The smart fortwo’s one-year anniversary in March 2008 was marked with the 100,000th sale of the company’s second-generation car. This international company offers this two-seat car in 37 countries including the United States and most nations in western Europe. There should be an increase in smart’s figures over the next year as American and European communities legalize these vehicles for local travel.
The figures for the smart fortwo portend strong growth for the company as it expands into new markets. There were 1,734 fortwos sold in the United States by March 2008 with hundreds of municipalities allowing these vehicles for use in non-highway driving. Italian and German drivers favored the smart fortwo more than other drivers by purchasing nearly two-thirds of the vehicles over the last year.
The fortwo’s numbers were accompanied by news that smart is developing several other vehicles for its global fleet. The company’s diesel car is due out in the next few years and runs on 71.3 miles per gallon. The mhd is a hybrid two-seater that has been available in limited numbers since October 2007. This hybrid car uses start-up technology to reduce emissions and fuel use while drivers are idling at stoplights. The fuel-efficiency figures offered by smart indicate that the mhd uses 8 percent less fuel overall and 20 percent less fuel in city driving.
German drivers and auto publications have been particularly effusive in their praise of smart’s fortwo. An environmental certificated called the German Eco-Trend Award was issued to smart based on the popularity and eco-friendly operation of the fortwo. The German auto club ADAC and several auto publications have found the fortwo to be the most economical vehicle among the nation’s myriad auto offerings. This honor was bestowed on the company because the fortwo runs on 24.5 euro cents per kilometer.
The trend toward smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles like the smart fortwo has taken hold of European markets far more than American markets. The snowballing effect of large communities accepting smart cars as legitimate automobiles does not relate to the consumer psychology involved in automotive sales. American drivers need to bridge the divide between fuel efficiency and vehicle size before smart cars become mainstays in parking lots and driveways nationwide.
