Many cars were lighter than the smart. At 1,800 pounds, the 451 smart is the same weight as a 1960s Saab 96, which was far from being a micro-car. I think of the smart as a “luxury” micro-car, something that was not made in the past, though there were some high-grade versions of the original Mini.
It is too bad that laws now prevent tiny, light, and simple micro-cars from being manufactured and marketed commercially.
Here in Europe, since 1999, everyone tried to procuce economical cars and the VW Lupo and the Audi A2 (33km/L) were the best ones. Still the Smart was the smallest, even though it is not the most economical car. Since last year the focus is more and more on electrical vehicles, but that means high weight. Here in Denmark we pay 180% tax on every new car (that means e pay 3 times for a car), but 0% tax on EVs (electric vehicels) so I am sure EVs will come very soon.
have you thought of how the government will make up that 180% tax when they dont get it anymore?
same thing will happen here. high mpg = low tax revenue, hold on for this one! its coming.
I think you are right, here they limited the tax free registration of EVs to 2011, in 20012, they will cost registration fee.
The same will happen to petrol - as less petrol the cars use, as higher will the tzx be. At the moment, one liter costs about 2 dollars, and the most of the price is taxes.
In Denmark, every car pays every half year a tax, depending on the consumption, the Smart is the second lowest possible tax, only the VW Lupo and Audi A2 are cheaper.
In addition to that you pay a tax on the car insuranse.
of course you pay the usual VAT (25%) on spare parts, cars, and everything you by to the car, you pay parking fees to the state, you pay 180% registration tax, numberplate tax and so on. A big part of the danish states money comes from car taxes, so it would not be possible to drop it.
I think you are right, here they limited the tax free registration of EVs to 2011, in 20012, they will cost registration fee.
The same will happen to petrol - as less petrol the cars use, as higher will the tzx be. At the moment, one liter costs about 2 dollars, and the most of the price is taxes.
In Denmark, every car pays every half year a tax, depending on the consumption, the Smart is the second lowest possible tax, only the VW Lupo and Audi A2 are cheaper.
In addition to that you pay a tax on the car insuranse.
of course you pay the usual VAT (25%) on spare parts, cars, and everything you by to the car, you pay parking fees to the state, you pay 180% registration tax, numberplate tax and so on. A big part of the danish states money comes from car taxes, so it would not be possible to drop it.
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