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Daimler exec extraordinaire, Dieter Zetsche, sat down with reporters for a breakfast meeting earlier today and discussed the future of the smart brand here in the States. As we're well aware, over 30,000 consumers have put down deposits for the smart before it comes to market next month, and according to Dr. Z, demand will exceed the number of smarts destined for U.S. shores. At the same time, however, he didn't want to give exact figures on how many smarts Daimler expects to sell in 2008.

The talks also centered on the future of smart in the States, including the possibility of diesel-powered fortwos and the testing of a fleet of all-electric smarts in an unnamed urban city, similar to a program in London.

Daimler has 65 dealerships lined up to sell smarts in the U.S., with another nine due to go live before the end of next year. Thirty-three of the stores will be "co-located" within existing Mercedes-Benz franchises, which is similar to how BMW originally launched the MINI brand across the globe.


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*** did it take them so long then? I personally would buy the roadster if they ever brought it here.

Smart’s two-seat fortwo seems too cute to be real–but this week, smart will deliver the first of the Benz-developed city cars to customers who signed up long ago on its Web site.

Smart marketing chief Dave Schembri, making a guest stop at the Daimler AG press conference, told audiences that the smart had garnered huge interest on the Internet in advance of U.S. sales of the passion coupe and cabriolet models. The brand’s Web site clocked some 30,000 reservations which were offered to potential buyers at $99 a pop. Schembri says he hopes that some 70 percent of those will actually buy one of the vehicles.

The fortwo that Schembri tooled around in onstage and off could point to the next stage of smart’s development in America. The vehicle featured a Micro Hybrid Drive system that had been shown at last fall’s Frankfurt auto show. Schembri hinted that the U.S. arm of the company (smarts will actually be sold here by Roger Penske’s UAG) is interested in the stop-start Micro Hybrid Drive system, which could boost the smart’s fuel economy even more than its estimated 45 mpg without the system.

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Funny considering I have yet to see a dealer sign anywhere.


M

I believe mercedes is importing smart to the US. With an increase in sales and profits for the brand the target aim of this bold venture (well it's not to boost merc's image) arent they now being compromised by the already low and weakening dollar? After all smart is a low volume seller with marginal profits per car sold on the new one. Not sure if they made profits on the old one. I wonder if this might be a good time for this move, tho i'm sure this was planned way before the current financial situation.

smart lost an enormous amounnt of money with the first gen (weaker sales, but also build of the factory, development of a motor from scratch instead of buying a little japanese motor...)

smart is said to be on the green only in 2007...

Concerning the US introduction: it is the best possible moment, with all the pollution/increasing petrol cost.
However, you're right with the dollar. In fact they want to sell a lot of car, so that the factory turns well and they can achieve lower costs. But they won't win much money in the US given the current (and expected future) euro/dollar ratio. They want to establish the brand, be seen in the US, sell a lot of cars. But they won't win so much money with that, and they know it.

this is rubbish: more than we can supply without giving figures; that's like saying well, we only imported one car, but guess what, a second dude showed up

Ye i agree that with petrol prices spiralling its a reasonable introduction for some, or a few(this is still America!)buyers. However a low dollar always hits hard on profitability of imported autos from europe as opposed to cars assembled/produced in the states. 1 of the reason benz extended its Alabama plant. Benz chiefs have openly complained about the dollar's weakness quite a lot lately which is y i'm wondering if this is still a good move. Like i said earlier i believe smart's being imported into the states.

Like I said they want to establish the brand in the US, and to achieve better sell numbers. Not really to earn money, they know that the low dollar does not make it possible.
However once the smart well established in the US, well know and appreciated, they will be able to put the price a tad higher and win more money.

Today, I think they sell something like 120,000 smart a year. It is not enough, so if the sell more it is better for the market and shareholders, and for their own proud. And as they will win more money (even if not a lot) with the introduction, it is good to do it.

It is the right moment, a year before no American cared about pollution and fuel economy. Now it is beginning to be one of the main issues in a car, so the smart fits perfectly.

I don't exactly know why but I really hope Smart will be a success in the US market.

We just got an email from Smart this week listing the first set of dealerships that will open first quarter 08 and cities that will get one 3rd-4th quarter 08.
We optioned our's out a few weeks ago. White with black cell and black leather. Not sure why dad went with leather since he says he does not like it. They say we should get it early spring.