you have to get all kinds of extra equipment in order to get the sunroof that's the kind of thing that infuriates a shopper especially if the packages don't make any sense.   Finally, IMO, DCX needs to keep replacement parts and accessories priced low, not like typical prices charged for european brands in the US.      Here's a picture of the 2007 Smart ForTwo (the model they will likely bring to the USA)   Replies to this message: snakeweasel (Jul 03, 2006 11:08 am) stshepard (Jul 03, 2006 12:01 pm) snakeweasel (Jul 03, 2006 12:12 pm) merc1 (Jul 11, 2006 11:17 pm) jschnar (Sep 27, 2007 11:52 pm)
#42 of 72 Re: Smart Thoughts [stshepard] by snakeweasel Jul 03, 2006 (11:08 am)
Replying to: stshepard (Jul 03, 2006 10:44 am) Not sure which site you were at but I configured one on the UK site and the convertible started at 8,930 Pounds which comes out to just under 16,448 USD. In Canada the coupes start at just over 15,000 USD. Replies to this message: stshepard (Jul 03, 2006 12:01 pm) snakeweasel (Jul 03, 2006 12:12 pm)
#43 of 72 Re: Smart Thoughts [snakeweasel] by stshepard Jul 03, 2006 (12:01 pm)
Replying to: snakeweasel (Jul 03, 2006 11:08 am) You're right, I got my Euro's and Pounds mixed up, the car I configured came out to be about 20,500 on both the UK site and the German site. That would be a lot of money to spend on such a little car.... Although not so much that it instantly turns me off to the car, I'd really have to like it a whole lot to spend that much on it. Replies to this message: snakeweasel (Jul 03, 2006 12:12 pm)
#44 of 72 Re: Smart Thoughts [stshepard] by snakeweasel Jul 03, 2006 (12:12 pm)
Replying to: stshepard (Jul 03, 2006 12:01 pm) I am hoping for the diesel (much better gas mileage) and for it to start in the 12-14K range. Thats the only way I can see it being workable in the US. 20+K even for the rag top with all the options is going to be a no sell here.   That is unless gas doubles in price between now and then.   Edited to add:   I just peaked at the german website and they start at about 9450 euros which is a little over 12K USD. So there is hope.

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