Auto news and reviews from Car Buyer's Notebook.com: Smart Archives

August 1, 2008

Daimler AG Reports 25% Increase in July U.S. Sales

NEW YORK -- Daimler AG today reported sales for the Mercedes-Benz Cars division (Mercedes-Benz and smart combined) of 23,292 units in the U.S. for July 2008.

Mercedes-Benz USA today reported sales of 20,733 new vehicles for July 2008, a 12 percent increase over last July.

Continue reading "Daimler AG Reports 25% Increase in July U.S. Sales"

July 15, 2008

Win a Smart ForTwo in School Raffle

LOWELL, Mass. -- ONE Lowell's raffle of a new 2008 smart fortwo will support its Lowell based anti-truancy program. The smart raffle is part of a larger fundraising event this summer, taking place on August 2nd and 3rd at Cawley Stadium and aptly titled ONE Lowell World Cup Soccer 2008.

This weekend of soccer features 16 international New England teams representing countries around the world. Event and smart raffle tickets can be purchased online http://www.onelowellsoccercup.org/.

Continue reading "Win a Smart ForTwo in School Raffle"

July 7, 2008

smart car celebrates 10th anniversary

On July 2, 1998, a vehicle with an entirely new concept first rolled off the assembly line: the smart fortwo.

On that date an extraordinary success story commenced in Hambach, France. Until now, the compact two-seater has become the vehicle of choice of more than 900,000 customers in 37 countries.

Continue reading "smart car celebrates 10th anniversary"

Mercedes-Benz Cars increases sales by eight percent in first half of 2008

The Mercedes-Benz Cars division posted considerable sales growth in the first half of the year. Deliveries of Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach brand vehicles rose by eight percent in the first six months of the year, setting a new sales record of 668,100 units (January - June 2007: 617,700 units).

The Mercedes-Benz brand also posted a new record from January to June, with sales rising by four percent to 599,200 vehicles (same period last year: 575,700 units).

Continue reading "Mercedes-Benz Cars increases sales by eight percent in first half of 2008"

June 3, 2008

Daimler AG Reports 12% Increase in the U.S. for May 2008

NEW YORK -- Daimler AG today reported sales for Mercedes-Benz Cars division (Mercedes-Benz and smart combined) of 24,480 units in the U.S. for May 2008. All sales figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported its highest May on record with sales of 21,785 new vehicles, a 0.1 percent increase over last May.

Continue reading "Daimler AG Reports 12% Increase in the U.S. for May 2008"

May 30, 2008

Mercedes Customer Center in Maastricht Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Stuttgart– Customer satisfaction and brand loyalty are major factors that contribute to Daimler AG’s long-standing success in the passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors.

Since its establishment in 1998, the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center (CAC) in the Dutch city of Maastrichthas been a key precondition for customer satisfaction.

Continue reading "Mercedes Customer Center in Maastricht Celebrates 10th Anniversary"

May 14, 2008

Video: 2008 smart car crash test

The Smart car is getting a lot of attention for its small size and style, and now it's earning impressive crash test ratings. In recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests, the 2008 Smart Fortwo, the smallest car for sale in the US market, earned the top rating of good for front and side crash protection. Its seat/head restraints earned the second highest rating of acceptable for protection against whiplash in rear impacts.

Continue reading "Video: 2008 smart car crash test"

May 12, 2008

2008 Fuel Economy Guide Available for Download

The EPA has issued a comprehensive PDF guide to fuel economy of all 2008 vehicles, which you can download by right-clicking here.

In today's gas market, buyers are more sensitive than ever about buying cars that get good mileage, and more important, they want the government ratings to be as accurate as possible -- nobody wants to buy a vehicle that gets 10% worse mileage in the real world than the sticker rating.

To address this situation, the EPA has started using an updated test to assign more accurate MPG ratings to new vehicles, and you can learn about that by watching the video in this post.

May 7, 2008

Mercedes-Benz global sales up 22%

Stuttgart — Combined sales of the four brands of Mercedes-Benz Cars (Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach) reached a total of 119,000 units for April, an overall increase of 22 percent from the 2007 figure (97,800).

Since the beginning of the year, Mercedes-Benz Cars has thus delivered 437,700 vehicles, representing a 14 percent increase compared to the same period last year (384,600).

