I find it interesting we had only slightly greater than 24 hours to do the survey. Perhaps EM is at a crossroads and must make a difficult decision.
The Smart car started out with an AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) which is (of course) where a computer is operating a clutch and manual transmission for us. It produces the traditional shifting feel of manual transmissions, which the buying public did not like. Therefore Smart changed to a traditional automatic transmission, which is more expensive.
Perhaps EM is trying to decide if they should stick with the $600 AMT they originally planned, or switch to one of various traditional feel transmissions which cost $1000, $1200, or $1500 more. Hence the survey. (Perhaps the CVT is one of these choices. CVTs are used in US cars. The AMT is not.)
The AMT was a big flop with the Smart and EM may be trying to avoid it in advance.
They general public does not know the difference between AMT and traditional transmissions. EM may have avoiding explaining the differences in these transmissions in the email because it would only be confusing to the general public. (Our group is more technically minded than the general public.)
Of course, this is an idea and only speculation (which is fun).