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