[jwight]

Daimler pulls the plug on electric smart car sales in US, Canada

Daimler is ending sales of its diminutive all-electric smart fortwo cars in the U.S. and Canada, officially pulling the plug on a vehicle that has struggled to gain ground in North America as the German automaker prepares to bring the brand to China, TechCrunch has learned.

Smart won’t be sold in the U.S. and Canada after the 2019 model year, Daimler AG confirmed after two sources familiar with the decision shared the information with TechCrunch.

“After much careful consideration, smart will discontinue its battery-electric smart EQ fortwo model in the U.S. and Canadian markets at the conclusion of MY2019,” a Daimler AG spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement. “A number of factors, including a declining micro-car market in the U.S. and Canada, combined with high homologation costs for a low volume model are central to this decision.”

MBUSA and Mercedes-Benz Canada will continue to provide owners of gasoline-powered and electric smart fortwo models with access to service and replacement parts via smart and authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers, the company told TechCrunch.

Model years begin and end mid-year, suggesting that June will be the final month of production. Sales of the vehicles will continue through end the of the year.

https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/29/daimler-pulls-the-plug-on-electric-smart-car-sales-in-u-s-canada/

 

[Tony Margulis]

?

 

[MB DNA]

https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/29/daimler-pulls-the-plug-on-electric-smart-car-sales-in-u-s-canada/

"MBUSA and Mercedes-Benz Canada will continue to provide owners of gasoline-powered and electric smart fortwo models with access to service and replacement parts via smart and authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers," - NOT feeling any smart love, :bangwall: show me the map of ALL those smart AND AUTHORIZED M-B locations for service & parts . . .

 

[smark]

Our smart dealership, Aristocratic Motors will still service the ICE vehicles. Won’t lay a finger on any of the EV cars. If you’v bought a EV, seems like your on you own. According to intellectual choice, after 5 year of ownership. A EV smart car, only holds 17% of its residual value. If you own one, and it breaks. You can buy another one pretty cheap. Stock up on them, for parts.

 

[MB DNA]

?

So sez Tony, our man of few words :angrymouth: :megaphone:

 

[jwight]

"MBUSA and Mercedes-Benz Canada will continue to provide owners of gasoline-powered and electric smart fortwo models with access to service and replacement parts via smart and authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers," - NOT feeling any smart love, :bangwall: show me the map of ALL those smart AND AUTHORIZED M-B locations for service & parts . . .

Our authorized M-B dealer, a couple of miles up the road, never carried the smart or the Sprinter and wants nothing to do with either. I'm not betting they will have "access to replacement parts" at any point.

 

[Pete000]

A moment of silence for our now dead brand....

 

[Tony Margulis]

"MBUSA and Mercedes-Benz Canada will continue to provide owners of gasoline-powered and electric smart fortwo models with access to service and replacement parts via smart and authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers," - NOT feeling any smart love,

show me the map of ALL those smart AND AUTHORIZED M-B locations for service & parts . . .

Our authorized M-B dealer, a couple of miles up the road, never carried the smart or the Sprinter and wants nothing to do with either. I'm not betting they will have "access to replacement parts" at any point. <img src="http://smartcarofamerica.com/forums/images/SmartCarOfAmerica/smilies/tango_face_smile.png" border="0" alt="" title="Smile" class="inlineimg" />

Now that they're going to be manufactured in China, you could probably get replacement parts for cheap, straight from China.
I'm excitedly waiting a few years for some used off-lease 453EDs to come up for sale sothay I can snag one for cheap. This kinda makes me hope they'll be even cheaper. As for the dealer network, who cares. Most independent mechanics do better work and charge less money.

 

[OliverB]

Such a shocker - NOT!!

 

[OliverB]

Our authorized M-B dealer, a couple of miles up the road, never carried the smart or the Sprinter and wants nothing to do with either. I'm not betting they will have "access to replacement parts" at any point.

Never have been allowed to service or sell parts by the mother ship.

 

[jwight]

Now that they're going to be manufactured in China, you could probably get replacement parts for cheap, straight from China.
I'm excitedly waiting a few years for some used off-lease 453EDs to come up for sale sothay I can snag one for cheap. This kinda makes me hope they'll be even cheaper. As for the dealer network, who cares. Most independent mechanics do better work and charge less money.

The Chinese version will be nothing like the current 453 unless I miss my guess. Some 450 and 451 parts are available from China now; not sure about the 453.

 

[jwight]

Never have been allowed to service or sell parts by the mother ship.

Strictly the dealership owner's decision. MBUSA would have been happy to let the dealership carry the smart brand but the owner said no. Same thing with the Sprinter. That being the case, the dealership was not given access to smart parts and service information.

 

[OliverB]

Bought a factory parts front fog light kit over a year ago from China for my 453.

 

[OliverB]

Strictly the dealership owner's decision. MBUSA would have been happy to let the dealership carry the smart brand but the owner said no. Same thing with the Sprinter. That being the case, the dealership was not given access to smart parts and service information.

&#55357;&#56397; Parts availability through non-smart selling dealers is what I’m referring to. Just makes it even more difficult to get O.E.M. parts for many owners. There is a dealership 1/2 hour away I deal with for my older Benz cars but have to order on-line or get by mail because my servicing dealer (closest) is 1.5 hours away.

 

[jwight]

Exactly. We are in violent agreement.......

 

[MB DNA]

Strictly the dealership owner's decision. MBUSA would have been happy to let the dealership carry the smart brand but the owner said no. Same thing with the Sprinter. That being the case, the dealership was not given access to smart parts and service information.

A monetary decision on the part of the owner of a M-B dealership as both Sprint and smart are no doubt considered as Franchise (pay an additional fee to Daimler) opportunities.

It's a simple ROI calculation and if the investment in the brand (showroom, inventory, technicians and parts) can't provide a suitable payback - opportunity lost.

As smart was never wildly successful beyond the CARB States, few chose to add the brand. When Penske pulled out and gas prices dropped, smart demand softened. When ICE sales were killed in favor of ED only, the other shoe dropped. Now we have been left with few Centers and sun-setting service agreements.

So now we are the proud owner of a less than "collectible" 3-cylinder ORPHAN vehicle. And sadly, now that there is no Ringling Circus, there is even less need for a clown car . . . :joker:

 

[1stiski]

In the world of internet and having access to a world out there full of smart parts I’m not worrying . My classic American made vehicles are in the same boat and when I need special obsolete parts , I can find them .

 

[TomLeeM]

Daimler will stop selling its adorably small Smart cars in the US and Canada

The Verge
Mercedes Benz will stop selling the Smart in the USA and in Canada. I saw this on Facebook. I have found different sources (some posted here - above and below).
:nerd:

Electrotrek.

CNBC

Tech Crunch.

Car and Driver

I am glad Madness Motorworks decided to broaden their sales to other makes and models other than the Smart.

 

[worldsoutro]

My 3 year lease is up on my 2016 smart. It's going back. I'd still owe just over 11k for a car that I would have a hard time fixing and finding parts. Love the car but not worth it.

 

[Mike T]

Yes, not a surprise, but sad all the same. I wouldn't have anything but the diesel and expect I'll have it until my youngest daughter gets married, at which point I'll give the all white Canada 1 BRABUS to her. Could be a few years yet. Or maybe we'll buy her another diesel and keep this one!