Hayek came up with the concept of offering low-priced colorful Swatch timepieces at the beginning of the 80s, using vivid marketing to promote his products that registered a huge success. His dreams included using the same strategy for an automobile, and that is how the smart was born.
The inventor saw the smart as a vehicle that was ultra-compact, as it only had two accommodate two people and one or two items. The car was supposed to use interchangeable body films that allowed users to change the exterior color. Being an engineer, he also chose a top drivetrain solution, opting for a diesel-electric solution that would allow the lightweight vehicle to offer incredible mileage.
But, as many inventors do, Hayek needed to team-up with a mainstream automotive producer that would transform his concept into a production vehicle. And this is where the story took a big turn. The inventor was supposed to reach an agreement with VW, but turned to Mercedes when that failed. Eventually, he left the business altogether, as the German automaker refused to implement his diesel-electric solution. By the way, diesel-electric hybrids still haven’t made it to the market.
Now that Hayek is gone, both the smart and Swatch brands, which are very popular brands, are here as a tribute of his creativity and courage to turn dreams into reality.
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