At the Wangfujing shopping center in downtown Beijing a vending machine called "smart" with a full-size Smart Car in it dispenses smart cubes containing news about up-coming models.

Confucius says Smart's launch into China was quicker than you can say manufacturing plant! It took almost a decade to get the Smart car imported to the U.S. but it may have only taken a Beijing minute, of "Chinese Business Practices" to get the ball or should we say Smart car rolling into China. For the Chinese buyers, like the ones here in the US interested in buying a Smart ForTwo will be available. Some 20,000 Smart enthusiasts are still waiting.

DaimlerChrysler's supervisory board has established that the Smart will be sold in China next year.

This is another step that takes us to a pivotal crossroad for the future and direction of the American automotive industry and selling the Smart in China is one component of a more multifarious undertaking.

China until the 15th century had the highest income per capita — and was the world’s technological leader and today  has established itself as the third largest automobile market and has increasingly taken the lead role in world businesses.

Yes Daimler, who by the way is still suing several Chinese automotive (government owned) manufacturers over brand copyrights regarding their cars, is launching the Smart Fortwo on the world's fastest-growing automobile market, China.

DaimlerChrysler presented the Smart to the Canadian market in 2004. But the truth is Canada was Daimler/smart, GmbH's North American experimental market.

The Smart substantially exceeded its Canadian sales targets, by almost ten times and China will crush all expectations and targets!

The U.S. launch of the Smart was not about selling a handful of Smart cars, or introducing a new automotive brand.

No indeed not, the Smart car production, its exportation and importation process is a comprehensive, global business enterprise, reaching far into the future. It was an endeavor of significant importance that will have diverse and long-lasting implications for many of us.