Daimler mulls second smart car production site

[spdickey]

Daimler mulls second smart car production site-paper

Daimler mulls second smart car production site-paper | Industries | Consumer Goods & Retail | Reuters

Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:04am EDT

FRANKFURT, Aug 23 (Reuters) - German car maker Daimler AG (DAIGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is mulling a second production site for its smart brand on the back of surging demand for the minicars, a German magazine reported.

According to a report in auto motor und sport, the smart production site in the French city of Hambach is close to reaching its capacity limit.

The company is sounding out the option of building another site, with Asia or the United States under discussion as possible locations, the report said quoting company management sources.

Daimler was not immediately available for comment.

This year, the smart brand is expected to increase unit sales by 30 percent to 130,000 and post a profit for the second time in a row, the magazine said.

It quoted a Mercedes spokesman as saying: "As announced Smart reached break-even in 2007 and we expect Smart to make a profit in 2008."

Daimler's two-seat, fuel efficient smart cars were on the verge of extinction two years ago but high fuel prices and eco-conscious consumers have driven demand for the minicar especially in the United States.

Sales for the smart fortwo in the United States totalled 2,559 for the month of July, bringing total deliveries through July to about 14,000 units since its launch there at the start of the year.

(Reporting by Nicola Leske, editing by Mike Peacock)

[p1nball]

Diamler was to build a Sprinter plant for Dodge in Pooler, GA. But It was put on hold, and never built. Maybe this time it will be a Smart car plant, in it's place!!

[CruisingAZ]

Building the North America smarts in the U.S. would help Hamburg keep up with their regular orders and allow us to get our cars a little faster and eliminate the shipping need.

[Gar Blume]

The Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa County, AL has plenty of room to expand. They presently make the M-Class and R-Class. Smart would fit in nicely! Just my $.02

[curtis]

but China has the fastest growing middleclass and car sales are booming..i bet China will be the location

[MikeDCop]

Originally Posted by Gar Blume

The Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa County, AL has plenty of room to expand. They presently make the M-Class and R-Class. Smart would fit in nicely! Just my $.02

I'll second the vote for expanding the Vance, AL plant.

Hey if they start building them here...maybe we could get a museum delivery option like the Vette?

[Old smart]

I can see it coming - the wailers and weepers: "We want a plant; we want a plant; we want ...; WE ...!

[JPaul]

DAG (Daimler AG) is to publish a press release shortly, possibly today: smart will not be built elsewhere but in Hambach. This should contradict the rumors that a plant may open in China or statside.

Source: smart Media & PR Head Representative, smart France.

[p1nball]

Originally Posted by JPaul

DAG (Daimler AG) is to publish a press release shortly, possibly today: smart will not be built elsewhere but in Hambach. This should contradict the rumors that a plant may open in China or statside.

Source: smart Media & PR Head Representative, smart France.

Kill Joy!!!!!!!!!!

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by curtis

but China has the fastest growing middleclass and car sales are booming..i bet China will be the location

while i would certainly like to see a plant here in the US for not only providing the US with smarts somewhat sooner, but to also put some Americans back to work that have lost their jobs due to other auto manufacturers closing plants.

BUT i agree with "Curtis" in that i believe China will get a plant before we see one here in the US.