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Daimler Recasts Smart in N. America as EV-Only Brand
Daimler AG is dropping all piston-powered versions of its slow-selling Smart ForTwo city car in North America this summer and will offer only all-electric coupe and cabrio versions of the tiny two-seater, Automotive News reports.
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Daimler AG is dropping all piston-powered versions of its slow-selling Smart ForTwo city car in North America this summer and will offer only all-electric coupe and cabrio versions of the tiny two-seater, Automotive News reports.
The changeover will coincide with the mid-year debut of the fourth-generation ForTwo electric. U.S. demand for the gasoline-powered ForTwo, which peaked at 10,500 units in 2014, slumped to 6,200 units last year.
Whether an electric ForTwo will fare any better in North America is unclear. Daimler notes that demand for the little car has been hurt by low fuel prices—a factor that analysts say also reduces the appeal of EVs.
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