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smart USA Appoints Dealer in Hawaii


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BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich.--smart USA Distributor LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc., , today appointed a smart dealer to serve the Hawaiian islands, expanding smart USA's retail footprint into its 37th state. The dealership, to be named smart center Honolulu, will open later this month and be managed by the Hawaii Automotive Retailing Group.

"Entering Hawaii is a significant milestone for the smart brand," said Jill Lajdziak, president, smart USA. "The smart fortwo's small size, agility and great fuel efficiency make it the perfect vehicle for the Hawaiian islands."

smart USA selected Hawaii Automotive Retailing Group to represent the brand in Hawaii after a thorough evaluation process to ensure it will offer customers a high-quality sales and service experience. Hawaii Automotive Retailing Group is owned and operated by Inder Dosanjh and managing partner Ernest Guajardo. "We are very excited to offer this amazing vehicle to Hawaii's consumers," said Inder Dosanjh. "We believe that, in this economy, the consumers of Hawaii will benefit tremendously from this economical and quality vehicle."

This is the third new smart center to open this year and the second dealership outside the U.S. mainland.

smart USA is introducing the smart fortwo electric drive to the United States this week as an extension of the smart brand's eco-heritage with urban mobility and environmental conservation. Hawaii is a growing alternative fuel vehicle state, and smart USA's opening of a retail location provides opportunity to bring the smart fortwo electric drive into the market.

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 an estimated 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 40 other countries, and more than one million smart fortwos have been sold since 1998. The smart fortwo is available in five trim levels ranging in price from $11,990** to $20,990**.

*U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; www.fueleconomy.gov

**Excludes tax, title, registration, destination charge, options and other dealer fees.

ABOUT PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Penske Automotive Group, Inc., headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, operates 324 retail automotive franchises, representing 40 different brands and 25 collision repair centers. Penske Automotive, which sells new and previously owned vehicles, finance and insurance products and replacement parts, and offers maintenance and repair services on all brands it represents, has 172 franchises in 17 states and Puerto Rico and 152 franchises located outside the United States, primarily in the United Kingdom.

Penske Automotive, through its wholly-owned subsidiary smart USA Distributor LLC, is the exclusive distributor of the smart fortwo vehicle and related parts in the United States. smart USA supports over 75 smart retail centers in the United States and Puerto Rico. Penske Automotive is a member of the Fortune 500 and Russell 1000 and has approximately 14,100 employees. smart and fortwo are registered trademarks of Daimler AG.

For additional information, visit www.smartusa.com or www.penskeautomotive.com