Zetsche: U.S. demand for Smart exceeds supply

[spdickey]

Expect some more news out of the Washington press briefing today...

Originally Posted by autonews.com 12/04/2007

Zetsche: U.S. demand for Smart exceeds supply

By HARRY STOFFER, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

More than 30,000 Americans have put down deposits for Smart cars in advance of the brand’s formal U.S. launch next month, Daimler AG executives said today.

The first-year demand will exceed the number of cars that will be built for the United States, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said at a breakfast meeting with reporters. He and other executives declined to forecast sales.

Zetsche said the Smart fortwo--a tiny two-seater with a 1.0-liter engine that gets as much as 45 mpg--will be more than a fad. More consumers will want a fun, safe car that is economical to drive, has low greenhouse gas emissions and is easy to park, he said.

“The only vehicle I privately own is a Smart,� Zetsche said.

He said Daimler wants to partner with a U.S. city for a test of all-electric Smart cars, just as it has done with London and will do with a city in France.

He also hinted that a diesel-powered Smart will come to the United States, but he said Daimler will move cautiously before trying other body types.

While in Washington, Zetsche also gave a luncheon address at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was scheduled to meet later in the day with top White House officials -- but not with President Bush.

Smart to dealerships in first quarter

After a series of missteps and a major restructuring this year, Daimler’s Smart subsidiary should be profitable in 2008, Zetsche said.

Smart USA, a division of Penske Automotive Group, is distributing Smart fortwos. Daimler executives said today that 50 dealerships will be open for the Smart launch.

There will be 65 U.S. dealerships by the end of the first quarter and 74 by the end of 2008, officials said. Thirty-three of those stores will be “co-located� with Mercedes-Benz franchises, said Smart USA President David Schembri.

Nine of the dealerships are Penske-owned, said Anders Sundt Jensen, head of global marketing for Smart. He declined to predict total Smart production next year.

The United States is the 37th country in which Smarts will be sold. Globally, more than 770,000 Smarts have been sold in 10 years.

[kwagar]

sp,
Thanks for posting this in such a timely fashion. Every little bit of news helps.

[Peddlecar]

I hate knowing the CDI is coming. I would love to have one, but would really like to know exactly how much longer the wait will be, from my late reservation number?? 1377

[rerruf]

I wonder if I should reserve another smart and hope for a diesel?

[gamernotwatcher]

I am tempted as well, but will hold off on my own performance test drive of my gas smart first.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by Peddlecar

I hate knowing the CDI is coming. I would love to have one, but would really like to know exactly how much longer the wait will be, from my late reservation number?? 1377

Accept reality!!! - Unless there is a BIG departure from current and pending U.S. EPA rules, there will be no diesel smarts. That departure will not happen solely on behalf of the little smart, which cannot physically carry the hardware to meet the rules.

[spdickey]

US Demand for Smart Car is High, According to Daimler AG
Thousands of motorists want to be among the first owners of the fuel-sipping Smart car in the United States, demand that is racing past production capacity, Daimler AG executives said Tuesday.
FOXBusiness.com - http://www.foxbusiness.com

Daimler expects huge US demand for tiny Smart car
By nuke
German car maker Daimler said Tuesday that next month's launch of its tiny Smart car in the United States will unleash such stiff demand the company will have trouble meeting it. "We will not be able to meet demand thus far" for 2008, ...
nuke's - http://nukegingrich.wordpress.com

Dr. Z says demand for smart in US exceeds supply
By Damon Lavrinc
Daimler exec extraordinaire, Dieter Zetsche, sat down with reporters for a breakfast meeting earlier today and discussed the future of the smart brand here in the States. As we're well aware, over 30000 consumers have put down deposits ...
Autoblog - http://www.autoblog.com

Demand for Smart to exceed US supply; diesel, electric models planned
By dejz28
Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche says that he expects US demand for the upcoming Smart ForTwo to exceed supply. More than 30000 US customers have put down deposits on the Smart city car, but Daimler has yet to announce a US sales target for ...
Leftlane - http://www.leftlanenews.com

Zetsche: US demand for Smart exceeds supply
More than 30000 Americans have put down deposits for Smart cars in advance of the brand's formal US launch next month, Daimler AG executives said today.
Automotive News Breaking News Feed - http://www.autonews.com

[a2jack]

And here's the report from The New York Times business section tonight.

http://nytimes.com/aponline/business...Smart-Car.html

[SPDYII]

So why isn't any of this posted at the "official Smart" website? Why do we have to dig for it when they have a website that is suppose to keep us informed. We are "insiders" that are outsiders. Can't they even post a link to theses stories? They did for a while than they quit. What changed? I know this has been done to death already but still it is frustrating.

[Gortok]

Word of mouth will sell this car for a decade.

I predicted this three years ago when Canada heard they were getting smart.
I kept wondering why smart execs were being so "close minded". No one would believe that smarts would sell in the US, with our "big car" mentality...Couldn't they see that we haven't been given many opportunities...

Mini is a hit. The New Beetle, too, I suppose. Fit, Versa, Scion...

Now, they CAN'T advertise...They can't build 'em fast enough....