ForTwo for all?
ZAP has sent out a press release informing folks that that “a petition for import eligibility has been granted by the United States Department of Transportation for the 2005 Model Year "Smart Car ForTwo Coupe & Cabriolet." This will eventually pave the way for ZAP to start selling new(er) Smart (yes, I know that smart doesn’t capitalize its name, but for clarity’s sake, I do) cars in the US market. To date ZAP has two refurbished Smarts: one to a buyer in Reno and the other via Ebay to a buyer in Phoenix. ZAP still has a problem in that DaimlerChrysler won’t sell ZAP new Smarts directly so ZAP has to use “third party” distributors—does that mean used?
Another problem is that ZAP still hasn’t received certification to sell in states that have adopted California emission standards (eight states total at last count)—preventing many eco minded/big city folks from getting a Smart. The EPA and ZAP have also been squabbling over the mileage that these little beauties actually get.
No news has been heard from the other would be Smart importer, J.K. Technologies in Baltimore. The last response (5/10/05) to an e-mail sent asking about their status was: “no news right now with USEPA. Everybody in the country is still working hard but no progress as of yet.” Smart USA whose marketing division was gutted and integrated with MBSUA is also being mum on the prospect of selling the ForTwo here in the USA, but the latest from Dieter Zetsche is that it just might happen.
All in all, ZAP and its partners have gotten farther than anybody else, but they've been quiet as of late. What remains to be seen is how quickly they can ramp up deliveries and get 50 state legal or will they move their marketing push to the OBVIO!?
ZAP has sent out a press release informing folks that that “a petition for import eligibility has been granted by the United States Department of Transportation for the 2005 Model Year "Smart Car ForTwo Coupe & Cabriolet." This will eventually pave the way for ZAP to start selling new(er) Smart (yes, I know that smart doesn’t capitalize its name, but for clarity’s sake, I do) cars in the US market. To date ZAP has two refurbished Smarts: one to a buyer in Reno and the other via Ebay to a buyer in Phoenix. ZAP still has a problem in that DaimlerChrysler won’t sell ZAP new Smarts directly so ZAP has to use “third party” distributors—does that mean used?
Another problem is that ZAP still hasn’t received certification to sell in states that have adopted California emission standards (eight states total at last count)—preventing many eco minded/big city folks from getting a Smart. The EPA and ZAP have also been squabbling over the mileage that these little beauties actually get.
No news has been heard from the other would be Smart importer, J.K. Technologies in Baltimore. The last response (5/10/05) to an e-mail sent asking about their status was: “no news right now with USEPA. Everybody in the country is still working hard but no progress as of yet.” Smart USA whose marketing division was gutted and integrated with MBSUA is also being mum on the prospect of selling the ForTwo here in the USA, but the latest from Dieter Zetsche is that it just might happen.
All in all, ZAP and its partners have gotten farther than anybody else, but they've been quiet as of late. What remains to be seen is how quickly they can ramp up deliveries and get 50 state legal or will they move their marketing push to the OBVIO!?
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