If I recall correctly, United Auto Group, which will sell the Smart Car, in the USA, is Roger Penske's International and Domestic Auto Dealerships Company.
I wonder if Roger Penske's involvement had anything to do with getting DCX, to sell it in the USA?
Here is a good article from my old home town of Santa Rosa, California. Seems a company there was trying to bring these in a grey market imports and had confirmed orders in the thousands. Looks like Chrysler balked at this and took the idea themselves to import.