Smart to US. This Year! | Green Energy News

April 25, 2004 – Vol.9 No.5

SMART TO U.S. THIS YEAR!

Thanks to the hard work of a small Baltimore, Maryland company, drivers in the U.S. will soon be able to buy brand new DaimlerChrysler smart cars in a matter of months, albeit in very small numbers. (That’s small s in the smart car brand name.)

With U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval expected within a month, J.K. Technologies plans to begin selling smart ForTwo coupes and cabrios by this summer.

J.K., which specializes in modifying imported vehicles to meet U.S. laws, has been developing modifications for smart cars for nearly four years and has already won safety approval by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration by crash testing four of the vehicles at a government-approved facility.

Formal introduction of the smart brand by DaimlerChrysler won’t be until 2006; even then however, current plans are to initially sell a small SUV that is now in development, not the popular 2-door coupe. (This editor thinks they’re wavering on that decision. It’s just a hunch however.)

Run, not walk, to your phone. There’s already a waiting list of 200. J.K. thinks it will sell at least 1000 per year to start and has plans to open a showroom in the Baltimore area soon. Reserve your smart car by calling J.K. Technologies at 410-366-6332. Visit smart at http://www.smart.com/ .