DamlierChrysler Aims for 30,000 smart Sales

BERLIN January 19, 2004; Dow Jones reported that DaimlerChrysler Smart brand said it aims to sell 30,000 cars a year in the U.S., once it enters the market with a sport utility vehicle in 2006.

Smart, which is currently loss making, is launching a sport utility vehicle, called 'formore' in the second half of 2006.

The vehicle, which will be built in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, has an annual production capacity of 60,000. Smart said it plans to sell half of these in the U.S. and half in other markets.

"(The formore) is the ideal model to launch the Smart brand in the U.S. market," Smart President Andreas Renschler said in a statement.

The company, which sold 123,500 cars in 2003, claims the new model, its fourth, will occupy a unique niche in the popular SUV segment.

The SUV's name follows the same logic as the company's other car names, which includes the two-seater urban transport 'fortwo' and the four-seater compact 'forfour,' which will launch in April. The exception is the Smart roadster.

Smart began in 1998 as an urban mobility concept. Its micro two-seater model was aimed at drivers in crowded cities worried about parking spaces. But after a disappointing start, it has since attempted to recast itself as a lifestyle brand, appealling to hip, young drivers.

Smart has issued the following press release:

The smart utility vehicle (suv), scheduled for the year 2006, will bear the name smart formore. This fourth smart model range will also mark the company's entrance into the US market. With the introduction of the new model, suited to all road and driving conditions, smart will be represented in the world's largest automotive market for the first time. The four-wheel drive smart formore will also be launched in the company's other core markets at the same time.

From the beginning of 2006 the smart formore will be built in the DaimlerChrysler plant in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. The plant has a capacity of 60,000 cars per annum. In a full sales year, smart plans to sell half of these in the USA and half in their other core markets.

“With the smart formore we will be applying the typical smart characteristics of innovation, functionality and joie de vivre to the SUV sector. The new smart model will be a distinctive vehicle, unique in the market - so unique that we translate `suv' as smart utility vehicle,“ explained Andreas Renschler, President of smart gmbh. “The smart formore will provide a driving experience loaded with adrenaline - off road as well as on-, expressive design and a high utility value. It is the ideal model to launch the smart brand in the US market.”

With the name smart formore, smart is following the naming logic which it began with the four-seater forfour. The basic principle of this logic is to give names which have a direct connection to the uses of the vehicle concerned. Therefore from 2006 the smart formore will be added to the range of new smart model names, the smart fortwo coupé, smart fortwo cabrio and smart forfour. The smart roadster and smart roadster-coupé are to retain their original, well-known names, since these already describe what all smart models have to offer - sheer driving pleasure.



2004-01-19
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Company web site: http://www.smart.com