I just ordered today - in Dusseldorf, Germany

[GermanPulse]

Originally Posted by Jeepster55

...so are they still making the 450's and if so, WHERE? is smartville only making 451's?

The only thing I know that the guys in Hambach are working 3 shifts round the clock, pumping out 750 cars per day. They used to offer a wider range of cars as you probably know and almost falted. Their new 451 and you guys over here in the States helped a lot to let the company survive (I'm not kiddin).

Originally Posted by Jeepster55

...are they putting the Euopeans before everyone else when ordering?

Let me say it this way: It takes 10 to 12 Weeks by average from contract to the customer in Europe. It takes the car another 3 week journey to the US on a vessel, plus another 7 to 10 days to the dealership and customer.

Due to the fact that the US Smart differs significantly from the European model, it makes sense to me that these guys at Smartville are changing their production for the US-Model when enough orders have piled up on their desk and an entire vessel can be filled with cars. This might add another week or so.

If you need more details about what is going on here, just let me know, I am glad to answer all of your questions.

[NY Smartie]

thanks for the "inside" information GermanPulse!

[dbwill]

Originally Posted by GermanPulse

The only thing I know that the guys in Hambach are working 3 shifts round the clock, pumping out 750 cars per day.

Our understanding over here was that they are only working two shifts. Going to three shifts would be a significant change, do you know when they went to three shifts.

[GermanPulse]

Originally Posted by dbwill

Our understanding over here was that they are only working two shifts. Going to three shifts would be a significant change, do you know when they went to three shifts.

I was wrong, they went back from 3 shifts to 2 shifts a couple of years ago. But they consider to work on Saturday and Bank-Holiday when the US market is demanding for it. (Source: PM Mr. Anders-Sundt Jensen in November 2007)

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by GermanPulse

they consider to work on Saturday and Bank-Holiday when the US market is demanding for it. (Source: PM Mr. Anders-Sundt Jensen in November 2007)

Done!
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/for...7&postcount=30
Source: smart media spokesman O. Amélineau, Daimler France

[2smartArizona]

I went and looked at them last October at the smart center in Trier. It was nice to get an early look at the car I had just ordered the previous month.


They had plenty of cars available, but they were all over my budget, you see, even if you could get it into the USA, and I wish you could because they have diesel smarts over there, you wouldn' want to pay the price when you consider how far the dollar has fallen.


That's nearly 22,000 US dollars, and it is not a cabrio. I'll wait for mine to get here at the price we pay. Of course, Europeans also get hit with nearly 20% taxes on these too, which is part of it.

Still it was a nice place to go see.