$1 Billion Smart Car Order Placed
ZAP Issues One Billion Dollar Purchase Order to DaimlerChrysler Group for Smart Cars
ZAP reported that it has received over $1 billion in advance purchase orders for the Smart Car Americanized by ZAP from U.S. auto dealers, and continues to receive more as a result of its marketing efforts.
..however..
ZAP has not agreed to accept all Smart Car purchase orders at this time. ZAP is currently in discussions with a number of potential partners to meet the strong American demand for the Smart Car. [...] Once ZAP finalizes the required strategic partnerships and has approval from all government agencies, it will determine its delivery schedule for Smart cars in the United States.
We’re still a long ways off from seeing lots of these cars on the road.
Unfortunately, the US smart website is poorly designed, requiring Flash, making you click pointless, often “dancing” buttons to get to its very limited content. It does not even list the miles per gallon figures. Given how small and light they are, and that they only have a 60HP engine, the cars themselves should be far more efficient than this travesty of a web page.
It is yet to be seen if Americans, with their unfortunate desire for large, wasteful vehicles, will buy in. With it starting in the same price range as other cheap imports (think Kia, Hyundai), 8,900€ (around $11.2K, and based on pricing in France), it at least has a chance. I’m sure they wouldn’t be happy with that comparison, though. :)
Until Smart Cars are smarter than the drivers, i don’t want `em.
Buying that car and living in a sea of SUVs, you’re as good as dead.
Yeah, I’m interested to see American SUV vs. Smart crash tests. It’s supposed to have some fancy safety features but who knows exactly what that’ll translate to, especially when they “Americanize” it.