Smart stopped due to strike

Strike at Smart Factory
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Translation of an article from German daily newspaper "Hamburger Abendblatt" November 17th 1999 p.24

Suppliers cause stop of production
HA Hambach - Exactly on the day the first models with diesel engine should roll off the production line at Smart producer Micro Compact Car (MCC) the production of the small car in the French factory Hambach had to be stopped due to missing supply parts. The 1200 employees of the works were sent into short-time work. Responsible would be an ongoing strike at three suppliers. Besides the car door manufacturer Magna Doors the staff of the car paint company Surtema and the chassis manufacturer Magna Chassis went on strike. On Friday the employee representatives repeatedly demanded up to 20 per cent higher wages.
But with a little luck the damage at MCC caused by the production stop will stay within limits. So the employees of two of the three suppliers already yesterday afternoon shall have reached an agreement with their management over the resumption of their work. With the third company a decision is expected today.
The first Smart models with diesel-engine at first shall come onto market in December in Germany. From the new model and a planned Smart four-seater MCC hopes for better sale prospects.
Despite a price cut this spring the small car didn`t get going and brought DaimlerChrysler severe losses. MCC-chief Andreas Renschler said last week he calculates with a loss of DM 100 million ((USD 52.6 million assumed USD 1 = DM 1.90)) this year. According to information from DaimlerChrysler the sale has significantly increased in the second half of this year.
The targeted aim of 80.000 sales internationally this year could be reached with that. According to DaimlerChrysler in Germany 30.000 Smart were sold until the end of October. The small car is on the market since September last year.
End of article - translation by MBEP webmaster
As usual remarks in ((blabla)) but (blabla) original text. Bold printing same as in the original.

More info about the Smart:
^{1999:
Smart Roadster Study at `99 Frankfurt IAA}
^{1999:
Smart Four-Seater for Year 2000}
^{1999:
The Smart - An Expensive Flop ?}
^{1997:
MB stops Ultra Mini Car MCC Smart
- Another Debacle}
...and be sure not to miss the "alternative" Smart site!

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