What's the Smarts future?

[deltadart]

I see the Smart as the modern day VW Beetle. My dad bought a new 1962 Bug and they were a strange looking vehicle in there day. They were very affordable and hardly ever broke down. It didn't take long for VW to flood the car market with the car. Fast forward all these years and we have the Smart car. Very strange looking car. But with the news of GM shutting down 4 plants and along with $4+ gasoline the way America drives is changeing every day. So here is the Smart car that get's 40 mpg and is affordable for most people. My question that I have is the makers of the Smart going to see how well the Smart sells and then take it from there to see if they want to add more dealerships in the United States? Or are they content with people waiting a year(or more)to buy a Smart? I use to live next door to a motorcycle dealer who was the top selling dealer in my state and he sold his motorcyles almost at cost cause he knew that person would be back in his dealership to "customize" his or her's bike. He said that's where the money was. I see the Smart as the perfect vehicle for doing business this way. One big problem I see with the Smart is the vehicles factory warranty. 2 years/24,000 mile warranty is not a good selling point. I haven't see a car warranty like that in 25-30 years. But for aftermarket part's,the Smart car can make a ton of money. Your thoughts?

[curtis]

I'm sure Penske would love to sell lots more cares every month but I don't think Smartville can ramp up production much more to satisfy the US and Europe at this time. As far as it becoming over the top popular I doubt it, I think it is more of a toy or 2nd car since most people will need more space for family. I think, I mean I know the US auto industry has finally got the kick in the pants it needed and will start producing more small cars which will be great but I doubt too many will have what the Smart has. The smart is iconic, it is more than just a car.

[wahi]

Convert the GM plants into smart plants!

[Big Panda]

yes, they would have to consider upping production FIRST before adding MORE dealerships.

what good would it do to have 150 (twice what we have now) smart centers getting the same amount of cars per year? only up side is that it would make it more convenient for many customers, but the dealerships couldn't survive.

bottom line is they need an assembly plant here in the good ole US of A!!!!!

[curtis]

yeah, it would be funny to see them convert all the Hummer plants into micro-car plants..Also Gm are all hot to trot to get their new Volt to production for 2010, I bet that car is going to have some serious issues.

[deltadart]

First off I've been to Green Bay so many times that I lost count. Was stationed in the Air Force at K.I. Sawyer AFB in the UP of Michigan and drove Hwy.151 and 41 for many years. And yes i've seen the Big M around Dodgeville. Yes the US car companies finally got the kick in the pants(they should have seen this coming)but if I was Smart I would be doing everything to step up production and get as many cars here to the states.

[deltadart]

Originally Posted by curtis

yeah, it would be funny to see them convert all the Hummer plants into micro-car plants..Also Gm are all hot to trot to get their new Volt to production for 2010, I bet that car is going to have some serious issues.

The last I heard is the price of the "Volt" is now going to be around $40,000 and not $30,000. Even at $30,000 very few people could afford it. And what does GM give us? The new Camaro. And what does Mopar give us? The new Challenger. No wonder these guy's lose money. I tell ya it would be the "smart" thing to do for Smart to start expanding it's production as fast as they can. But maybe there are just satisfied to be where there at.

[curtis]

yeah, I feel sad for the workers at these plants although I think the unions have had the US companies by the balls for years, it's not the employee's fault that the higher ups didn't pay attention to what was going on around them and let this happen.

Back when the Yaris first was introduced I went to my local dealer and they had none, I asked what was the deal and they said they couldn't keep them in stock, then I went 30 minutes south to a dealer and he had an entire row of them, my local dealer just didn't care to sell the cheap cars when they could push the big SUV's, for awhile our Chevy dealer was doing the same with the Aveo but now I think they are being forced to sell them by the demand. Also, it's pretty sad when I go to my local toyota dealer and ask about the IQ and they have no clue to what I'm talking about and when I told a sales guy I was getting a SMART he told me you couldn't take them on the highway! Very informed these guys are..

[Dave Van]

Dad bought a Datsun in 1966...it too was a strange little car that many said was too small, unsafe and just odd. We all know where those early Japanese cars led.

[NY Smartie]

Smart's future is so bright, it's gotta wear shades....