Kenwood Announces Nationwide smart fortwo Entertainment Upgrade Program

LONG BEACH, Calif., July 15 -- Kenwood USA Corporation is pleased to announce exciting new vehicle options for smart fortwo customers. Kenwood entertainment/navigation systems are now available as optional equipment on all smart fortwos.

Keith Lehmann, Kenwood's Senior Vice President of the Consumer Electronics Sector, said "We are very pleased to offer this new option to smart fortwo customers. The Kenwood system was developed based on a substantial number of requests from smart fortwo owners and prospects for entertainment and navigation upgrades. We are proud to have been chosen by smart USA to be the approved brand of entertainment/navigation systems and are looking forward to sharing this news with our appointed Kenwood dealers."

Customers can reserve and custom build their smart fortwo, with the Kenwood entertainment/navigation system, at www.smartusa.com. Customers may also visit any of the 78 smart centers across the country to purchase a vehicle and have the entertainment system added to the vehicle.

The program involves dozens of authorized Kenwood dealers, who install the equipment and provide post-sale service to the smart dealers and customers. All Kenwood entertainment/navigation systems under this program have a pre-negotiated, installed price that is identical across the country. The Kenwood systems feature navigation software engineered by Garmin and mapping technology developed by NAVTEQ.

"We believe the involvement of our selected Kenwood dealers is a huge benefit to smart USA," explained Lehmann. "The products are professionally installed by Kenwood specialists, the systems are consistent across the country and all carry the same standard 2 year/24,000 mile warranty as the smart fortwo. As smart USA expands its market presence in the U.S., we intend on continuing adding value to their program for the benefit of their dealers and their customers."

Kenwood Corporate Information

Founded in 1961, Kenwood USA Corporation is a leading developer and manufacturer of audio and video products for home, car, and personal use. Offering more than 250 products, Kenwood is one of the three largest selling brands of audio and video entertainment products in the United States and is recognized by consumers and the consumer electronics industry for providing superior quality, reliability and value.

Kenwood Communications, based in Suwanee, GA, established in 1983, maintains a leadership position in North and South America for mobile and portable two-way radios and custom systems. Clients include prominent federal, state and local government agencies and first responders and private industry including manufacturing, contracting, security, hospitality and education. Kenwood USA Corporation, based in Long Beach, Calif., is the largest subsidiary of Kenwood Corporation (Japan).

ABOUT the smart fortwo and smart USA

smart USA Distributor LLC, headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is the exclusive distributor of the smart fortwo in the United States and Puerto Rico and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc. The smart fortwo is a brand of and is manufactured by Daimler AG. This technologically advanced vehicle achieves 41 mpg on the highway and is an ultra-low emissions vehicle, as certified by the State of California Air Resources Board. The vehicle is 8.8 feet long, 5.1 feet tall and 5.1 feet wide and comes equipped with many functional and safety features found in most luxury models. smart is currently sold in 36 other countries, and more than one million smart fortwos have been sold since 1998. The 2009 smart fortwo is available in five trim levels ranging in price from $11,990* to $20,990*. For more information visit the smart USA website -- www.smartusa.com.

* For 2009 models. Excludes tax, title, registration, destination charge, options and other dealer fees.

smart is a registered trademark of Daimler AG.