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.
Should have three handles on each side...like any decent coffin.
How about the coroner’s option where the body bad pops out of the steering wheel in place of the air bag?
"So tell me, how quickly can it get me to the hospital to drop of the rest of my genitals?"
bag
40??
What’s the mileage when you add Automatic Transmission, Air Conditioning and the power supply for that “Rad” Stereo??
These people really don’t think these things through, do they?
The sales in Europe were poor and declined, we all know how much more fuel is there.
Do they come with trailer hitches for your stuff, children etc. that won’t fit in car?
I’ll buy it only after every elected representative at the local, state, and federal level is required to drive one (not to mention Hollywood types, as well).
Roof rack, it worked for Mitt’s dog.
The English Mini has found a market here already.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/28/autos/smart_for_usa/index.htm
The average for the gasoline version is 40mpg... 60mpg has been reported for the deisel version.
I have a feeling we are going to find out sometime in late January.
I think that there is huge demand because people will need a spare in case the street sweepers take the first one away or the snow plows toss it to the curb by mistake. I'm waiting to see who the first unlucky person will be to pilot one off the Macinaw (sp?) Bridge or, based on who will be buying them, the Golden Gate Bridge.
I dunno. Think of it as a motorcycle, or a scooter where you don’t get your hair messed up. I think these will sell, but I don’t like the price tag much. Seems high. I wonder what kind of mileage we’re looking at. I mean, motorcycles get between 40-50.
Now that is funny!
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