Think Small, Aim High: Smart Car Pins Hopes on New Microcar Models - NBCNews.com
The maker of one of the world's smallest vehicles is launching an all-new version of its pint-sized fortwo model at a time when cheap gas has American motorists buying pickups, SUVs and crossover-utility vehicles in record numbers. Demand for downsized products like the Mini Cooper and Fiat 500 have been tumbling at double-digit rates in recent months, which could big pose problems for the little Smart car. Originally launched in 1998 as an alternative for urban drivers around the world, it has never come close to meeting expectations, and company records show it has lost parent Daimler AG at least $5 billion so far. Nonetheless, brand chief Annette Winkler, one of the highest-ranked women in the European auto industry, is optimistic that "there is much more potential" for Smart with the launch of the fortwo coupe, which will be followed next February by a... Smart move by Swatch Originally conceived in 1994 as a joint venture between what was then Daimler-Benz AG and the Swiss watch company Swatch, Smart was targeted at buyers in crowded cities like Paris, Rome and New York, where streets are narrow,... Initially, U. S. sales were handled by automotive entrepreneur Roger Penske, and the timing appeared much better, the little fortwo arriving at a time when. Source: www.nbcnews.com
