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News of July 17, 2002

Micro Compact Car smart GmbH: Sales of the City-Coupé and Cabrio rise by more than six per cent

smart cabrio

Photo: smart

Renningen - The sales figures for the smart city-coupé and cabrio have defied the general market trend by continuing to rise in the first half of 2002. Following a sales volume of 58,751 vehicles from January up to and including June 2001, a total of 62,450 City-Coupés and Cabrios were sold in the first six months of this year, representing an increase of 6.3 per cent in comparison to the previous year.

The largest markets continue to be Germany, where just under 21,000 cars were sold, and Italy, with sales of more than 17,700 cars. According to Philipp Schiemer, Marketing & Sales Director at MCC smart "The highest growth rates were achieved in Great Britain and Japan, to which 4,415 vehicles (previous year: 2,911) and 3,279 vehicles (previous year: 2,431) were delivered respectively. As a new market added last year, Portugal, for example, is also showing a very pleasing development, especially in view of the fact that the vehicle signalled the launch of the smart brand on this market".

Philipp Schiemer goes on to explain that the creative and committed work of the marketing partners at local level has led to this trend which runs counter to that on the market. "Customers are also increasingly viewing the smart city-coupé and cabrio as an attractive alternative in ecological and economical terms," Philipp Schiemer explains.

The smart k accounts for a major proportion of the sales in Japan, and 2,128 smart k cars were delivered in the first half of the year. MCC smart is the only foreign manufacturer to import such a vehicle into Japan.

The smart k complies with the requirements for so-called lightweight vehicles in Japan (Japanese: kei-jidousha), making it substantially less expensive than a conventional vehicle with regard to insurance and tax. Furthermore, in some cases the smart k is exempted from the usual requirement in Japanese towns and cities to provide proof of a parking space.

MCC smart responded to its customers' wishes at the beginning of the year with a variety of measures, including the introduction of new colours, a new body design and a larger tank for cars with petrol engines. Some weeks ago, MCC smart launched the smart crossblade model on 17 markets throughout the world, and also the 1st edition as the first product of the smart-Brabus joint venture.

(July 15, 2002)

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