Posted on 12/04/2007 1:36:45 PM PST by Red Badger
German car maker Daimler said Tuesday that next month's launch of its tiny Smart car in the United States will unleash such stiff demand the company will have trouble meeting it.
We will not be able to meet demand thus far" for 2008, Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche said here at a news briefing.
More than 30,000 US customers have put down 99-dollar deposits to reserve one of the fuel-saving, two-seat Smart Fortwo, which will begin arriving in the massive US market in January, he said.
"Down payments are going far beyond the production capacity we have," the chairman said, without providing a sales forecast for the US market.
Many analysts question the ability of the super-small Smart, which measures a mere 2.5 meters (eight feet) in length, to succeed in the country of hulking gasoline-guzzling vehicles.
"Times have changed," Zetsche said, pointing to growing concerns of American consumers about global warming.
The Smart Fortwo will be marketed via 70 dealerships in the leading US cities, the company said.
In its most basic version, the micro car will sell for 11,590 dollars, excluding tax. The company said that a Smart equipped with all the options was expected to cost some 20,000 dollars, including tax.
"We are not looking for customers looking for the cheapest vehicle," Zetsche said.
Daimler clearly signaled it was aiming to emulate Apple's success with electronics gadgets in the US market.
"Like owning an Apple i-Mac, i-Pod or i-Phone, Smart documents the open-minded attitude of the 'thought leaders,' who choose innovative solutions as an existential part of their everyday lives," the company said in a press brochure.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
iDie..............
Fathers of teen daughters will like this car for a while..........
Smart Car totaled by Segway
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
These may be the next little play pretty for the Hollywood kids...about big enough for Paris and her pooch. Little convertible ones with roll bars will be cute. lol.
Go with the C4 Vette. Much more car for the money. :)
my ‘72 camaro could smoke this thing on 1 cylinder and 4 flats...
Is there room enough for the huge ego of the buyer?
Working on a JD Edwards software implementation project for a pharmaceutical company that sells breast implants.
I've spent the last two days in a conference room with photos of before and after photos of bare breasted women.
My wife told me that this assignment sure is better than a project for a sigmoitascope (sp?) manufacturer.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Until this year, they were diesel — and got about 40% better mileage than advertised for the new (and 8” longer) gasoline powered Smarts.
They’re great for commuting in any city, where streets are narrow and parking spaces are scarce. Worth considering, if you have more than one vehicle.
Plus — they actually are babe magnets. Women seem to really like the cute little things. (Most women aren’t the motorheads that most guys are.)
LOL. There are some adults on this forum. Series, no, I drive a 325i.
Nice touch, that flower-pot on the rear!
Is 30,000 cars a huge demand? I am sure those smart car customers are left wing lunatics mostly between the age of 18-25. In the US around 17 millions new vehicles are sold each year so this 30,000 smart cars is an incredibly insignificant number.
Look at the bright side — very little room for stupid liberal bumper stickers.
Hadn’t seen that one. Good analogy, BTW.
I had one of these when I was a kid, only we called them go-carts back then.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.