13 Jan 09 15:06
Smart USA will bring its all-electric Smart Fortwo ED to North America and has decided to put the car into full production.
Smart has been testing a small number of Fortwo EDs in cities including London, but has now made the decision - a no-brainer given the current enthusiasm for electric vehicles - to make it more widely available.
The launch is scheduled for 2012, and it will have new-generation lithium-ion batteries, promising an improved range and better performance than that of the cars testing at the moment.
A small number of current-generation models will be made available on a lease programme in the US next year, however.
Smart sold almost 25,000 cars in the USA last year, and its sales rose 24% in December despite sharp decline in the North American car market.
It already has 74 American retail outlets - operated by the Penske Automotive Group, rather than DaimlerChrysler or Mercedes-Benz - and plans to open more this year.
The Fortwo's fuel economy, ease of parking and sub-$12,000 (£8000) starting price is proving appealing to urban commuters, and Smart expects more buyers to downsize this year.
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