3rd shift?

[bentoutofshape]

I was at our local smart car dealer asking alot of questions.
In short, i'm wanting a 2nd smart and the dealer said "the factory" was adding a 3rd shift. The last time i heard, they only had 1 shift. Did they in fact add a 2nd shift already?
Smartusa didn't have any answers

[jediknight36]

Oooo! There was something on the forum about this. Someone else mentioned this too. This sounds great!

[propes]

It's been talked about here for ages: There are currently two shifts, and the possibility of a third, due to French labor laws, is remote.

[RLove]

That was my first thought when I saw the post. It's difficult enough to get people to work in Europe as it is...a second shift sounds like a miracle, but a third shift - highly doubtful....especially so Americans can get their cars sooner.

[Smartdavis]

I'll bet even the French like to make a couple of extra Euro's working overtime. A few extra hours a week and you get a few hundred extra cars to sell to crazy americans?

[bentoutofshape]

The person that answered the phone @Smartusa said they were bringing 30,000 cars in the states in 2008. I was thinking the demand in Europe was low. In 2 years, we'll be able to negotionate on the pricing, i'd bet

[Carnut]

Originally Posted by bentoutofshape

The person that answered the phone @Smartusa said they were bringing 30,000 cars in the states in 2008. I was thinking the demand in Europe was low. In 2 years, we'll be able to negotionate on the pricing, i'd bet

And remember to believe in the tooth fairy as well as any smart spokesperson. At one time they were saying 45000+ had reserved. Recently that number magically changed to 30,000, and now they will be producing all 30,000 in 2008???? Yada yada yada.

[mike-in-sa]

30,000 for the US market started out at 20,000. The distribution system better get going if they really expect to deliver 30,000 this year.

[RLove]

Originally Posted by Smartdavis

I'll bet even the French like to make a couple of extra Euro's working overtime. A few extra hours a week and you get a few hundred extra cars to sell to crazy americans?

Doubt it. Besides, a third shift would almost certainly eliminate OT instead of increasing it.

[Smartdavis]

However they do it I can't believe any company would want to leave money on the table at the end of the year (as in unmet demand). The stockholders are so much happier when sales and production go up.