Continue reading "Mercedes-Benz global sales up 22%"

May 1, 2008

Daimler AG Reports 22,954 Unit Sales in April

NEW YORK -- Daimler AG today reported total group sales (Mercedes-Benz and smart combined) of 22,954 passenger vehicles in the U.S. for April 2008. All sales figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.

While experiencing a marginal three percent decrease in its April sales (20,271 vs. 20,895), Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) maintained a 1.4 percent increase for the first four months of the year (77,918 vs. 76,880), bringing year-to-date sales to the highest level in the company's history.

Continue reading "Daimler AG Reports 22,954 Unit Sales in April"

April 19, 2008

smart fortwo to be Launched in China in Mid 2009

BEIJING, and STUTTGART, Germany -- The smart fortwo will also be available to Chinese customers from mid 2009. This was announced by Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, at the Auto China Beijing 2008 (22 - 28 April 2008).

This means that smart is now set to open up another major automobile market, following the successful launch in the USA.

Continue reading "smart fortwo to be Launched in China in Mid 2009"

April 16, 2008

smart car book wins literary award

The highly regarded "Motor Presse Club" has awarded the author prize 2008 to the book "sideways. a smart art project" which was recently presented. The distinguished jury of the "MPC car book prize" awards this special prize every year for outstanding literary achievement in the field of car books.

For the award-winning book, smart and the publishing house "Gestalten Verlag Berlin" asked artists to submit contributions on the subject of the environment and smart.

Continue reading "smart car book wins literary award"

April 7, 2008

Crash test raises smart concerns

WASHINGTON - A government crash test of the 2008 Smart Fortwo micro car, the fuel-sipping vehicle that made its debut in the United States this year, has found a safety concern in side-impact testing, officials said Thursday.

During the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration side test on the Smart two-door, the driver door unlatched and opened. The government said that could lead to a driver or passenger being ejected from the 8-foot, 8-inch vehicle.

NHTSA, however, still gave the car its top score of five stars in side testing because of the ability of the car to protect the driver and passenger from injuries in a crash.

April 1, 2008

smart sells 100,000th unit

Stuttgart – The smart fortwo continues its string of successes. Since the end of March 2007, the new model of the innovative two-seater has been purchased by a total of 100,000 customers, representing a sales increase of more than 80 percent.

Yesterday afternoon, Ulrich Kowalewski, director of the Mercedes-Benz Center Munich handed over the 100,000th second-generation smart fortwo to a 36-year-old customer in the recently re-opened smart Center Munich.

Continue reading "smart sells 100,000th unit"

Daimler AG Reports 22,542 Sales for March 2008

NEW YORK -- Daimler AG today reported total group sales (Mercedes-Benz and smart combined) of 22,542 passenger vehicles in the U.S. for March 2008. All sales figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.

While experiencing a marginal 3.7 percent decrease in its sales for the month of March (20,808 vs. 21,612), Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) maintained a three percent increase for the first quarter of 2008 (57,647 vs 55,985) bringing year-to-date sales to the highest level in the company's history.

Continue reading "Daimler AG Reports 22,542 Sales for March 2008"

March 16, 2008

smart launches fashion line for Spring 2008

To match the new look of the smart fortwo, Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH is presenting the multi-faceted Collection 2008, which underlines the urban lifestyle of the smart community with four product lines.

The products featuring the brand logo and pictograms of the smart fortwo or the smart fortwo cabrio stand for innovation, functionality and joie de vivre. With their two-tone design and versatility they carry typical characteristics of the brand to the world of fashion.

Continue reading "smart launches fashion line for Spring 2008"

March 10, 2008

Portable nav system for the smart fortwo

The smart fortwo’s savvy nav concept is designed for the city. Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH is now offering a new guide for the nimble two-seater that enables smart fortwo drivers to find their way through the urban maze of an unfamiliar city.

The "portable smart navigation system II" is as extraordinary as the smart principle itself: with its optimum integration into the car, clear voice output and high-resolution TFT colour monitor, it makes mobile navigation a joy.

