Americans Can't Get Smart

These nifty little Smart cars were all over Europe when I was there in 2000. They are tiny -- not much bigger than the picture to the left. OK, they're a little bigger but they're still smaller than any passenger vehicle you've ever seen on an American road.

The other Americans with whom I worked while in Germany used to joke with me that they wanted to buy two of these cars and bring them back to the United States -- in their luggage.

Well it looks like they may have to resort to smuggling if they want to drive a Smart car on an American road. At least for the next two years. Apparently Mercedes-Benz (the manufacturer of these tiny, extremely fuel efficient cars) does not have immediate plans to bring the cars to the United States. Their market research tells them that size conscious Americans just won't go for something this small. No matter how much jack they might save at the pump.

It is curious though that foreign auto makers don't think they can make money with these types of fuel-efficient vehicles. Just this past weekend I was reading that the waiting list for the hybrid Toyota Prius is two years in some parts of the country with premiums of $5000 over list. Surely American SUV owners are on the verge of clamoring for more intelligent transportation options?

With gas prices being what they are -- and likely to stay in an elevated state -- Americans can't get Smart soon enough.