‘Orphan’ Smart cars pile up as buyers back out

Tiny Smart cars are stacking up at some of the 75 U.S. Smart dealers because people who ordered them are refusing to take delivery.

Cheaper fuel prices blunt the appeal of Smart’s 36 mile-per-gallon rating, and the recession has scared off some who ordered.


The $99 deposit a buyer must put down to order a car is refundable, so it’s easy to say “no.”

The development is fouling up Smart’s sales system. It relies on Internet ordering and no costly dealer inventories.

USA Today