Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche says that he expects U.S. demand for the upcoming Smart ForTwo to exceed supply. More than 30,000 U.S. customers have put down deposits on the Smart city car, but Daimler has yet to announce a U.S. sales target for the car.
Zetsche also revealed that the company is currently searching for a U.S. city to partner with to develop an all-electric smart car. The automaker currently has a similar deal with London.
A diesel-powered Smart will also be launched in the U.S., but Zetsche failed to give a time frame for launch.
When the Smart brand is launched in the United States at the beginning of next year, it is expected that the company will have 50 dealerships. By the end of the first quarter 2008, that number will grow to 65 and to 74 by year’s end.
Zetsche said that he expects the Smart brand to be profitable in 2008.
