Mercedes-Benz to show up Smart at Beijing auto show

Shanghai, April 14 (Gasgoo.com) Daimler AG is going to showcase its Smart at the oncoming Beijing Auto Show and the brand is expected to hit the Chinese market this year, Sina.com said today.

With a body length of 2.5 meters and width of 1.5 meters, the Smart car features high safety and the roomy interior. But the price of $20,000 is considered a bit higher in China given its A-segment size.

In fact, Rainer Schmueckle, chief operating officer of Daimler AG, already hinted that Daimler began to see China as a potential new market for its Smart vehicles almost one year ago.

Smart has lost money consistently since it was formed in 1998. The automaker is seeking new opportunities outside Europe to boost sales.

The U.S launch of the Smart model in late 2007 is reported to be a big success. Daimler AG Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche said the orders (for Smart) are "going far beyond the production capacity we have available for next year."

Separately, Daimler AG sold 318,700 vehicles in the first quarter of this year, of which Smart shows the biggest increase in sales with 12,100 vehicles sold.