Smart to Shut Down 21 Dealerships, Transition to Mercedes
The little brand that could — and more recently couldn’t — has been curtailed by its parents. Today, Mercedes-Benz announced it will reabsorb the Smart brand in the U.S. from Penske Automotive Group, the company that launched it in the U.S. in 2006.
The Smart dealerships will close at Penske’s expense. These are only stand-alone Smart dealers or franchises that do not also have a Mercedes store attached.
Smart will be integrated into Mercedes’ U.S. business in a move the company says isn’t because of a loss of sales momentum. Instead, the company says it needs the small Smart ForTwo and its 36 mpg combined EPA rating to tackle future CAFE ratings and to save costs overall.
We expect ForTwo to continue in its current form, and current owners will be able to have it serviced at the 58 remaining dealers. There’s no word if other Mercedes dealers will be able to service them.
Mercedes to take over Smart distribution from Penske (Automotive News)
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DT,
Not that I really care...well, a bit actually, 'coz I like Smart...but what's gonna happen to their Nissan/Smart subcompact?
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2010/10/smart-nissan-team-up-for-new-subcompact.html
P.S. Quest review in its 800th re-edit? hahaha
Really now! Smarts are virtually sale proof now much like Maybach. Their meager sales will do little to help MB CAFE ratings. The clear winner in this is Roger Penske !!
That car is shut down. But a German built four door is still possible.
Sad...
I don't think that importing the A or B Class as a Smart 4 dr is likely...otherwise it would have been done MANY years ago :(
The ForFour was a failure and it was ceased 4 yrs ago. Launching another one doesn't look likely. Interesting, the ForFour was also a joint venture (with Mitsubishi), so the "new/supposedly" ForFour with Nissan would've made sense.
The new four-seat Smart is being done with Daimler and Renault, will still be rear-engined and based on the next-gen ForTwo, due late next year or early 2013.
Price it @ $10K and streets will be full of them.