About the Smart car company

The Company History

The idea behind the car was a vehicle easy to park and short enough to allow "nose in the car as possible. The length of 250 centimeters would be equal to the width of a normal car, then two or three Smarts to park in the same space as one normal car.

The project, started by Swiss watch manufacturer Swatch, was nicknamed "Swatch Mobile. The name Smart is an acronym for Swatch Mercedes ART. Intended to use innovative features (like a hybrid engine) and affordable for young people, the Smart is designed similar design to the Citroen 2CV in the 1940s.

Swatch CEO Nicolas Hayek sought to introduce the car manufacturer to produce his Swatch car. After General Motors reviewed and rejected the project as potentially unprofitable, Hayek found a partner in Volkswagen. Due to the weak financial position in Volkswagen own time, plans never reached a final stage so Swatch with Daimler-Benz. The purpose built factory complex Smart Ville in Ham Bach, France, was created in 1994 as a joint venture of Daimler-Benz and Swatch.

An Australian dealer web site provides the following summary of the first products of the Web:

"How it all began: In 1993, Mercedes-Benz has launched a feasibility study on a subcompact car. In cooperation with the Swatch Group, the Micro Compact Car AG was founded in 1994. Smart City-Coupe celebrated its first World at the IAA Frankfurt (Germany) in 1997 and one year has successfully launched in nine European countries currently, the Smart is available in 37 countries around the world and has sold more than 750,000 times.

The final design of the car proved to be far from Hayek's expectations: the engine of eco-technology was beyond the objective of Mercedes. The joint venture experienced heavy losses and Swatch pulled disputes.

In 2005, DaimlerChrysler decided not planning to buy a 50% share in the Dutch Ned Car used to manufacture the Forfour city. Daimler Chrysler also developing the Formore and decided to stop production of the roadster.

In 2006, after declining sales Smart GmbH was liquidated and its operations are included in the Mercedes-Benz Car Group. Smart GmbH lost nearly 4 billion euros 2003-2006