smart USA Responds to Consumer Interest for “cash for clunker” $99/month* Financing Offer

smart USA announced today the launch of the “smart USA Advance Program”. Under the terms of this program, smart USA will advance to dealers the applicable credit under the government-funded Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) when an eligible vehicle is traded-in with the purchase of a smart fortwo.

“Based on the incredible consumer interest to our industry-leading, $99 per month special financing offer, we felt the next logical step was to allow consumers to begin taking advantage of the CARS program immediately,” said Dave Schembri, President, smart USA.

Previously, smart USA announced to consumers a $99 per month financing option, just after the government-funded CARS program was passed into law. The $99 per month offer is not a lease; rather it is an affordable way for consumers to purchase a smart fortwo. Under the offer, eligible customers will pay $99 per month for 35 months with a lump sum due at the end of this period. Consumers will own their smart fortwo, benefit from its low cost of ownership, and have the option of using the residual value of the vehicle toward the final lump sum payment.

Eligible smart fortwo buyers with a trade-in meeting the applicable CARS program requirements are expected to receive the $4,500 maximum credit allowed under the CARS program as the smart fortwo has a combined fuel economy rating of 36 mpg.

smart USA has set aside a limited number of vehicles for immediate delivery in conjunction with this program. Interested consumers can learn more about the smart USA $99 per month* offer and can locate their local smart center by visiting www.smartusa.com, or by calling the smart1 customer care center at 1-800-smartusa.

ABOUT the smart fortwo and smart USA

smart USA Distributor LLC, headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan., is the exclusive distributor of the smart fortwo in the United States and Puerto Rico and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc. The smart fortwo is a brand of and is manufactured by Daimler AG. This technologically advanced vehicle achieves 41 mpg on the highway and is an ultra-low emissions vehicle, as certified by the State of California Air Resources Board. The vehicle is 8.8 feet long, 5.1 feet tall and 5.1 feet wide and comes equipped with many functional and safety features found in most luxury models. smart is currently sold in 36 other countries, and more than one million smart fortwos have been sold since 1998.