Continue reading "Portable nav system for the smart fortwo"

February 14, 2008

Daimler AG Releases 2007 Financial Results

STUTTGART, Germany -- Daimler AG today presented its preliminary and unaudited figures for the Group and the divisions for the 2007 financial year.

Daimler achieved EBIT of euro 8,710 million (US$12,719 million) in 2007 (2006: euro 4,992 million, US$7,290 million), surpassing the earnings target of at least euro 8.5 billion (US$12.4 billion) that had previously been announced for the year 2007.

Continue reading "Daimler AG Releases 2007 Financial Results"

February 13, 2008

smart cars sponsors an art project

Automobile company smart will introduce its creative anthology, “sideways. a smart art project,” on March 19, 2008 in New York.

The book picks up on the brand’s philosophy of questioning generally accepted ideas. The collection includes work by 100 international artists and creative minds, and seeks to evaluate the way we think about the environment and mobility in the here and now.

Continue reading "smart cars sponsors an art project"

February 9, 2008

Smart Hybrid Concept Wins Environmental Nod

The German “Öko-Trend” environmental research institute has awarded its environmental certificate for cars to the smart fortwo micro hybrid drive (mhd).

In extensive analyses by experts from the Wuppertal-based independent institute the smart fortwo mhd scored top marks for all environment-related criteria.

According to the institute’s findings, the 52 kW (71 bhp) petrol variant which has been available in certain markets since October 2007 scores excellent ratings in terms of fuel consumption, exhaust and noise emissions.

Continue reading "Smart Hybrid Concept Wins Environmental Nod"

February 8, 2008

First Factory-Authorized smart fortwo Cars Arrive in Puget Sound

SEATTLE -- O'Brien Auto Group today announced the arrival of the state's first factory-authorized smart cars. The announcement, made at the company's new smart center Seattle, paves the way for car buyers here to own a certified US version of the car that comes with warranty and factory authorized service.

"This is a major announcement for anyone in the state who's wanted to purchase a smart car but balked at the high-cost and inconvenience of buying a gray market version of the car," said Michael O'Brien, CEO of O'Brien Auto Group.

Continue reading "First Factory-Authorized smart fortwo Cars Arrive in Puget Sound"

February 7, 2008

Mercedes Global Sales Up 16% in January

The Mercedes-Benz Cars division delivered 90,400 vehicles to customers all over the world in January 2008 (January 2007: 77,700). Sales of the Mercedes-Benz, AMG, Maybach, and smart brands thus rose by 16 percent to set a new record.

The Mercedes-Benz brand alone delivered a record-breaking 82,300 passenger cars in January, an increase of 12 percent on the figure for January 2007 (73,500 vehicles).

Continue reading "Mercedes Global Sales Up 16% in January"

February 5, 2008

First Shipment of smart fortwo Cars Roll Into Puget Sound

SEATTLE -- One of the most-important and talked about cars in history has officially arrived in the Puget Sound and folks who were smart enough to get in line first can't wait to pick them up and show them off.

On Thursday, February 7, Several Puget Sound residents that pre-ordered the new smart fortwo will be on-hand to pick-up and talk about the first smart cars to arrive in Seattle.

Continue reading "First Shipment of smart fortwo Cars Roll Into Puget Sound"

February 2, 2008

Current Auto Rebates Has All the Updated Rebates!

With auto sales down 4.3% in January 2008, many automakers are increasing the rebate and incentive offers they have on the hoods of their vehicles.

Yet keeping track of all the rebate programs can be difficult work, which is why we began publishing Current Auto Rebates, the Internet's first document that lists every rebate program for every vehicle for same in the United States.

This 13-page PDF makes it easy for you to look up rebates on any model you're interested in, and even allows you to contact your local dealer who will give you a free price quote on the ride of your choice.

Since rebate programs can change several times per month, you may want to sign up for free updates to the publication -- when we update the document you'll get an email from us letting you know a refreshed version is available for you to download.

And if someone you know is currently shopping for a new vehicle, you may want to download a copy and email it to them -- they'll thank you for doing so!

January 30, 2008

With Home Prices Dropping, Car Prices Are Sure to Follow

It's accepted wisdom now that overall auto sales will drop in 2008. This is seen as a function of the housing bust, during which as much as 20% of new car purchases were funded by residential real estate profit, home equity cashouts and the general euphoria in real estate related industries.

