Nationality of Smart

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by spdickey

... Stick a Diamler sticker in the windshield (available at any M-B dealer for about $4). ...

The noted stickers have changed recently. The signature "G. Daimler" is now a stylized "Mercedes-Benz;" everything else being the same. I guess the reason is the change from "Mercedes Car Group" to "Mercedes-Benz Cars" after Chrylser was split off. There was a bit of angst to satisfy the demands of the Benz people after the corporate name changed to just Daimler AG. I guess they were thrown a bone and now want to show the Benz name when they can. Anyway the G. Daimler stickers look a bit nicer: "Daimler Signature Windshield Decal 02-07" A1295840838. (I assume the replacement stickers might be something like: "Mercedes-Benz Windshield Decal 08-" A129xxxxxx?)

Virginia is picky about non-governmental stickers on windshields and they are subject to be removed by a state inspection facility. So, the best place to place one in VA might be on the lower rear corner of the closed leftside window - adjacent to where nose prints may appear.

[mdfortwoguy]

Does Virginia remove them from other Mercedes-Benz products?

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by mdfortwoguy

Does Virginia remove them from other Mercedes-Benz products?

Not that I have heard of, but it could happen depending on how intent the inspection facility feels. I have heard of vehicles failing inspection for excessive tuner car-type windshield-top decals.

“The Required Official Inspection Procedure, as approved by the Virginia State Police Superintendent, is as follows:

“REQUIRED OFFICIAL INSPECTION PROCEDURE
Each inspection consists of the following items – for further details consult the "Official Inspection Manual":

“12. – INSPECT WINDSHIELD AND OTHER GLASS FOR:
Approved type safety glass.
Cloudiness, distortion or other obstruction to vision.
Cracked, scratched or broken glass.
Stickers. ALL UNAUTHORIZED STICKERS MUST BE REMOVED. (Capitalized by Commonwealth of VA)
Sunshading material attached to the windshield to ensure it does not extend more than 3 inches downward from the top of windshield, unless authorized by Medical Waiver Certificate.
Operation of left front door glass.”

[msjohnson1974]

Originally Posted by dbwill

What nationality is a BMW X3, Z4, X5 built in the US
or the MBs built here or Toyota etc.?

By the same token what nationality is a car wearing a blue oval built in Germany?

X3 is built in Austria, actually outsourced to another company by BMW.

[kwagar]

Maybe it should be considered a World car, rather than being assigned a specific country label!!!!

[saskdiesel]

I think of it this way.
Who made it?
Frenchmen.
It's a french car!

[Old smart]

I have to go with German. The parent corporation is Daimler AG in Stuttgart, Germany and smart GmbH, a limited liability company, is headquartered in Böblingen, Germany. It is only incidental that smarts are manufactured in France, and equally incidental that the early design was Swiss. Some non-US corporations assemble cars in the US, including M-B, and some US cars are assembled in Canada. It is not uncommon for body designers to work worldwide without changing the nature of the vehicles (Ghia, Pininfarina, Michelloti).

[dbwill]

Originally Posted by msjohnson1974

X3 is built in Austria, actually outsourced to another company by BMW.

OOPS! sorry here is the official speel from the factory site.

Building BMWs in America

Welcome to BMW Manufacturing Co., the birthplace of every X5 Sports Activity Vehicle, X6 Sports Activity Coupe, Z4 Roadster, M Roadster, Z4 Coupe, M Coupe and soon-to-be X3

My personal view is that a car's nationality is the country where the headquarters and profit goes, in the case of smart, Germany

[Guarana81]

German car, made in France with a Japanese engine, sold in the US. Diversity at its finest

[LinuxGuy]

Originally Posted by dbwill

Building BMWs in America

Welcome to BMW Manufacturing Co., the birthplace of every X5 Sports Activity Vehicle, X6 Sports Activity Coupe, Z4 Roadster, M Roadster, Z4 Coupe, M Coupe and soon-to-be X3

As an aside, when BMW opened their plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the company name was changed here in the US to "Bubba Motor Works".