In 2000 officials from the State of Georgia joined up with eMotion Mobility, then a unit of the DaimlerChrysler Corporation and announced plans to develop an electric-powered version of the Smart City Coupe.

We believe this venture was done to prepare for the full-scale introduction of the Smart car to the U.S. market. Rumors dating back to May of 1995 were that Mercedes Smart had plans to build a MCC plant in the United States.

Atlanta-based eMotion was going to place electric cars at transit stations, businesses and shopping centers to provide commuters with an innovative mobility program linked to Atlanta transit and travel.

Their car sharing program was designed to provide MARTA rail users with access to eMotion Mobility zero emission smart cars parked at MARTA rail stations. Subscribers to the program were to be issued "smart keys" and identification to allow instant car reservations on the Internet and through eMotion Mobility's call center.

Founded by Donald Panoz and funded by the DaimlerChysler Corporation, eMotion Mobility set out to create the first car-sharing program in the US based on an electric car.

In December of 2001 they broke ground on their new factory. The 30,000 square foot facility, which was strategically located near the Port of Savannah in Liberty County, GA., was a first-of-its-kind facility.

Company officials indicated that the plant would grow to employ 100 to 150 workers and have the capacity to produce over 6,000 vehicles annually. It was to house a micro-assembly process plant, which matched dozens of parts needed for the electric drive system and other U.S. regulatory requirements with the Smart gliders after they arrive from Europe through the Port of Savannah.