Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Europe By The Numbers
  • Car Cutaways
  • Resource Center
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: All or nothing: Why circular business models require a holistic approach
    • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
    • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • PUBLICIS SAPIENT: The power of post-purchase: How automakers can maximize customer lifetime value
    • TOYOTA EUROPE: Toyota Motor Europe's next-gen C-HR: sensory innovations revealed by Vehicle UX leader
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • SENSEAUTO: Driving the future of mobility with SenseAuto: The AGI power behind the wheel
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive News Europe
May 30, 2014 01:00 AM

Daimler boss bullish on new ForFour

Renault-built 4-seat minicar will be a 'true Smart,' Zetsche says

Luca Ciferri
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    The first-generation Smart ForFour (shown) was a weak seller during its 3-year production run. The ForFour was built on the same platform as the Mitsubishi Colt as part of a joint venture with the Japanese automaker at its plant in the Netherlands.

    Editor's note: An earlier headline and lead sentence on this story gave inaccurate information about Smart's finances. The brand has been profitable since 2010 and has remained profitable.

    BRESCIA, Italy -- Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche believes the all-new Smart ForFour minicar will be commercially successful and should help the brand further strengthen its balance sheet.

    “The new ForFour is an extended ForTwo and has all the characteristics of the new ForTwo. These include a wider interior relative to the length of the car, a rear-mounted engine and several very smart ideas of benefit to customers. So the new vehicle has all the genes of a Smart,” Zetsche said after a media event here.

    Daimler includes Smart in its Mercedes-Benz Cars division and does not disclose separate financial data for its minicar brand. In a separate interview with Automotive News Europe, Annette Winkler, who heads the Smart brand, said: "at least since 2010, Smart has contributed positively to the results of Mercedes-Benz Cars."

    Smart has remained profitable since then, Daimler officials confirmed.

    1997 debut

    Launched in 1997, the Smart ForTwo quickly created a niche for itself as the only two-seat microcar, commanding premium prices in the process.

    The original ForFour was not as successful. Launched in 2004, the ForFour competed in the ultra-competitive subcompact segment. Production of the ForFour, which was only available in Europe, ceased in June 2006 with just 133,000 sold.

    Zetsche said Daimler benefits if China is "interested in our fate."

    The new ForFour has been developed with Renault and shares many parts with the French automaker’s new third-generation Twingo. The ForFour and Twingo will both be made on the same platform at Renault's plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.

    Despite the extensive sharing with Renault, Zetsche claims the ForFour "will be a true Smart offered at a competitive price" and that it represents a unique selling proposition "which you cannot get from competitors.”

    The Daimler CEO admitted that the first-generation ForFour lacked proper Smart genes. "Apart for some styling cues, the two vehicles had nothing in common,” Zetsche said. In fact, the ForFour's closest sibling was the 2003 Mitsubishi Colt, with which it shared most of its components, including chassis and suspension, and it was built at the Japanese automakers NedCar plant in Born, Netherlands.

    Zetsche says he is confident that this time production of the ForFour is a feasible plan that will be executed properly. Declining to give specific sales target, he would only say that Smart had not set over-ambitious targets for the new ForFour.

    "We have a feasible business case with our new generation” Smart vehicles, Zetsche said.

    Smart will unveil the second-generation ForFour together with third-generation ForTwo this summer. Sales of the two vehicles will start in Europe this autumn. Since 1998, Smart has sold more than 1.55 million ForTwos, although last year’s global sales of the five-year old second-generation vehicle fell by 7 percent to 98,000 units.

    The Daimler CEO continues to see big opportunities for Smart in urban metropolitan areas. Had Daimler not invented Smart 20 years ago, it would have to do so today, he said. But Daimler still does not expect Smart to become a big profit earner within the group. Smart "will never be at the high end of the profitability range within our portfolio, but we think it’s playing an increasingly important role as far as [fleet average] carbon dioxide emission are concerned,” Zetsche said.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    EU trade chief to tell China that retaliation is a bad idea
    Recommended for You
    EU trade chief to tell China that retaliation is a bad idea
    EU trade chief to tell China that retaliation is a bad idea
    Joerg Lamparter Mercedes 2023 Eurostar
    2023 Eurostar winner Joerg Lamparter of Mercedes-Benz
    Mark Zhou Nio 2023 Eurostar
    2023 Eurostar winner Mark Zhou of Nio
    Main Image Cars
    Sponsored Content: Driving the future of mobility with SenseAuto: The AGI Power Behind the Wheels
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Europe By The Numbers
    • Car Cutaways
    • Resource Center
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: All or nothing: Why circular business models require a holistic approach
        • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
        • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • PUBLICIS SAPIENT: The power of post-purchase: How automakers can maximize customer lifetime value
        • TOYOTA EUROPE: Toyota Motor Europe's next-gen C-HR: sensory innovations revealed by Vehicle UX leader
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
        • SENSEAUTO: Driving the future of mobility with SenseAuto: The AGI power behind the wheel
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us