Now that home prices are dropping -- and will continue to do so until they fall in line with median income -- we believe the average new vehicle transaction price will drop as well. If houses can fall 10%-30% in value, why not cars?

In November we ran a story from Comerica Bank stating the average transaction price of a new vehicle was $29,024. Our projection is this number will fall below $25,000, perhaps in 2009 if not this year, for several reasons:

1. Less money to spend. The option of taking cash out of a home to finance a new purchase is gone. The psychology of spending "free money" to buy a luxe ride will give way to folks actually having to make the payment out of their own pocket. And with many people paying even more for housing due to adjustable rates, they will choose cheaper rides.

2. Gas prices. While $3 a gallon gas isn't as draconian as five bucks, it will have an effect over time. People are already choosing more efficient crossovers and smaller SUVs over the big buses, and V8s are going out of favor. Look for more people to choose V6s in cars and for four-cylinders to pick up in popularity.

3. Negative equity. A greater percentage of folks are upside down in their cars, and have been rolling their balances into new loan agreements. To catch up, their new purchases will have to be cheaper and it's going to take years to eat away at the balance.

4. New frugality. In a tough economy, the value of money becomes more dear. People will start thinking twice about how much money they spend. They will choose cheaper cars, perhaps with more options, but the luxe-marques are in for a rough ride.

5. New wage structures. The Detroit car companies have made big headlines with their new labor deals, that allow them to replace higher paid union workers with new hires at a lower wage scale. The higher wages translated into higher sticker prices; the lower wages will allow for slimmer price hikes and even reductions.

6. Battle for fewer consumers. Don't let the tough talk fool you. As fewer cars are sold throughout 2008, the rebate war will kick into full swing -- and spiffs will help bring down the average transaction price.

This last reason is why we launched Current Auto Rebates, a site that publishes all the rebates for every model in a single PDF file, to make bargain hunting that much easier.

January 23, 2008

Harness the power of free price quotes!

Many of you have seen the link to get a free dealer price quote on our pages, as well as in our Current Auto Rebates report.

The free price quote is one of the best tools for savvy vehicle shoppers -- it's convenient, and there is absolutely no obligation to buy anything. Here are some of the other advantages:

-- You are essentially putting a bid out to local new vehicle dealers to compete for your business. In many cases, several dealers will respond to your price quote request. Armed with your knowledge of MSRP and rebates, you can then have dealers compete on price for your car buying dollars!

-- You can fill out a free price quote for each vehicle you are cross-shopping.

-- Schedule your test drive appointments. Just think, you know longer have to suffer the indignity of walking into a dealership and either being ignored or descended upon like a piece of fresh meat.

-- The dealership will have the vehicle you are interested in ready and waiting [if they are pros, which many are nowadays, given the competition of the Internet.]

-- You will be doing 90% of the work that goes into buying a new vehicle from the convenience of your own computer -- how civilized is that!

Get your free dealer price quote today!

Current Auto Rebates -- What You Don't Know Could Cost You Thousands of Dollars

Want to see all the rebates on every make and model vehicle for sale in the United States?

Current Auto Rebates has just launched a valuable 13-page PDF report that is the first of its kind -- listing all rebates for all vehicles. What you don't know about current auto rebates could cost you thousands of dollars!

Aren't you tired of clicking through page after page on web sites to find the information you need? This report has everything you need in one convenient, easy-to-use package.

Check out CurrentAutoRebates.com and get your free PDF report today!

January 16, 2008

A Vert smart Road Trip Across America

Detroit – In an unusual long distance test the smart fortwo and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class demonstrated their top position among the most climate-friendly cars.

On a trip from Los Angeles via Chicago to the Detroit Auto Show 2008 they demonstrated outstanding fuel-saving qualities in everyday real-world conditions.

On the 4,400 kilometre route the smart fortwo mhd recorded an average consumption of just 4.8 litres per hundred kilometres.

Continue reading "A Vert smart Road Trip Across America"

January 14, 2008

smart USA Announces U.S. Dealer Network

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. -- smart USA Distributor LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc., is pleased to announce its dealership network of 74 smart dealerships across the United States.

