Mercedes-Benz USA is taking over distribution of the iconic but slow selling Smart micro cars in the U.S. from Penske Automotive Group. Smart cars gives more mileage and are helpful for the Mercedes, a luxury brand, to meet more stringent gas mileage standards required by the government by 2015.

The Smart car for two is a twin seater and is 8 feet tall, 8 inches long, is one of the more fuel efficient gasoline-engined car on the road, contrasting with the mostly larger cars and SUVs in the Mercedes lines. Smart gives mileage of 33 in city and 41 on highway. Smart uses 1340 cc inline four cylinder engine and are known as Smartuki. Some of the most powerful models can speed up from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in less than 3.5 seconds. The Smart cars have the option of rising bhp, by adding nitrous Oxide they are found to have another 50 bhp.

In 2008, Penske had sold more than 45,000 Smart cars in the U.S., but sales recently had slowed down. In January, Smart USA sold just 358 of the cars manufactured in France, despite rising gasoline prices.