Smart update

DaimlerChrylser AG's plastic-bodied Smart car is making an early appearance in North America, with the automaker launching sales Aug. 29 in Mexico with dealerships lined up in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Veracruz. The company's two-door versions debut first, followed by the four-door Forfour model when it launches worldwide next year. ``A huge, multimillion metropolis like Mexico City is an attractive market for the compact, agile and environmentally compatible small cars from Smart,'' Philipp Schiemer, vice president marketing and sales, noted in an Aug. 29 announcement. ``We are also gaining our first experience on the American continent, which we can use to prepare for entering the U.S. market.''