In the U.S., 68 dealers located in 31 states have been certified by smart USA as ready for business and are expected to begin retailing vehicles in January, subject to licensing and other required approvals.

Continue reading "smart USA Announces U.S. Dealer Network"

January 13, 2008

Launch of the smart fortwo in the USA

The smart fortwo is celebrating its launch to the world’s largest automobile market in Detroit.

The shortest and most compact automobile currently in production is scheduled to roll on the streets of America this month.

The smart fortwo is the right car, at the right time for U.S. Drivers. Americans are faced with volatile fuel prices, increased urban congestion and a mindset of environmental responsibility. The smart fortwo offers a high level of comfort, agility, safety and ecology.

Continue reading "Launch of the smart fortwo in the USA"

January 9, 2008

Mercedes posts record global sales in 2007

Stuttgart – In 2007 the Mercedes-Benz Cars division increased sales of Mercedes-Benz, AMG, Maybach, and smart passenger vehicles worldwide, with sales totaling 1,285,900 vehicles (2006: 1,260,600 units). With this two percent growth, the division set a new sales record.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: “Our current models are drawing a very positive customer response. In 2007 we succeeded in laying the groundwork for sustainable, profitable growth, particularly with the market launches of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the new smart fortwo.“

Continue reading "Mercedes posts record global sales in 2007"

December 12, 2007

2008 North American Car and Truck of The Year Finalists Announced

DETROIT -- General Motors has four of the six finalists for the North American Car of the Year and the North American Truck of the Year, it was announced today.

An international group of automotive journalists voted the Cadillac CTS, the Chevrolet Malibu and the Honda Accord finalists for the 2008 North American Car of the Year.

The Buick Enclave, the Mazda CX-9 and Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid are finalists for the 2008 North American Truck of the Year.

Continue reading "2008 North American Car and Truck of The Year Finalists Announced"

December 7, 2007

Playboy Crowns the Audi R8 Hottest Car of 2008

CHICAGO -- Which cars will be turning heads on the street this year? According to Playboy's "2008 Cars of the Year," a high-performance hybrid surges past competitors, a European import squeezes to the top, and a luxury carmaker provides one of the most fuel efficient and affordable vehicles on the road.

The selected cars were chosen by an expert team of automotive writers who traveled the world and test drove every new model hitting the showroom floor this year. The vehicles were taken on the sharpest turns, most challenging curves, and the steepest hills to properly separate the superlative from the mediocre. The vehicles featured in Playboy's January issue include:

Continue reading "Playboy Crowns the Audi R8 Hottest Car of 2008"

December 5, 2007

Video: smart fortwo to Launch in USA, January 2008

NEW YORK -- The shortest, most compact automobile currently in production will soon be launched in the world's largest automobile market, when the smart fortwo debuts in the United States in January, 2008.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG introduced this latest vehicle to the US market at a press briefing in Washington, DC.

Continue reading "Video: smart fortwo to Launch in USA, January 2008"

December 4, 2007

Dieter Zetsche Presents Smart Fortwo to Representatives of U.S. Government and Business

STUTTGART, Germany and WASHINGTON -- At a traditional luncheon with prominent speakers hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, Daimler Chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche today presented the smart fortwo to representatives of U.S. businesses and government as an environmentally friendly solution for future mobility.

Starting in January, the compact model, which has already been very successful in Europe with about 850,000 units sold, will also be available in the U.S.

Continue reading "Dieter Zetsche Presents Smart Fortwo to Representatives of U.S. Government and Business"

December 1, 2007

Italian car mag confirms low consumption cost of smart fortwo cdi

On a long journey of 1,000 km the Italian car magazine “Quattroruote” measured the fuel consumption of the smart fortwo cdi and confirmed the standard consumption of 3.3 litres per 100 kilometres.

The current December issue of the magazine carries a report of the test drive. The smart travelled 1,000 kilometres from Rome to Salzburgon a single tank of fuel to see whether the stated standard consumption of just 3.3 litres per 100 kilometres could really be achieved.

Continue reading "Italian car mag confirms low consumption cost of smart fortwo cdi"

November 9, 2007

smart introduces accessory line

Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH has numerous unusual and practical ideas in store that are in tune with the special attitude to life of smart customers. As the cold season gets into gear, winter, wind and weather-resistant accessories take centre stage.

