Jump to content
Create New...
  • Drew Dowdell
    Drew Dowdell

    SMART Could Be the Next Dead Brand

      ...Slow selling brand has lost Daimler billions of Euros

    SMART may be the next brand heading for that great parking lot in the sky.  German newspaper Handelsblatt has reported that the brand's fate may be decided by the end of this year.  CEO Dieter Zetsche is leaving in May to be succeeded by Olin Kallenius.  Mr. Kallenius has no strong love for the brand, established in 1998 and is said to be more than willing to kill the brand if finances warrant it. 

    Since birth, SMART has lost billions of euros for Daimler, though the company does not break out financials by brand. 

    Back in 2017, SMART revamped its lineup into an EV only brand, further denting sales while increasing costs.  The current Smart FourTwo and FourFour are a joint effort with automaker Renault who markets the vehicle as the Renault Twingo.  Renault is reportedly reluctant to renew that cooperation for the next generation of the car.  SMART's sales have fallen to around 128,000 units a year as of 2018.

    Edited by Drew Dowdell

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    SMART Cars were a joke, premium fuel required for subpar fuel economy. Does not matter that they built a cage that could stay together when hitting a cement wall at 70mph, the human was still hamburger.

    Yea, time for Smart to Die and go to the history books in the Sky. Same place Fiat needs to go and Alfa should have remained.

    • Thanks 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I forget who said it, I believe I read it here, but I'm going to quote it without a name.

     

    "There is absolutely nothing redeemable about that car."

    It's sad when the only press I see for it is from a local *celebrity mechanic. Every now and then I see one on the road and I ask myself who would buy this thing and what were they thinking.  I like to get a look of the person driving to understand what demographic is paying money for such a thing.

     

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 hour ago, Scout said:

    I forget who said it, I believe I read it here, but I'm going to quote it without a name.

     

    "There is absolutely nothing redeemable about that car."

    It's sad when the only press I see for it is from a local *celebrity mechanic. Every now and then I see one on the road and I ask myself who would buy this thing and what were they thinking.  I like to get a look of the person driving to understand what demographic is paying money for such a thing.

    In Seattle for some weird reason, woman in their 40's usually Vegan are the most common buyers. The Vegan group here at work all own them. It is a very interesting group of people.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    3 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    They were popular in Europe for a while. 

    And apparently even their love affair with them didn’t last. They absolutely had no shot in the U.S. and with good reason.

    • Like 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    5 hours ago, dfelt said:

    In Seattle for some weird reason, woman in their 40's usually Vegan are the most common buyers. The Vegan group here at work all own them. It is a very interesting group of people.

    "How do you know someone is vegan?  Don't worry, they'll ***** tell you"

    • Haha 3
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Quote

    Back in 2017, SMART revamped its lineup into an EV only brand, further denting sales while increasing costs.

    Well.... that's certainly unusual.

    Edited by balthazar
    • Haha 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 hour ago, ocnblu said:

    Final nail was their changeover to all-EV.  TAKE A HINT, BARRA!

    Smart cars were never a big seller here in the first place.  No need for Mary Barra to take a hint since she will not turn ALL GM vehicles into EVs.  There is still room for ICE cars for the next decade or so.

    • Haha 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 hour ago, ocnblu said:

    Final nail was their changeover to all-EV.  TAKE A HINT, BARRA!

    Sorry but all of their cars came with those very nails.It had jack to do with any EV plans and it is pure trolling and foolish to think that it was when their sales (and their cars) have been garbage since day one.

    • Thanks 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Sorry but all of their cars came with those very nails.It had jack to do with any EV plans and it is pure trolling and foolish to think that it was when their sales (and their cars) have been garbage since day one.

    Take a look at sales data and then report back.  Immediately.  Around here, still see a good few first-gen Smarts.  Hardly ever see the "bigger, better" second gen.  And ZILCH Smart electrics.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    19 hours ago, dfelt said:

    That is so true of them here. They are more than willing to ******* tell you! :P 

    if you google that there are tons of threads and memes that make fun of the vegans because they do that.

