Smart to enter U.S. market

Detroit, Michigan – Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG, has announced that the Smart brand will finally enter the United States market. Beginning in 2008, the successor to the Smart Fortwo will be available in three models in the U.S., with UnitedAuto Group selected as the exclusive distributor. It will be the 37th market for Smart.

UnitedAuto will be responsible for awarding potential dealers, and developing and maintaining a Smart vehicle dealership network throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

“Following the success of the Smart Fortwo in our first North American market, Canada, and the increasing demand for affordable and fuel efficient small cars in the U.S.A., we are now bringing this kind of mobility to U.S. cities,” Zetsche says. “The time has never been better for this, and I am convinced that the Smart Fortwo as an innovative, ecological and agile city car will soon become just as familiar a sight of the streets of New York, Miami or Seattle, as it is today in Rome, Berlin or Paris.”

The initial rollout of retail outlets is expected to start in mid-2007, with the official launch of the brand planned later in the year, and vehicles available for sale in early 2008.