Richard / E320

Can anyone explain why Daimler-Chrysler paid out approximately $7 million to settle a lawsuit filed by ZAP, in Sonoma County, California? ZAP was working on importing and certifying SMART vehicles but never had any deal with Daimler-Chrysler. They were importing them greymarket through a secondary supplier...

benzmodz

They probably had caryard agreements which ZAP are entitled to enforce through anti-trust laws thus depriving DC exclusive control over the sales channel.

They may also have been the registered owners of various websites and trademark.

If DC wishes to enter the market as the Smart supplier then they must release all other companies from being involved. They don't have the right to push someone out simply because they are bigger. It is also ethical to discharge someone who invested large amounts of money creating a market for these cars.

Fortunately for the global market not all companies act as Microsoft does. Anyone seen the price of Vista .... it will give you a nosebleed.

scbysnx

They actually did have a deal with the star twins to import them even nationally. I don't know what the deal was with D-C deciding to import for themselves right after making the deal with ZAP but if I were ZAP I'd feel pretty gyped too.