If I were designing a Smart car for the American market I would create a model designed specifically for people of size. The conventional wisdom is that people of size drive vehicles of size like SUVs, trucks, big sedans, etc. The edge thinking would be a tiny car for people of size. I think the desire for a maneuverable, fuel efficient, easy to park vehicle is universal. If Smart would design a model with one big strong seat and safety and restraint systems designed to accommodate a driver weighing up to 400lbs I think they would have a hit in this increasingly obese nation.

Additionally, the vehicle can have special features that appeal to people of size.

-High powered heating and cooling systems. Large people need lots of air conditioning.
-Face it, large people often eat fast food in their cars. Include large cup holders, food-warming compartment to keep take-out food hot, folding tray table for dashboard dining, and trash collection system to accommodate fast food bags and containers.
-Offer a trade-in option for the seats that will encourage dieters to trade-in their super sized seats for more conventional seats.

The entire Smart car enterprise is a marketing challenge and would need great care and PR to get size=safety obsessed Americans to accept a tiny vehicle but clearly there are opportunities here.

Related:
Live Tiny: The Next Big Thing in Cars?
Parking Space Comes With A Free Car

Comments

[steven streight aka vaspers the grate]

Brilliant. Bravo. I love this kind of thingking, you are the Think King.

:^)

I think you'll like my post on "Any Idiot Can Innovate" at Streight Site blog.

May I leave the post URL?

I'll line break it so it's not a hot clickable link. You'll have to type it in. It is:

http://www.streightsite.blogspot.com/
2005/02/any-idiot-can-innovate.html

[Todd]

Peter, You made me laugh out loud -- thanks for a great start to my day!