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Mercedes-Benz Taking Over Smart Distribution In U.S.

 
2 299 views Feb 14, 2011
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First Smart ForTwo Electric Drive with Roger Penske and Smart USA president Jill Lajdziak, Jan 2011

HI-RES GALLERY: First Smart ForTwo Electric Drive with Roger Penske and Smart USA president Jill Lajdziak, Jan 2011


Penske Automotive Group has, until now, been the exclusive distributor of the Smart brand (consisting entirely of the Fortwo minicar and its new electric variant) in the U.S. But it won't be for much longer, as Mercedes-Benz is taking over operation of the brand's sales by the end of the second quarter of this year.

The move is premised on the integration into Mercedes-Benz USA's sales network, to grow the brand and reduce overhead. Bringing the small cars under the Mercedes umbrella will also benefit the marque's federal fuel economy ratings, according to Roger Penske, head of the PAG, and that's likely the primary motivator for the move.

In a report from AutoWeek, Mercedes-Benz USA chief Ernst Lieb says the previously-planned four-door smart based on a Renault-Nissan platform will be shelved, since there's no need for a second model if Smart is made part of Mercedes' U.S. operations. The second model was only key to the brand while it remained as a standalone.

[Mercedes-Benz, AutoWeek]



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Comments (2)

  1. By jimbeaux Posted: 2/14/2011 5:11pm PST

    This is probably the best news Roger Penske has heard this year. Wasn't that long ago that Smart was leaving the U.S. market. As if the Benz dealers didn't have enough grief from Maybach disaster and the rise of Audi and the high end Korean cars
     
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  2. By Kheran Posted: 2/15/2011 4:30pm PST

    At no time was smart leaving the US market any more than Ford would be goin out of business. Get your facts inorder.
     
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