| According to the observers in the auto industry, buffs | | | | too long for a Smart and those who are willing to wait |
| want extremes. This is why automakers are producing | | | | long enough." |
| cars that spell contradictions. And more of them will be | | | | Schembri told Hartford Courant Smart USA is |
| introduced to the industry in the coming years. | | | | launching an "It Pays to Wait" communications |
| Though automakers are obligated to comply with the | | | | campaign to help placate customers who are eager to |
| government standards, it is still undeniable that the | | | | get the tiny, two-seat car that can get up to 40 miles |
| consumers' dictates are more controlling. But | | | | per gallon in highway cruising and easily can be parked |
| consumers have different, sometimes contradictory | | | | in the most congested urban environment. |
| desires. To clear confusion, automakers are offering a | | | | But Jensen and Schembri are worried the waiting will |
| wide variety of vehicles. | | | | push prospective customers into the rivals' |
| Smart, a micro-car, was introduced to the market to | | | | showrooms. To stress, Toyota Motor Corp., Honda |
| satisfy the cravings for small autos. The car is "in no | | | | Motor Co., and Nissan Motor Co. are selling |
| way would have been offered in the United States 10 | | | | fuel-efficient little cars in the United States. |
| years ago," said Anders Sundt Jensen, global | | | | The maker of Pontiac parts, meanwhile, has a |
| marketing director for Smart, a subsidiary of | | | | different setback. General Motors Corp.'s Pontiac |
| Mercedes-Benz. "It would have been impossible to | | | | division, known for its exciting offers, has to produce |
| bring that car here then. How could we possibly have | | | | hot cars to sustain customers' appetite. That means |
| done that? You had the world's cheapest gasoline." | | | | the automaker has to come up with more captivating |
| The introduction of Smart micro-car is bolstered by the | | | | auto designs, more oomph, more fuel-efficient, and |
| peaking gasoline prices. The need to shift to small cars | | | | affordable cars. |
| made Americans think Smart. | | | | Pontiac, like other automakers, has to satisfy two |
| "The little car, with an initial U.S. allotment of about | | | | gods, the government and the consumers. To |
| 30,000, is sold out in the United States through 2008, | | | | displease the government means to weighty fines. To |
| said David Schembri, president of Smart USA. "We're | | | | displease the consumers, on the other hand, means |
| walking a fine line between customers who are waiting | | | | lousy sales and negative publicity. |