Is America ready for Europe’s ‘little’ Smart car? DaimlerChrysler, makers of the Smart car, thinks so, according to German newspaper Handelsblatt. The German-US automaker is considering launching the Smart car in America and is currently in the process of studying the market as well as assessing the brand’s chance of success in the US. Dieter Zetsche, DaimlerChrysler head said that, “Right now it’s more probable that we’ll make a decision in favor of the U.S.A. rather than against it,”
Ever since it was introduced in 1998, the tiny Smart cars have had considerable success in Europe, where its cute looks and excellent mileage are well-received. However, this 60-mpg, two-seater car, has yet to break in to the American automotive market, long known as the bastion of big and brawny SUVs and Pickups. Prospects might look rosier for the Smart car this time with the increased awareness for hybrid cars and fuel economy as well as the success of other small cars such as the highly popular MINI Cooper.
As yet, Smart USA is planning to offer a smart SUV called the formore, anytime this year. Importers are anticipating various obstacles for the Smart car’s entry into the US including changing the perception of American buyers about the safety of these “tiny†cars. Smart claims that the car is indeed very safe; owing to its high-strength beams that reinforce key areas much like a walnut’s shell protects the nut as well as other key safety features. Smart cars might come at a price range of $12,000 for the cheapest model to $20,000 for a convertible with additional features.
February 28th, 2006 at 12:43 am
about a few months ago, i happen so see one in our country. I don’t know the manufacturer until I say your blog.
at 60-mpg hey, i want to someday get hold of this one.
February 28th, 2006 at 9:03 am
The smart car seems to have really taken off in Canada.
June 1st, 2006 at 12:55 pm
The Smart car is currently being offered in the U.S. by ZAP Corporation. My question is whether these will be serviced in the future by U.S. DaimlerChrysler dealers.
June 1st, 2006 at 7:56 pm
It’s now June and gas prices are flirting with $3.00/gallon. Yeah, Americans are ready for it … and getting readier all the time.
June 14th, 2006 at 9:57 am
What is worng with DaimlerChrysler letting this fly by night ZAP handle their cars? Why aren’t they using the dealers they already have in pl;ace?
People will be muuch more apt to buy from a local dealer than someone in California. What would we prospective buyers do for service?
June 28th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
[...] Finally, the unique, environment-friendly, two-seat smart car will be available in the U.S. automotive market by 2008. DaimlerChrysler, makers of the smart car has announced that a new version of the smart fortwo will be available in three models for the American market. The smart car is already a familiar sight in European streets and has had quite a success in Canada. DaimlerChrysler wants to replicate this scene in the U.S. A few months ago we reported on the DaimlerChrysler’s plans to offer a smart SUV called the formore. [...]
July 20th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
Smart For Two in America. Why hasn’t DaimlerChrysler not sold the Smart in the states? Because most of the Mercedes Dealers didn’t want the car in their showroom. Hard to believe that The Mercedes Benz Dealers Ass. of America had more power in this matter then those in Stuttgart.
Now they are not going to use their own network in America. United Auto Group will present the Smart to the United States.
About this company Zap, They are hurting the product and its name. Zap is a company that resells Smart on the America market. They have nothing to do with DaimlerChrysler. They purchase the cars in Europe and resell them in America. Look at the prices. A Smart Passon cost in Germany about 12,000 Euro ( about 15,500 U.S: new. Zap will kindly sell you the same Smart for 35,000 U.S. dollars. How can you save money on gas??? Yes, the car has to be converted. If you visit G and K in California or let the Smart be shipping there directly from Germany you will pay 1,500 U.S. dollars for shipping and 5,000 to convert and all paperwork. At the end of the day your paying about 22,000. Wow thats a lot better then that good old ZAP price from 30,000 to 35,000 U.S. dollars.
A Used Smart from Germany with about 10,000 miles a purchasing price from about 10,000 U.S. dollars.
I hope you get the picture.
Zap is bad press for DC/Mercedes Benz. Every person who has purchased a Smart from the company ZAP should travel to Europe and sell how much money you just wasted. Remember there is no such thing as a Zap Smart.
