Working on the theory that it uses a lot less space than any other vehicle, the ultra-compact Smart car made by Mercedes-Benz is beginning to accumulate a bunch of discounts from various services in the UK.
Two ferry boat operators operating between Great Britain and Europe are chargings owners of the two-seat car about half the standard fare on certain routes. This makes sense because the Smart uses about half to two-thirds of the room of most European vehicles.
Dermot Kelly of the Smart car division of Mercedes-Benz says "This is the first of a number of special 'mobility' contracts we are negotiating. In Europe Smart customers already get preferential rates for car parking, at some car wash washes, car rental firms, and certain hotels."
Smart is not currently sold in Canada, but the folks at Mercedes-Benz Canada would love to have it. They are currently trying to convince the people at Mercedes-Benz in the US to import it in a couple of years, since it would be impossible for the local firm to afford to import the inexpensive car without the US volumes to make it feasible.