Daimler aims to introduce selling Smarts

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060604/bs_nm/auto_daimlerchrysler_dc_1

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler (DCXGn.DE) is leaning toward launching its Smart minicar in the United States, DaimlerChrysler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche said in a newspaper interview on Sunday.

"At the moment, the tendency is clearly positive," Zetsche said in an interview with Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

A final decision on whether to sell the car in the United States will be taken this month, he said.

Zetsche repeated that he expected the loss-making Smart unit to turn a profit in 2007.



Juergen Schrempp, chairman of Daimler Chrysler is seen on a large video screen behind the new Smart convertible at the Frankfurt car show, September 15. DaimlerChrysler (Reuters)

I know nothing about these cars. Are they high-MPG?

saw them all over Zurich when I was there two years ago and only about half a dozen SUVs. What a difference! That is why I am shocked they are not making money.


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The tiny car that won over Europeans with its cute looks and very high mileage is finally coming to America, just not in the way you might expect it to.

The 60-mpg, two-seat coupes are made by a European company called smart, but the DaimlerChrysler division is not the one selling them here anytime soon. True, they will be sold in Canada starting in September, but not so in the United States.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5217861/

Victoria, BC last September when I was on vacation. We oohed and ahhed. They're cute, and get great mileage.

which is like European cities, planned long before there were many wagons, let alone cars. Streets are narrow and geography is bizarre, to say the least.

I don't think I'd like one out west, though. This is the land of the monster truck, still. My Korean econobox is about as small as I want to get until things change dramatically. Well, the econobox plus an electic moped.

I've read that they can get up to 70 mpg. They look cool, but I wonder how prone they would be to rolling over. They look about as tall as they are wide.

A co-worker has been on a waiting list for one for about 2 years now. he said they have a great safety rating, and they're super high MPG. (Sorry, don't know exact numbers)

egg - shaped to be extra strong...something like that...

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/040908.htm

looks good.

At last, they've acknowledged my letters and constant e-mails. :party:

Hopefully this will lead to the airlines adopting my giant rubber band idea.

They were everywhere in Europe, especially when I was in Italy. It was nice to see. A smart car wouldn't be practical where I live now, but if I lived in a city, I'd totally want one.

But you would still need something to haul the groceries in... At €10000 it might work for a couple that needs two cars, one of which could be a "normal" one.

...on the Maine Turnpike Friday.

from Daimler Chrysler.

They sell Gem Cars www.gemcar.com

They are street legal except on highways, you see them mostly in resort communities here in Florida. We are thinking of getting one just for local driving, plus they have more than 2 seats.

The Smart car is one step up as it will be highway legal.