According to this post and other sources, it looks like DaimlerChrysler will be shipping the Smart cars to the U.S. after all.
Is there a market for these things?
MSNBC asked the same question in this report. Besides safety concern, I honestly don’t see much use for these things outside of a select few buyers. U.S. drivers use their cars, for example, on long trips between Los Angeles and Las Vegas whose route many drivers treat like their personal version of the German Autobahn. And in SUVs, no less. Europeans, with their highly organized transportation system, don’t have such issues.They can just park their Smart vehicles and board a train.
Another factor is American, ah-hem, size. I’ve read that over sixty percent of Americans are considered obese. While Smart cars are reported to be quite spacious, they’ve all been written by people who favor the vehicle. Show me a six foot, 200-300 guy and let’s see their reaction as they drive for an extended period of time in these ‘golf carts’.
Finally, what’s all this about mileage? Smart cars are suppose to get 60 miles per gallon. Uh, huh. I counter, do Americans really care? Despite last year’s gasoline prices, there has been no significant drop in the demand for SUVs. Many Americans are more than willing to cut costs in other parts of their budgets, like movies, to be able to haul spouse, kids, and all their toys in comfort. I assume the Smart will be aimed at new buyers like teens or DINKS: dual-income, no kids. I’m in the latter and discovered it’s quite easy to fill up one’s car quickly.
And then there’s image. Americans are notorious for their vehicles making a statement. Otherwise, how do we justify BMW 7 or the Prius? What does the Smart car say to the rest of us in our Mustangs, Evo’s, and–gawd help us–Escalades.
I’m not advocating DaimlerChryler not to bring Smart to the U.S. I love competition, to the chagrin of Ford and General Motors. But DaimlerChrysler has been losing money for years over the Smart car in Europe and is now bringing it over to the even more competitive and hostile U.S. market. Is that really a Smart move?
4 comments so far
OmG. . . a lot of people do that while driving its your FiRsT reaction you know!?>
March 2nd, 2006 at 5:07 pm
Indeed the Smart is more designed for the narrow crowded streets of european cities than large US avenues.But…Don’t consider it a family car: it’s clearly aimed at singles or as a second car to go to work. As for the “american size problem” I remember a well-known politician from my country doing his campaign in a Smart.And he’s far from slender (but, yes, he was alone in the car).
March 10th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
About “image”: that’s just why the politician mentioned above used the Smart during his electoral campaign!The Smart was perceived as trendy, young, environmentally friendly, closer to citizens than a big black car.
March 10th, 2006 at 2:03 pm
Well I’m 6′3 and 215 and I would absolutely love a Smart Car. I have sat in a few, but haven’t had the opertunity to drive one. I would buy the car for driving back and forth to work, and doing errands around town. It is the perfect vehicle for that. I love the fact that it is so small. I am one of those people that feel that taking up as much space as possible on the road and parking lots is just selfish. Imagine how mush less crowded the roads would be if those gigantic SUVs with one or two passengers was replaced with a Smart. Now Imagine how much less fuel we would use as a nation in that same situation. I’m a true auto enthusiast and I think it is more my responsibility to be an example of responsible driving than non-enthusiasts.
June 7th, 2006 at 1:28 am
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