Will SMART be launched in India?

GeekSrik · 17th April 2006, 14:58

Hey all

This is my first post to the group. I was at Hamburg and notice many SMART cars from Daimler. especially the two door versions. Would any of you have any idea if this will be launced in India? I guess, even if it is a small car 2 door version will be 5+ lacs!

Any comments?

vinu99@gmail.co · 17th April 2006, 15:40

Possibility of the launch of Smart is doubtful, when compared to the pricing in Europe! Its expensive!!!

ghostrider4385 · 17th April 2006, 15:53

We already have a smart look alike here! Anybody remember the little mobile ashtray called Reva?!

Seeing how popular (or unpopular) it is in here, do you really think people are going to warm up to the smart?! Its size and the decision most families take of going in for a car big enough for the whole family would surely make it bomb here. And yes, also its pricetag that really SMARTs!!!

Godspeed.

Alok.

khanak · 17th April 2006, 16:33

if launched it would cater to a very niche market...... the car is pretty spacious on the inside though the fact that it holds only two passengers and looks kinda like a rikshaw wont really help it here

greatmana2000 · 17th April 2006, 17:26

smart is got a very efficient engine and the specs are too good .I hope the car is brought here without all the frills in the european models

Beeman · 18th April 2006, 12:55

wish it were ...good solution to india's crowded roads............but i think it's an expensive car for its size........

islero · 18th April 2006, 14:47

Its far too expensive, too costly to run and ultimately pointless to launch it here.

sbasak · 18th April 2006, 15:17

Smart is too expensive. It is unlikely to be launched in India.
However, our autos are even smarter! Don't you agree?

salilpawar1 · 18th April 2006, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekSrik

Hey all

This is my first post to the group. I was at Hamburg and notice many SMART cars from Daimler. especially the two door versions. Would any of you have any idea if this will be launced in India? I guess, even if it is a small car 2 door version will be 5+ lacs!

Any comments?

as far as i know the smart was imported in india by a new delhi dealer (who i guess is bmw's official dealer now) and at that it costed a whopping 11 LAKH!!!!

ghostrider4385 · 18th April 2006, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by salilpawar1

as far as i know the smart was imported in india by a new delhi dealer (who i guess is bmw's official dealer now) and at that it costed a whopping 11 LAKH!!!!

WOW! Guess this car is only for the SMART's cult followers. IMO, no individual person in his right state of mind would by it, unless he's got too much money to blow!

Godspeed.

Alok.

mtnrajdeep · 19th April 2006, 13:43

DCIL has no plans to launch the smart in india in the recent future as they cant price it competetively.

speedzak · 19th April 2006, 14:41

Smart will be very expensive if it's launched here.
And the maintenance will be on the higher side too.

Where will DCIL find buyers in India other than us BHPians? Remember the Zen 2 doors? It was very hard to sell those odd 300 cars!

I think it's a good car to be sold as specific import! DCIL should launch it as a 'brought against order' import. So the highly rich Ladies can drive it to their high heeled parties.

agspins · 19th April 2006, 15:17

well it will be way exp for our market. our erratic traffic can turn it down to shambles.

sujaylahiri · 20th April 2006, 09:34

BMW should launch the MINI Cooper before the Smart car is launched. The MINI is a class apart.

nitinbhag · 20th April 2006, 11:17

I was with a Director of DCIL yesterday and asked him about this.. DCIL has ABSOLUTELY NO plans of getting the Smart to India in the foreseeable future..

17th April 2006, 14:58	#1
GeekSrik Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,281 Thanked: 22 Times View My Garage	Will SMART be launched in India? Hey all This is my first post to the group. I was at Hamburg and notice many SMART cars from Daimler. especially the two door versions. Would any of you have any idea if this will be launced in India? I guess, even if it is a small car 2 door version will be 5+ lacs! Any comments?
	() Thanks

17th April 2006, 15:40	#2
vinu99@gmail.co BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 109 Thanked: 39 Times	Possibility of the launch of Smart is doubtful, when compared to the pricing in Europe! Its expensive!!!
	() Thanks

17th April 2006, 15:53	#3
ghostrider4385 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 389 Thanked: 12 Times	We already have a smart look alike here! Anybody remember the little mobile ashtray called Reva?! Seeing how popular (or unpopular) it is in here, do you really think people are going to warm up to the smart?! Its size and the decision most families take of going in for a car big enough for the whole family would surely make it bomb here. And yes, also its pricetag that really SMARTs!!! Godspeed. Alok.
	() Thanks

17th April 2006, 16:33	#4
khanak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai/Toronto Posts: 2,799 Thanked: 268 Times View My Garage	if launched it would cater to a very niche market...... the car is pretty spacious on the inside though the fact that it holds only two passengers and looks kinda like a rikshaw wont really help it here
	() Thanks

17th April 2006, 17:26	#5
greatmana2000 BANNED Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: chennai Posts: 703 Thanked: 58 Times	smart is got a very efficient engine and the specs are too good .I hope the car is brought here without all the frills in the european models
	() Thanks

18th April 2006, 12:55	#6
Beeman BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Treasure island Posts: 335 Thanked: 2 Times	wish it were ...good solution to india's crowded roads............but i think it's an expensive car for its size........
	() Thanks

18th April 2006, 14:47	#7
islero Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,574 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	Its far too expensive, too costly to run and ultimately pointless to launch it here.
	() Thanks

18th April 2006, 15:17	#8
sbasak BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CCU-LTN Posts: 608 Thanked: 14 Times	Smart is too expensive. It is unlikely to be launched in India. However, our autos are even smarter! Don't you agree?
	() Thanks

19th April 2006, 13:43	#11
mtnrajdeep BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 904 Thanked: 338 Times View My Garage	DCIL has no plans to launch the smart in india in the recent future as they cant price it competetively.
	() Thanks

19th April 2006, 14:41	#12
speedzak BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: India Posts: 4,347 Thanked: 27 Times	Smart will be very expensive if it's launched here. And the maintenance will be on the higher side too. Where will DCIL find buyers in India other than us BHPians? Remember the Zen 2 doors? It was very hard to sell those odd 300 cars! I think it's a good car to be sold as specific import! DCIL should launch it as a 'brought against order' import. So the highly rich Ladies can drive it to their high heeled parties.
	() Thanks

19th April 2006, 15:17	#13
agspins Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: MH-31 Posts: 1,653 Thanked: 508 Times View My Garage	well it will be way exp for our market. our erratic traffic can turn it down to shambles.
	() Thanks

20th April 2006, 09:34	#14
sujaylahiri BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North America Posts: 960 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	BMW should launch the MINI Cooper before the Smart car is launched. The MINI is a class apart.
	() Thanks

20th April 2006, 11:17	#15
nitinbhag BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 262 Thanked: 2 Times	I was with a Director of DCIL yesterday and asked him about this.. DCIL has ABSOLUTELY NO plans of getting the Smart to India in the foreseeable future..
	() Thanks