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20,000 pre-ordered Smart ForTwo
By Yoann Besnard on 13 July 2007 | 
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Could the U.S. market save Smart? According to Detroit News, the answer to this question could be a yes. Despite a price of around £5,900/€8,700/$12,000 for the entry model, more than 20,000 reservations have been made in total across the U.S. for the upcoming city car.
The future buyers have each put down a deposit of $99 on the car, which is set to create the city car segment in the U.S. If it proves to be successful, the Smart will have revolutionised the American market. It could potentially open up the market for Japanese car makers to start shipping over their K-cars. Imagine a Los Angeles filled with hundreds of thousands of Suzuki Wagon R!
To avoid any embarrassment for Smart's parent company Mercedes, the compact cars will not be sold through traditional Mercedes car dealers. Instead, the Smart ForTwo will be sold mainly through a network of dealers under Roger Penske's United Auto Group.
