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smart is an intelligent pure electric car brand under Smart Automobile Co., Ltd. Founded in 1994, the brand is headquartered in Ningbo, China, with marketing centers established in both China and Germany. Its production base is located in Xi'an, China. The brand operates under a joint venture model, with Mercedes-Benz and Geely Automobile Group each holding a 50% stake. smart is positioned in the compact pure electric car market.
The smart brand was originally established as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and SWATCH. The first mass-produced model, smart fortwo two-seater microcar, was officially launched in 1998, gaining wide recognition in the European market with its unique urban commuting positioning.
However, the brand has been in a loss-making state for a long time. It is estimated that annual losses amount to 500 million to 700 million euros.
In March 2019, Geely and Daimler announced they would jointly operate the smart brand globally. In the same year, the Geely Group completed the acquisition of 50% equity of the brand.
On January 8, 2020, Smart Automobile Co., Ltd. was officially established, with registered capital of 5.4 billion RMB. The Xi'an, China production base was activated simultaneously, marking a new stage of smart's comprehensive electrification transformation.
In 2021, smart launched the D2C direct sales agency business model and released the smart #1 concept car.
In 2022, the mass-produced smart #1 obtained Euro NCAP five-star safety certification and the first EU battery carbon footprint certificate domestically.
In 2024, the 100,000th mass-produced vehicle rolled off the line, and a wholly-owned subsidiary in Australia was established.
In 2025, smart steadily deepened its global layout. Products successfully launched in 10 new overseas markets. The global retail network increased by 25% year-on-year, and the total number of global stores reached 688.
In the same year, smart completed integration with the DeepSeek R1 large model, released the smart #1 Black Gold Limited Edition, and officially announced the first plug-in hybrid model, announcing the brand officially starting the pure electric + plug-in hybrid dual technology route.
On October 17, 2025, Smart Automobile Co., Ltd. completed business registration changes. Registered capital increased from 5.75 billion RMB to approximately 6.9855 billion RMB, an increase of 21%.
In April 2026, smart announced its strategic plan at the Beijing Brand Night. In 2026, the brand's global vehicle matrix will expand from 3 models to 5. The smart #2 concept car will have its world premiere, and the first luxury hatchback smart #6 will be unveiled globally simultaneously.
smart has built a complete product matrix covering subcompact SUV, compact SUV, mid-size SUV, and future sedan market segments. Listed models include smart #1, smart #3, smart #5, and the smart #5 EHD plug-in hybrid version.
smart #1 is the first mass-produced model after smart's electrification transformation, positioned as a subcompact pure electric SUV. It is built based on the Geely SEA Architecture, adopting the design language led by the Mercedes-Benz global design team. This model is equipped with a 66kWh battery pack, CLTC range up to 570 kilometers, equipped with 800V fast charging technology, can charge to 80% power in 30 minutes, and achieves zero to 100 km/h acceleration in 5.1 seconds under permanent magnet synchronous motor drive.
smart #3 is positioned as a compact pure electric SUV, continuing the smart family design language, offering BRABUS performance version with dual-motor intelligent four-wheel drive system. smart #5 is positioned as a pure electric mid-size SUV, built based on SEA Architecture, adopting 800V high-voltage platform, providing single motor, dual motor, and BRABUS performance versions, maximum range up to 740km, supporting 4C ultra-fast charging technology.
In 2025, smart #5 launched the EHD plug-in hybrid version, equipped with smart independently developed EHD super hybrid technology, with 1.5TD EVO hybrid dedicated engine and 3DHT three-gear super hybrid dedicated transmission.
In 2026, smart product matrix will be further expanded. The highly anticipated smart #2 will have its global premiere in Europe in the second half of 2026, and will be unveiled globally at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026.
This model is built based on smart's newly independently developed dedicated electric compact architecture (ECA), adopting four-wheel four-corner layout, vehicle length only 2.79 meters, turning diameter 6.95 meters, designed specifically for urban travel scenarios.
In addition, smart's first luxury hatchback smart #6 officially started pre-sales at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, pre-sale price starting from 189,900 yuan. Vehicle length nearly 5 meters, equipped with advanced long-range super hybrid technology.
smart has grown steadily in the global market in recent years. In 2024, smart's full-year global sales reached nearly 130,000 units, year-on-year growth nearly 7%.
In 2025, smart's retail sales in China were approximately 30,800 units.
In 2025, smart's global retail network increased by 25% year-on-year, total global stores reached 688. Among them, the number of stores in the Chinese market increased to 294, with an annual increase of 43%.
In January 2026, smart brand sales were 3,768 units, an increase of 53.2% year-on-year.
In March 2026, smart brand total sales reached 4,255 units, up 10.38% year-on-year. Among them, #5 sales were 1,923 units, up 79.05% year-on-year; #1 sales 1,441 units; #3 sales 470 units; #5 PHEV sales 421 units.
