U.S. Firm Asks for Smart Cars, Pronto

[Dover]

AFP


May 25, 2005— A U.S. firm that has licensed the technology used to produced the super-compact Smart Car said Tuesday it had received more than $1 billion worth of orders for the quirky mini-car.

California-based Zero Air Pollution (ZAP) said orders were flooding in as the peculiarly European car made by DaimlerChrysler made its entrance onto the American market, long accustomed to large vehicles but now smarting from the fast-rising price of gas.

The firm said it had placed an order for $1 billion worth of the economical Smart Cars with the DaimlerChrysler unit smart GmbH and was waiting to see if the German-based firm will be able to fulfill the order. ..cont'd

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