Troubled car brand Smart could be launched in the United States as parent firm DaimlerChrysler aims to turn it into a profit-making venture within the next 18 months.

Smart has struggled to make a profit and DaimlerChrysler has axed models to concentrate production on the two-seater ForTwo city car.

Now the ForTwo, one of the smallest production cars on sale, could enter a market where its owners would battle with huge pick-ups and SUVs on urban roads. DaimlerChrysler's CEO Dieter Zetsche told German Sunday newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, 'At the moment, the tendency is clearly positive.' A decision is expected later this month.

Source = Autocar