The products range from robust sports and travel bags with cult appeal to designer items that are suitable for any weather and a practical multi-functional box.

The range comprises smart bags and suitcases that suit every occasion and offer guaranteed protection from snow and rain. For example, the bright red knapsack with detachable inside pockets is a real attention-grabber.

The "analogue" watch is a further stylish accessory. It tells the time accurately and features luminous hands and a date window. The bright red fabric strap has a signal effect and provides a striking contrast to the stainless steel casing.

Continue reading "smart introduces accessory line"

Mercedes-Benz Cars sets October sales record, up 12%

In October 2007, Mercedes-Benz Cars achieved record sales of Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, and smart brand vehicles. Customer deliveries totaled 114,600 units, an increase of twelve percent on the 102,500 vehicles delivered in October 2006.

As a result, Mercedes-Benz Cars also set a sales record for the first ten months of the year, which amounted to 1,056,900 units (January - October 2006: 1,036,700). At 103,900 units, deliveries of Mercedes-Benz brand vehicles were at their highest level ever for the month of October, representing an increase of ten percent on the 94,200 units delivered in the same month last year.

Continue reading "Mercedes-Benz Cars sets October sales record, up 12%"

November 8, 2007

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October 29, 2007

smart USA driving premiere

San Francisco and Silicon Valley become “smart Valley” as the smart USA Media Test Drive event takes place in one of America’s “smartest” regions. The new smart fortwo is scheduled to roll on the streets of America in January. The shortest and most compact automobile currently in production will soon be launched in the world’s largest automobile market.

Continue reading "smart USA driving premiere"

October 26, 2007

Volvo and Volkswagen Top Certified Pre-Owned List

LAS VEGAS -- IntelliChoice has announced the winners of its ninth annual ranking of certified pre-owned (CPO) manufacturer-sponsored programs.

Overall, Volvo beat out Cadillac for the best Luxury program—one year after Cadillac ended Jaguar’s long reign in the category—while Volkswagen was recognized for the fourth straight year for best Non-Luxury program. The rankings were unveiled at the 2008 National Remarketing Conference & Used Car Expo, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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October 23, 2007

Consumer Guide Announces 2008 Best Buys

LINCOLNWOOD, Ill. -- Consumer Guide Automotive, the leading publisher of authoritative, objective new and used car reviews for 40 years, today announced the recipients of its 2008 Best Buy and Recommended Awards.

The annual list, designed to make car buying easier for consumers, represents the best overall values in 18 categories and includes a total of 87 vehicles.

The editors then use objective criteria, such as price, features, performance, accommodations, fuel economy, reliability records and resale value, to assess each vehicle. The winners are divided into two categories: The Consumer Guide Automotive "Best Buy" and "Recommended" winners.

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October 10, 2007

smart bolsters U.S. market launch with L.A. concept

Venice Beach/Los Angeles, CA. An exclusive studio building on Abbot Kinney Boulevard will be transformed into the “smart house” for four months starting October 11, 2007, serving as the springboard for the US market launch of the smart car.

smart has begun preparations in the heart of the hip Venice Beach district, setting up a temporary showroom to demonstrate to customers, journalists and VIPs that the smart fortwo is much more than just an economical, compact, and safe automobile.

Continue reading "smart bolsters U.S. market launch with L.A. concept"

September 26, 2007

'Buy American' Desire Drives Many New Shoppers to Purchase Domestic Rather Than Import Nameplates

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Despite the fact that import vehicles make up nearly 49 percent of the U.S. auto market, the country of origin still plays a crucial role in consumer choice of which make and model to purchase, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Escaped Shopper Study released today. The study provides a comprehensive evaluation of why consumers may consider one model, but ultimately purchase another.

Nearly 80 percent of new-vehicle buyers limit their consideration set to include only domestic models or only import models. Among those who cross-shop for both import and domestic models, consumers who ultimately buy a domestic frequently do so because they simply decide they do not want an import. Buyers of domestic new-vehicles also frequently decide against import brands for financial reasons, most often citing that the import didn't offer aggressive rebates or other incentives.

