Have to take issue with the final statemement of the article tho, I seriously doubt those 5,000 sales a year is enough offset for them to sell more SLS's and SL-whatevers to warrant keeping them on as a "pet"...
And if gas does go to $5/gallon like the pundits think, sales will double overnight again. I do think it's hard to keep a franchise going strong with only one model, and one that hasn't really been updated in 10 years or so....
If MBZ decides to bring in some of the versions they sell in Europe, and a proper 5 speed gearbox, or at least a good automatic they might see sales pick up again.
Maybe, but I think that the Smart is unsellable in the US market: it's just too small and 'mericans like their meat. MINI successfully stretched the size barrier, helped in part by the last bump in fuel prices, but I think there's a limit to our appetite for ridiculously small vehicles. I'll be interested to see how the 500 sells.
Fiat expects to sell 50,000 of them a year here...:confused5:
This just in...
Hot on the heels of the news that Penske and Smart have split comes word that the Smart/Nissan collaboration is dead. Automotive News is reporting that the project, which was intended to yield a four-door model built off of a Nissan platform and sold under the Smart banner, won't be happening. The reason is simple enough; if Smart had continued to blaze its own trail here in America, it would have needed at least one additional model to support itself. Now that it's part of the Mercedes-Benz network, that need has been diminished significantly.
Meanwhile, there's some concern that a separate Nissan/Renault collaboration project called the Quattro may be axed as well. With the slaughter of multiple projects and Penske walking away, more than a few minds have begun to wonder if this is the end for Smart in the Land of the Free. According to the Automotive News report, however, Roger Penske says that's not the case.
Penske said that the fact that Smart is being handed off to Mercedes-Benz is nothing compared to the death of Hummer or Mercury, and that his company simply didn't have the volume or marketing muscle to push Smart effectively.
Either way, AN says that the transition to Benz dealerships means that the Smart dealership network will shrink significantly, leaving just 58 dealers across the country. That's because 21 Smart showrooms that aren't paired with Mercedes models won't get to keep their franchises.
I never understood how they could sell any of those anywhere other than a truly urban environment. You would have to force me to drive one on the highway.
My initial thought is that MB needs to increase their fleet CAFE numbers and that sales of a few Smart Cars will help immensely. They already have a vehicle and parts distribution method in place. It's only a few million more to add SMART to the mix.
While a SMART doesn't play well in Peoria it sure does in New York and Chicago. I've seen quite a few here in Dallas and they stand out in this land of SUV's and Pickups. We've had a few MetroplexMINI owners pick them up as well, they use them for short trips in the urban areas mostly leaving the MINI for the highway or longer jaunts.
It smacks me as a very smart (no pun intended) move by MB and lets the Penske Group do what they do best, being the selling and servicing of cars. Rodger is probably laughing all the way to the bank. Check out the charts for the stock (PAG) there is a nice uptick the day of the announcement. The opening price today is 21.00 compared to the closing price of 19.01 the day before the announcement. While a $1 does not sound like much Mr Penske controls 1,386.666 shares, thats a nice increase in value.
We see just a few of them here, but finally seeing more Minis.
