Tiny Smart car will soon arrive in the U.S.

[spdickey]

http://cardsforcars.com/?p=79

Some industry analysts are skeptical about Smart’s chances in the United States, where Trucks, sport utility vehicles and crossovers still command more than half the market and gas prices, while rising, still don’t approach Europe’s.

Schembri won’t say how many vehicles Smart hopes to sell in 2008, but Aaron Bragman, an analyst with Global Insight, said he doesn’t expect it will more than 20,000, and sales will probably fall off after that. By comparison, the Toyota Yaris - the most popular subcompact on the market - sold 73,874 units in the first 10 months of this year, according to Autodata Corp.

“I think it will be a novelty,� Bragman said. “It’s a very niche market, and I’m not very sure it has much staying power.�

Bragman said for the price, buyers could get a used car with a lot more space and practicality. Unless gas prices hit $5 to $6 a gallon, he said, it’s hard to picture Smart gaining much ground.

[Nicholas]

Keep watching gssoline creep up then see...

[lhoboy]

Bragman said for the price, buyers could get a used car with a lot more space and practicality. Unless gas prices hit $5 to $6 a gallon, he said, it’s hard to picture Smart gaining much ground.

How hard is it to imagine gas prices going to $5-$6? That pretty inevitable.

[kurt013]

Perhaps Aaron Bragman of Global Insight has very limited imagination or much insight into much of anything.

[RLove]

He's in denial like most of the US.

[Nicholas]

Didn't buy it because of a "niche market"...buying it to fill a need for a small, rather cheap, two seat car that hopefully will be inexpensive to operate and maintain. Yes, I do realize that there are other vehicles available but can one say, "Very expensive to repair a hybrid"? And that is IF you can find a dealership locally that can do it right.

[jwight]

Global Insight?????

The smart just doesn't fit into the "bigger is better" idea that most Americans have about their cars. The good news is the inevitable rise in gas prices will lead to increasing need for cars like these. Smart will be OK until the big boys start bringing in the third generation microcars; once Toyota, Honda, etc. get into it the smart may be cut out of the market or at least end up at the back of the pack.

[eqwalker]

Yes, I've wondered about that myself. smart will probably have to continually inject innovation, improvements, etc. into the car so as to keep ahead of the pack, so to speak.

[Harleyduo]

My local newspaper (a town of about 20,000) actually had a similar article about the tiny Smart car coming to America, but then they showed a picture of what was stated to be a 'Smart' car being sold in China by Daimler.

However, the front hood appeared to be quite 'sloped' and long compared to the Smart Fortwo, and it had what appeared to be single sliding side doors on each side. I think somebody got the wrong photo with this press release, unless there is going to be a totally different looking Smart car being released there.

Any thoughts on this topic?

[a2jack]

Global Insights have been a key marketing consultant to the big three for 30 years. Haven't they done well!

The rag this crap was printed in is out of Australia/ New Zeeland area. Home of a very conservitive Goverment.

The Big 2.75 fears Smart because it is a Small car and getting more popular buzz by the day. Big 2.75 can only bulild SUVs and trucks and make a profit. They don't even want to hear Small Car.

I have watched The Detroit News (voice of the US auto Industry) Wack away at Smart ever since Smart's first roll out in Glendale Ca.

They ran a real negitive peice in the LA times knocking the Car just days before the tour. The peice was writen months before, and appeared here, in the Detroit News. In LA the peice was undated and the inference was the LA times was reviewing the cars in the upcoming tour.

Bad reviews are fine. if they are honest. But those with an agenda to kill the car because they can't match it... Are not.

Moral: Let's look closely what we re-print and not help the Big 2.75 kill our little car's sales.

A2jack.