More Smart dealers?

[deltadart]

Since Roger Penske has bought Saturn are there going to be any more Smart dealers added to the network? If you want to sell more there has to be more dealers. The Fiat 500 and the Scion IQ will be here shortly. There was a used Smart here at a dealership and it took 6 months to sell. I asked the salesman why it was not selling and he told me because there was not a dealer in sight.

[John_H]

Originally Posted by deltadart

There was a used Smart here at a dealership and it took 6 months to sell. I asked the salesman why it was not selling and he told me because there was not a dealer in sight.

If I'm interested in an item that has 5 digits in its purchase price, I will walk into the building to find a sales person. I don't see how a lack of personnel translates to a lost sale unless there are more of the cars at the dealership around the corner.

Often other dealerships will acquire a used Smart and overprice it, displaying it at a prominent location on their lot so people driving by will be lured in by this "unusual car." The car generates traffic (and sales) they wouldn't have if they didn't have the Smart since the price of the little gem is high but "these other cars are much more reasonable." If/when they do sell the Smart at the higher price, they have a much larger profit.

At least that's how it goes for some dealerships.

[jwight]

are there going to be any more Smart dealers added to the network?

Maybe, but they won't be ex-Saturn dealers. Dave Schembri made it clear during his Q&A in Wisconsin that the Saturn and Smart organizations will remain two completely separate entities within PAG.