As of 2026, smart's business map covers five continents, covering 39 countries and regions globally.
In terms of industry awards, smart has become the only car brand whose entire series of models has won the Red Dot Design Award so far. All models have also obtained Euro NCAP five-star safety ratings.
smart #5 won the 2026 Norway Car of the Year Award. smart #3 BRABUS won the title of Singapore 2025 Performance Pure Electric SUV, and made it into the Australia Top 25 Hot Cars of the Year list.
smart leverages the technical resources of its shareholders, Mercedes‑Benz and Geely, to build a comprehensive technology system covering platform architecture, three‑electric systems, intelligent driving, and the energy replenishment ecosystem. In terms of product design, all smart models are led by the Mercedes‑Benz global design team, adhering to the overarching design philosophy of "Passion, Purity, Surprise."
Platform: is the technical cornerstone of smart. smart's pure electric models are built on Geely's SEA architecture, which offers high modularity and scalability, capable of covering full‑size models from A‑segment to E‑segment.
In 2026, smart launched its newly self‑developed dedicated electric compact architecture (ECA), developed specifically for urban two‑seater models. The first model to use this architecture is the smart #2.
Electric Powertrain: smart continues to iterate its 800V high‑voltage platform. The smart #5 is the first model to be equipped with the 800V pure electric high‑voltage platform, supporting 4C ultra‑fast charging. It can charge from 10% to 80% in just 15 minutes, with a maximum range of up to 740 km.
In the hybrid technology field, smart released its self‑developed EHD super hybrid technology in 2025. The technology is based on the latest generation of Thunder Power Hybrid 2.0, equipped with a 1.5TD EVO hybrid‑dedicated engine (with a peak thermal efficiency of 47.26%, the highest in mass production) and a 3DHT three‑speed super hybrid dedicated transmission. It uses a 41.46 kWh LFP battery pack, achieving a CLTC pure electric range of 250 km and a total range exceeding 1,600 km.
Intelligent Driving: smart continues to advance its intelligent driving capabilities. The smart Pilot Assist 3.0 intelligent driving system uses the NVIDIA DRIVE Orin as its centralized computing platform and is the first to be equipped with LiDAR, supporting advanced intelligent driving functions.
The smart #5 is equipped with the "Doubao AI Large Model" and adopts the NVIDIA DRIVE Orin computing platform.
In 2025, smart completed integration with the DeepSeek R1 large model, further improving the smart cockpit interaction experience.
Charging Ecosystem: smart leverages its 800V fast‑charging technology in combination with a 4C ultra‑fast charging solution to achieve rapid energy replenishment. smart is also working with its shareholders to continuously improve the global charging network infrastructure.
Since its electrification transformation, smart has accelerated its globalization strategy. In 2025, smart products were successfully launched in ten new overseas markets, bringing its global business coverage to 39 countries and regions.
The global retail network grew by 25% year‑on‑year, reaching a total of 688 stores worldwide. Among them, the number of retail outlets in emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Latin America surged by 130% to 72.
In the European market, smart has established complete product portfolio delivery capabilities in 17 markets, covering all core markets.
The smart #5 SUV won the 2026 Car of the Year award in Norway.
In 2026, smart plans to further expand its global market coverage. This quarter, the brand will officially enter its 40th global market.
smart's overseas production footprint relies on its Xi'an, China production base, combined with a global supply chain system, to export China's intelligent manufacturing capability.
To strengthen its operational capability in the European market, smart Europe completed a CEO handover on March 1, 2026, with Wolfgang Ufer succeeding as the head responsible for driving the next stage of growth in the European market.
In 2026, smart has set its annual strategic theme as "Enter a New Realm." Core measures include three aspects: advancing new market development, fully upgrading the smartcare customer service system, and heavily launching two strategic brand‑new models.
In terms of product planning, the brand's global vehicle matrix will expand from three models to five models in 2026, marking smart's formal entry into a brand‑new development cycle.
The smart #2 will have its global premiere in Europe in the second half of 2026 and will officially unveil the mass‑production version at the Paris Motor Show in October. As the pure electric revival of the classic two‑seater city car, it represents the brand's response to the "small car premiumization" trend.
The smart #6, as the brand's first luxury hatchback, has already begun pre‑sales at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show and is planned to be officially launched and delivered within the year.
In terms of channel development, smart will further deepen its global retail network, focusing on expanding emerging markets while upgrading its service system with AI technology to improve customer service efficiency. smart will continue to rely on Mercedes‑Benz's global design heritage and Geely Group's leading new energy intelligent manufacturing strength, with "Mercedes design, safety first, and driving pleasure" as its core DNA, promoting high‑quality development in both domestic and international markets.
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