    14 hours ago, ocnblu said:

    Sorry but all of their cars came with those very nails.It had jack to do with any EV plans and it is pure trolling and foolish to think that it was when their sales (and their cars) have been garbage since day one.

    Take a look at sales data and then report back.  Immediately.  Around here, still see a good few first-gen Smarts.  Hardly ever see the "bigger, better" second gen.  And ZILCH Smart electrics.

    when i sold the cars a few years back, we got a smart on trade and i took it for a spin.  The whole automanual trans and lawn mower engine was hugely primitive.  Obviously a funky little rig, but no f-cking way in hell i would want to be in a head on with a suburban in one of those things.

    Smart should refocus their marketing and try to appeal to those who want neighborhood cars or cars for things like rental property managers to drive around on site from building to building.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    9 hours ago, regfootball said:

    if you google that there are tons of threads and memes that make fun of the vegans because they do that.

    when i sold the cars a few years back, we got a smart on trade and i took it for a spin.  The whole automanual trans and lawn mower engine was hugely primitive.  Obviously a funky little rig, but no f-cking way in hell i would want to be in a head on with a suburban in one of those things.

    Smart should refocus their marketing and try to appeal to those who want neighborhood cars or cars for things like rental property managers to drive around on site from building to building.

    Are they smart enough for that?

    • Haha 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • If you are in a hotel and there is a (laptop) safe in the room, you'd probably use it for your laptop if leaving the room and/or hotel for a while. If you are in a hotel without one, what do you do (with your laptop)?  I often have them pass on room service ... that's for sure.  It would be beneficial for some of you to weigh in.
    • Random thoughts: Saw many German imports sporting medium enamel grey exteriors with darker red leather interiors in affluent desert communities and this combination looks nice. Was following a recent Dodge Challenger on the freeway tonight and I love that rear light bar, so I think it's the best looking of the 3 pony car rehashes. Saw an immaculate black 2007 or 2008 Cadillac DTS on the freeway tonight and they still look good, even timeless. I happened onto a dog video last night and it had "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan in it.  I read about him and he once ran a "Dog Psychology Center."  Ha. He does not have a degree in psychology, animal husbandry, or anything.  Then, L.A. douchebag groupthink shines through.  The list of celebs who used him (one refers or copies another celeb) is lengthy.  Remember when celebs were snapping up Priuses, almost as if to make a statement? About 40% of my music collection consists of African-American artists. I  notice this as I surf Bluetooth. Some of my friends joke that I was Black in a previous life.  Come on.  Some white artists - even hard rockers - are more starched than many Black artists ... smooth, earthy, sassy, passionate, gravelly, and/or powerful ... that's what I like in music and they put out some great musical tracks.   Happy Friday.
    • I so want to travel to Korea and just food binge on street food. Korean TRADITIONAL Market Street Food Tour in Seoul | Watch
    • This is way too funny, I have to say the Circus next year is going to be amazing to watch. ‘President Musk’ talk infuriates Trump officials amid spending bill negotiations   I like cheesy pasta, and this makes a dish easy to make. The only think I would do differently is dice up the garlic and onions more, so they blend into the pasta better and use a variety of cheeses, like Mozzarella and Smokey Gouda plus the parmesan. The pasta recipe we all need in our life | Watch
    • I love BBQing, but with my Knee recovery, I am not up to being outside in my BBQ area and cooking ribs the right way slow and steady for a fall off the bone rib. I have been looking online at other options and yes, I love Dr. Pepper way more than Coke or Pepsi, in fact I cannot think of the last time I had a coke or pepsi.  Dr. Pepper slow cooked ribs, then finished in the oven. Seems like a good Idea to try. What do you guys think? Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper BBQ Ribs - Only 3 Ingredients!
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search