smart now an Official Global Partner of Live Earth

True to its philosophy, smart is supporting the Live Earth concerts and “Save Our Selves – SOS” campaign against global warming launched by Founder Kevin Wall and Partner former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.

DaimlerChrysler is, with smart, the world’s only automotive manufacturer serving as an official partner of the Live Earth concerts on 7 July 2007. smart is providing the official shuttle service for all artists and other celebrities participating in Live Earth.

“With the smart fortwo, DaimlerChrysler has set new standards in urban mobility and low CO2emissions in inner cities without making any sacrifices in terms of functionality, comfort or driving pleasure,” said Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management DaimlerChrysler and Head of Mercedes Car Group.

“This vehicle combines like no other a modern lifestyle and individual mobility with environmental protection. We are therefore happy that the smart — which boasts the lowest CO2 emissions of any vehicle on the market — will support the Live Earth concerts and the SOS campaign.”

The smart fortwo diesel is the world champion in low CO2 emissions, releasing only 88 grams of CO2 per kilometre driven. It is also the world’s only mass production vehicle that actually consumes only three litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. “The smart fortwo offers an unconventional solution to problems associated with urban mobility today,” said Anders Sundt Jensen, Vice President Marketing and Sales at smart.

“And we need to have such solutions in all areas of life if we’re going to face up to the dangers of climate change. Our goal with the smart brand is to encourage people to live responsibly, question conventional views, and remain open to new, forward-looking solutions.”

Kevin Wall welcomed smart as an official global partner of his initiative: “I’m pleased that we’ve got a strong partner in smart, which has already taken major steps forward in the battle to stop global warming.

“Together, we can demonstrate to billions of people that there are technologies on the road today with low CO2 emissions, which is an important contribution to achieving global climate protection goals.”

“Live Earth will unite people from across all continents to spur action against the climate crisis from individuals, corporations and governments,” Al Gore said. “Live Earth will spread our call for action to address the climate crisis to millions of Germans, Europeans and people worldwide.”

The objective of the Live Earth concerts is to mobilise more than two billion people to play an active role in climate protection. The nine concerts will offer a total of 24 hours of live music at venues in Sydney, Tokyo, Shanghai, Johannesburg, Istanbul, Hamburg, London, Rio de Janeiro and New York. They will be broadcast in more than 120 countries on TV, the radio and the Internet.

The events will feature performances by internationally renowned rock and pop stars including The Police, Madonna, Genesis, Bon Jovi, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sheryl Crow.

“I’m happy to be part of an event for this exceptionally important cause and I hope our contribution not only by taking part but also by acting as green as possible will influence others,” said singer Katie Melua at today’s press conference in Stuttgart. Melua will perform at the German Live Earth concert in Hamburg.

Live Earth is a project of the SOS campaign, which aims to motivate people around the world to “Answer the Call” through solutions-based short films, PSAs, books, and interactive web experience, and through the Live Earth concerts. Live Earth marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign led by the Alliance for Climate Protection and other international nongovernmental organisations to drive individuals, corporations and governments to make immediate and lasting changes to solve the climate crisis.

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore is the Chair of the Alliance for Climate Protection and Partner of Live Earth.

The smart fortwo has won over nearly 800,000 customers in 36 countries since it was first launched in October 1998. As a DaimlerChrysler brand, smart benefits from the parent company’s engineering expertise and many years of experience in the automotive industry.

The new smart fortwo goes on sale in the UK in September and will become available in the U.S. for the first time in 2008.