Posted on 06/04/2006 10:25:01 PM PDT by Flavius
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler (DCXGn.DE) is leaning toward launching its Smart minicar in the United States, DaimlerChrysler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche said in a newspaper interview on Sunday. ADVERTISEMENT [0]
"At the moment, the tendency is clearly positive," Zetsche said in an interview with Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.
A final decision on whether to sell the car in the United States will be taken this month, he said.
Zetsche repeated that he expected the loss-making Smart unit to turn a profit in 2007.
Smart is focusing on building only a two-seat model after deciding to scrap its slow-selling four-seater earlier this year.
The unit, which has been restructuring to stem losses, had already dropped its roadster model a year ago and also abandoned plans for a Smart offroader.
Juergen Schrempp, chairman of Daimler Chrysler is seen on a large video screen behind the new Smart convertible at the Frankfurt car show, September 15. DaimlerChrysler (Reuters)
its smart because its a death trap
cool
why not just get a bike
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
I predict they'll eventually be nicknamed "Yukon Speedbumps".
i think they call it smart car becuase you keep saying to yourself
i cannot belive i was that stupid to buy this
and your friends ask you why did you buy that thing,
and you say, well i was smart, very smart
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
I like the originals that I drove in Luzern Switzerland a few years ago better.
Open the Pod Bay Doors.
I like it. It costs next to nothing to operate, and it makes me smile.
"I parked it in my shed, where there's no space for my Hummer. Yowza, you wouldn't believe this baby til you bug your eyes on it! Its really smart!" (doubling over in hard laughter)
I'd rather drive this in the rain than a bike. God, I hate that. Mainly because folks get real stupid in the rain.
At least with this I could park and stay dry. ;-)
In the USA the car would be for little girls or "males" not interested in girls.
DOA.
Smart was a parking solution NOT a fuel solution.
A three cylinder SHORT DISTANCE vehicle is useless in the USA.
Pull one of these things out in the path of a semi. Ya listening algore?
No way these could be street legal here
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
San Fran.
I actually thought this looked like a pretty good little commuter vehicle, so I did a little bit of reading about it. MSRP $25,000. That was enough reading right there.
That car of Steve Urkel's becomes a reality. No longer a joke.
Great in a gold community where you only need to drive a few miles inside the golf community.
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