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.
I can think of cheaper ways to commit suicide.
ping!.....
I didn’t seriesly believe anyone actually drove one of those things any more, but I wondered if anyone would recognize the name. And it seemed to be on topic (tiny little cars).
30,000 cars is probably a huge demand to them. Their mfg capabilities will probably be strained to keep up with demand here and there and Asia too......
the mini is about 3.5” longer than the smart.
but not quicker........
Just as much room as this for egos.........
Good point.
Cool older car picture! Don’t see too many 240Z’s that have the old “Datsun” name on them, since they went to Nissan.
Looks like somebody backed it into a wall while it was still wet.
It’s not a car you can drive everywhere, but I’ll bet it’s really cute. Some of the cars in Europe are just adorable.
There used to be one driving around here (Eglin AFB area) that was a right hand drive and had the “Fairlady Z” Japanese nameplate........
In the US next month? I think I saw one of these tiny ugly things in my neighborhood last week.
They have been available in Canada for a while now and they have been special orders here for a while, too..........
I’ll opt for something a bit larger.
“I would hesitate to take one out on the freeway.”
Yeah. Just one. It’s better to make it a busy day, and take out two or three of em. Watch em go rollin’ across the grassy median, and hit the barrier fence. It launches em pretty high!
It’s really kool if it’s at night and their lights are on.
Um...oops.
I saw one or something similar on Sunday.
I can’t imagine surviving an accident in one.
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