Is smart German or French?

[BimmerDob]

So our local central Ohio German Society is holding a German Make Car Rally in a few weeks.

And that got me wondering, is smart German (MB parent) or is it French (smart Factory / offices in Hambach)?

Do we need to put it to a vote?

[SmartCard]

Officially, by the vin number - its German

[BimmerDob]

Well that was easy :-)

[SmartCard]

But unofficially, its French!

Interestingly, the MINI is considered British (in terms of class) because of its heritage and it is still built in England .....but then it is owned now by BMW which also earns it a German origin by VIN!

so the debate is still on!

[dennyrex]

We drove ours in the Bastille Day French Car parade in Manhattan; It's made in France.
It's European.

[GHammerly]

Conceived in Germany/Switzerland (Something like that)
Born in France
Naturalized in USA

I consider it French, the bottom line is that they are built in France.

[PlainCityVWBug]

I'm going to take this debate a whole different direction. The Honda Accord is built in Marysville, Ohio.. but is from a Japanese car maker. I don't have my Fortwo yet, but I do drive a Volkswagen New Beetle, which was built in Mexico. My car is a Volkswagen.. so that would make it german right? But then again.. my New Beetle was built in Mexico, so would that mean my car is not german, but Mexican instead? Or visa versa?

[donnyonee]

sounds like you want to rebadge it as a jeep. :-) rebadgeing is a popular subject here.

[PlainCityVWBug]

donnyonee- you referring to me or somebody else on this forum?

[mike-in-sa]

You can call it anything you want but in my book any 3-lug car is French!