Can Daimler's Smart Car Survive?

Great article by my favorite auto writer Jerry Flint (over 50 years covering the car business). Specifically highlight how smart (official brand guidelines spells it lowercase) has watched it sales crater in the US over the past three years. The car's original intent (modeled after a Swatch watch concept) long went by the wayside. Other than Rome and Paris (where parking and roads wide enough for about two horses abreast) the car has yet to catch on. A new one is in the works but could be 3 years away.

What's The Learning? Smart gets a lot of publicity and has a loyal following but to the 77 nationwide dealers circling the drain that's not enough. Sales are still needed. Also, cars that are going to be distributed in small numbers need a high traffic environment that sells more than the cars themselves to mitigate risk.