Continue reading "'Buy American' Desire Drives Many New Shoppers to Purchase Domestic Rather Than Import Nameplates"

September 17, 2007

Smart is hot in Canada

STUTTGART — Smart, Daimler's minicar brand, has sold 10,000 For-Twos in Canada in less than three years. The automaker originally estimated sales of about 3,000 units.

“We can thank the persuasive power of this car and its message for the tripling of our sales goal,” said Marcus Breitschwerdt, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada.

In early October 2004, DaimlerChrysler's sales and marketing subsidiary took over supervision of the nationwide network of 46 Smart dealers. Smart considers Canada a test for the United States, where the ForTwo is scheduled to be launched next spring.

Smart, which has just one model, considers new markets vital, given its low annual sales volume of less than 80,000 ForTwos.

August 29, 2007

Smart Car Drives Avalar Texas Real Estate Message

AUSTIN, Texas -- Avalar Texas Real Estate announced that the Smart Car by Mercedes will help drive its marketing message to the real estate industry in Texas. Avalar Texas Real Estate will showcase its Smart Car at the Texas Association of Realtors convention in Galveston, Texas, scheduled for September 7 - 11th.

Using the Smart Car as its marketing machine, the company's tradeshow theme will be "Get Smart, Think Smart, Join Avalar Texas Real Estate." All realtors are invited to visit the tradeshow booth #707 and see the Smart Car first hand.

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August 27, 2007

New smart fortwo BRABUS and BRABUS Xclusive boast 30% more power

A combination of sportiness and exclusiveness: The BRABUS models of the new smart fortwo are ready to hit the road.

With a reengineered 72 kW/98 bhp three cylinder turbo engine the smart fortwo BRABUS and the smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive continue to boast low fuel consumption of just 5.2 litres per 100 kilometres, yet they have 30 percent more power than the predecessor model.

CO2 emissions stand at 124 grams per kilometre. The sporty two-seater accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 155 km/h. Prices in Germany range from € 16,490 to € 22,430 (ex factory) depending on the equipment line and body type.

Continue reading "New smart fortwo BRABUS and BRABUS Xclusive boast 30% more power"

Automakers ready to move against Chinese knockoffs

German carmakers BMW and Smart plan to take legal action against Chinese copies of their models making an appearance at the upcoming IAA in Frankfurt.

Automobilwoche reported that the two carmakers are paying special attention to see if the SUV models CEO and UFO and the compact car, Noble, will be on display at the IAA. The three bear a striking resemblance to the X5 from BMW, Toyota's RAV4 and the Smart Fortwo.

"We've already taken measures against the distribution of the CEO in Europe," a BMW spokesperson told Automobilwoche. "We'll consider taking legal action should the car be shown at the IAA."

A Daimler spokesperson said the same. "We reserve the right to take legal action should the car, in fact, be shown at the IAA," a Daimler spokesperson told Automobilwoche. The German carmaker might also take general steps to protect the Smart design against the Chinese carmaker Shuanghuan, which makes the CEO.

August 25, 2007

Report: Auto Finance Providers Exploring Direct Lending Initiatives

WESTLAKE VILLAGE -- As competition in the auto finance market intensifies, many lenders are deploying full-spectrum strategies, which consists of lenders servicing both prime and sub-prime customers, to increase volume and market share and to improve service to their dealers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Dealer Financing Satisfaction Study released today.

The study finds that many prime finance providers are making the transition to the sub-prime market, with 57 percent of dealers utilizing traditionally prime lenders for sub-prime customers. Conversely, only 33 percent of dealers report using traditional sub-prime lender services for their prime customers.

Continue reading "Report: Auto Finance Providers Exploring Direct Lending Initiatives"

August 10, 2007

Report: Buick and Lexus Brands Tie for Highest Vehicle Dependability

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Buick ties with Lexus to rank highest among nameplates in vehicle dependability -- marking the first time in 12 years that another brand ties with Lexus for the highest-rank position, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Vehicle Dependability Study(SM) (VDS) released today.

The study, which measures problems experienced by original owners of 3-year-old (2004 model year) vehicles, finds that Buick and Lexus tie for the top rank position with a score of 145 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). Following in the top five rankings are Cadillac, Mercury and Honda, respectively.

Continue reading "Report: Buick and Lexus Brands Tie for Highest Vehicle Dependability"

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