A sketch of the Nissan-built hatchback that Smart USA will start selling late next year.

Penske Automotive Group subsidiary Smart USA said Wednesday that it will begin selling a subcompact car in the United States in late 2011, the first vehicle for the U.S. market under an expanded Daimler AG and Nissan Motor Co. partnership.

Penske, in a filing with U.S. regulators, said development, engineering and tooling costs to bring the four-door hatchback to Smart’s U.S. dealers will cost $25 million. About $1.5 million of that will be in the just-completed third quarter’s expenses. Get the full story »