September 28th, 2006 at 3:13 am
I purchased a Zap Smart ForTwo in May after having a deposit with Zap for almost a year. Their first dealer in FL is in Palm Beach. Zap instructed me to pick my Smart up from the Palm Beach dealer. When I expressed concern about the 6 hour drive from Ocala and potential problems getting warranty work done, ZAP assured me that dealers would be set up in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, etc. in “at the most, 2 months”. Based on ZAP’s assurance of the upcoming dealer network, I picked my Smart up on May 6. One month later, Daimler announced they would be selling the Smart in the US starting mid-2007 - beginning 2008. I have had numerous warranty issues, all are apparently related the conversion changes,required by US EPA &DOT,performed by G&K. One of the issues is a “check engine” light and I have refused to drive to Palm Beach with this problem, fearing damage to the engine. On one occassion, my husband’s crew wss following him recently and called his cell telling him the Smart was on fire, there was so much smoke they couldn’t see the car. After pulling over and turning the car off, the smoke subsided. Smoke was black & blue and had a metallic oily smell. Oil level, water level and temperature was fine. They were unable to determine where the smoke came from. Fortunately, there was no fire. General concensus is that the small parts of the catalytic converter came apart and burned up. I have had numerous discussions with the company that holds the warranty on the EPA & DOT conversions (found out G&K is fully responsible for these repairs but G&K is the one I have to deal with to have the repairs done. The warranties issued by the warranty company only kicks in WHEN G&K goes out of business. G&K finally became cooperative to a degree. They want to send us the parts and my husband can do the repairs or we can pay someone else to do the repairs with the parts they will send at no cost. Since I was told by the dealer I purchased it from that there is a bumper to bumper warranty on my Smart, I called the dealer and asked where was my copy of the warranty. The dealer says there is a warranty, it just isn’t in writing. My “check engine” light and the post conversion foam ceiling panels hanging down due to the adhesive not standing up to the FL sun, started within a month or two of my picking up the car. Naturally, the dealer wanted me to return to Palm Beach for servicing. Not acceptable due to the nature of the problem. My calls and emails to Phillip T at ZAP were fluffed off, telling me ZAP is a distributor, not the manufacturer of the car, and therefore does not warranty it. Phillip insisted I had to return to the dealer to have the warranty issues taken care of. Finally, a couple of weeks ago, after numerous conversions with Jim at the independent warranty company for the EPA/DOT conversions, conversations with Technical Supervisor at G&K, a conversation with the Palm Beach dealership owner (”it’s okay to drive it to Palm Beach with the “check engine” light on, even though it smoked so much the car was hidden”), I finally received a call from the ZAP head of Technical Support. He said there is a bumper to bumper warranty on the car but it is provided by ZAP. ZAP is self-insuring the warranty on the Smart. He emailed me the warranty. He also said I could only have repairs made by an authorized ZAP Smart Car Dealer. Since ZAP had assured me in April that there would be ZAP Smart Dealerships open and operating in Orlando & other FL cities by late July, I asked for the names/addresses of the other FL dealers close to me in Ocala or Orlando so I could have the warranty issues repaired. Seems like Daimler through a monkey wrench in that one! ZAP “is no longer seeking or setting up Smart dealers.” according to the Tech Supervisor. BIG ISSUES - G&K will send the parts to repair any emission control problems and safety problems connected to the required epa/dot changes G&K had to make. G&K says THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY LABOR TO MAKE THESE REPAIRS UNLESS IT IS DONE BY THE DEALER THAT SOLD THE CAR. G&K says any mechanic familiar with Mercedes or foreign cars can repair it or “my husband” can repair it. ZAP is ADAMENT that any work done on the Smart MUST be done by a ZAP trained dealer or it voids their warranty. ZAP insists all of my problems are related to the G&K conversion and they are responsible for the repairs. The result is I have spent over $35,000 to purchase my Smart, plus $500 to have advertising put on it for my business near Ocala. Due to the potential engine problems and the ceiling foam hanging down, my poor Smart stays in Orlando, most of the time parked in my driveway, advertising a Storage Facility 65 miles away. The intended savings on gas and the advertising value received is not materializing since I cannot use the car. Our experience with ZAP has convinced us that we WILL NOT be purchasing the OBVIO when ZAP delivers them to the dealers. Actually, ZAP or the dealer can have my Smart back for the $$$ I have invested in it. Did I mention the extremely high insurance rates, if you can find a company to write insurance on the ZAP Smart?
November 2nd, 2006 at 10:23 pm
I’m really sorry to hear about your dilemma, but thaks for sharing yuor misery with us–the middlemen seems to be the problem, i will not deal with zap either, they seem really snake oil-ish when i talked to them.
my goal is to buy a used smart diesel from either canada or mexico if it is somehow possible–and convert it to bio diesel.
it is so frustrating to do it this way, so indeed i may try to buy one in europe and export it here–i jsut dont know how possible it is to get it into california, help mr wizard!
November 2nd, 2006 at 10:24 pm
hi there, im in san francisco and thinking about buying a used DIESEL smart car –strange but it seems they are only in canada. will you be selling the diesels in the near future??
I wonder if you will be selling them soon, and if not i guess I may make the trip to bring it here and go up there since it may be easier to do it via canada rather than from mexico.
if there is any conversions needed on the bumpers or side doors/roof (certainly not a smog being a diesel), I guess i could ask G&K Auto Conversions?
thanks,
jar