How Long To Obtain A Car? Math Must Be Wrong.

[smartdog]

I made the reservation and saw a letter from the President of Smart car congratulating them on delivering 2000 cars in 2+ months.

Tell me if my math is wrong or I just don't understand the situation here...

1000 cars per month x 12 months = 12,000 cars

They have over 30,000 reservations....

If you made your reservation over the last few months...thats..
NEARLY 3 YEARS TO GET A CAR...

Someone please tell me my math is wrong or I don't understand the situation here.

[angel]

You do math real good.

[rawlus®]

i think the reservations is closer to 50,000.
the factory reportedly can handle production of about 200/day on average destined for the US - 600/day overall.
on a 6-day workweek that's an avg 5,000/month.
the first few months of shipments were not at peak levels IMHO.

[SmartCard]

your math is fine, but your numbers are wrong. After a slow start the most recent sales numbers for April were 2,600 delivered to the states, so that's pushing 30,000 year. We'll see in a couple weeks if May's monthly sales stay near that rate.

[Big Panda]

the figure my dealer told me some time ago is that they averaging 20-25/mo. factor in 75 dealers and that's 1875, on the high end of the scale. for a 12 month period it would come to 22,500 cars.

remember, all the dealers did NOT open the first of January. some are either still opening or have recently opened, like Cincy. also, realize that as the year goes along, they'll be able to deliver a few more cars than they did the first couple months.

i can imagine that they DO have 50,000 reservations just from the US. also keep in mind they have reservations from Europe as well, although their waiting period is much shorter. i really don't know at what rate the cars roll of the assembly line (i'm sure someone on here knows for SURE), but the DDE for my order says it will be 18 months from the time i placed my reservation to delivery and i believe that's pretty close to correct. i don't like it, but it's probably accurate.

for those who are impatient (ok, most of us fit that bill), the orphan list is the way to go. i myself am waiting for the one i'll order. i have some other things to do first (a bet with my wife to lose 50lbs and sell my Corolla) so the wait will be just an inconvenience.

if you're truly interested in owning one of these little jewels, be prepared to WAIT, WAIT AND WAIT some more. maybe you'll get lucky and get 'The Call' one day from your dealer saying they have an orphan for you. but until then, don't hold your breath.....

[banzairx7]

AFAIK there is no wait in Europe. I was in Germany in December and saw three smart dealers all loaded up with cars. This was in the northwest maybe around bigger places like Berlin and Munich there are wait times?

[Dunerunner]

Hey, there is your solution smartdog. Fly to Germany, buy a smart, arrange for transport to the US, modify it when it gets here to meet US import requirements and you have a $25,000 smart with no wait!!
Or
Get on the dealership Orphan list and hope for the best while you have a blast here talking with all the rest of the reservation holders about how long it's taking to get your can and how you can't wait for it to get here.

Your Call!!

[Flashman]

My dealer (Orlando) told me their allocation is 30-40 per month. That's up to 3,000 cars per month. It is still unclear if planning is running at full capacity or not. They may be able to go to higher production for short periods (weekends, third shifts, etc.).

[snubs]

Im sure if the demand is big enough they will speed up its production some how

[JPaul]

It's already at full speed, within the employment requirements imposed to Smartville by either labor laws or Daimler AG.