Smart Launches Electric #2 City Car in China at 112,999 Yuan
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Smart launched the Smart #2 Couture Edition in China for 112,999 yuan ($16,790). The release revives its signature two-seater city car format as an all-electric model.
The joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely Auto capped the initial Chinese run at 999 numbered units. That matches a separate 999-unit allocation earmarked for European buyers.
Deliveries for immediate Chinese orders begin before year-end. Early ordering opens across Europe following the car’s global debut at the Paris Motor Show. European buyers face a pre-order entry price of 19,990 euros ($22,400). Chinese buyers will see pricing for standard Premium variants in November.
Hardware and Architecture
Built on Geely’s Electric Compact Architecture, the vehicle uses a platform engineered specifically for ultra-compact urban runabouts. Mercedes-Benz’s global design team handled the styling. They retained the proportions of the original ForTwo while adding LED lighting, flush surfaces and a capsule-patterned grille.
A 35.8-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery pack powers the vehicle, using cells supplied by CATL. It delivers a China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle range of 410 kilometres. European testing targets a combined Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure range of 290 kilometres.
Power comes from a single rear-mounted electric motor driving the rear axle. It produces 60 kilowatts of power and 130 Newton-metres of torque. The chassis pairs MacPherson strut front suspension with a five-link independent rear setup, delivering a tight turning radius of 3.35 metres. European models support 65-kilowatt direct-current fast charging, taking the battery from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in 20 minutes.
“A 35.8-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery pack powers the vehicle, using cells supplied by CATL.”
Cabin Layout and Dimensions
Dimensionally, the vehicle measures between 2,751 and 2,764 millimetres in length, 1,669 millimetres in width and 1,555 millimetres in height, riding on an 1,875-millimetre wheelbase. The exterior pairs matte white paint with a gold roof, gold grille accents and 16-inch alloy wheels. Staggered tyres measure 185/50 at the front and 205/45 at the rear.
Inside, the cabin features an S-shaped dashboard, bench-style seating, turbine air vents and an infotainment display running the Flyme Link operating system. The car includes Level 2 driver assistance and remote automated parking. At the rear, the split tailgate retains a folding lower section that supports up to 120 kilograms when parked.
Urban EV Market Strategy
Smart’s return to the two-seater segment tests whether premium urban minicars can command retail margins in a domestic Chinese market crowded with budget micro-EVs. Geely and Mercedes previously repositioned Smart into mainstream compact crossovers with the #1 and #3 to chase broader sales volume. Bringing back the two-seater at nearly 113,000 yuan requires convincing city drivers to pay a substantial premium over mass-market urban runabouts that sell for half that amount.
Production handled by Geely’s Zhejiang Haoqing Automobile Manufacturing gives the joint venture a low manufacturing cost base for export shipments to Europe. European urban centres tightly regulate vehicle emissions and parking footprints. That creates clearer commercial demand for micro-footprint electric vehicles than China’s wider highway networks require.
Production History and Next Steps
The original petrol-powered Smart ForTwo sold more than two million units globally after its 1998 debut under Daimler ownership. This revival follows an August regulatory filing by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which confirmed technical specifications ahead of production clearance.
Domestic pricing for the mass-volume Smart #2 Premium variant arrives in November, followed by local market rollouts and delivery schedules across European dealer networks.
Questions & Answers
Q.When can Chinese customers expect to receive their Smart #2 Couture Edition if they order immediately?
When can Chinese customers expect to receive their Smart #2 Couture Edition if they order immediately?
Deliveries for immediate Chinese orders of the Smart #2 Couture Edition are scheduled to begin before the year-end. This applies to the initial run of 999 numbered units launched in China.
Q.What kind of battery does the Smart #2 use, and who supplies the cells?
What kind of battery does the Smart #2 use, and who supplies the cells?
The Smart #2 is powered by a 35.8-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery pack. The cells for this battery are supplied by CATL, providing the vehicle's electrical power.
Q.What is the expected range of the Smart #2 in Europe, based on the testing procedures mentioned?
What is the expected range of the Smart #2 in Europe, based on the testing procedures mentioned?
European testing targets a combined Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) range of 290 kilometres for the Smart #2. This is distinct from the range quoted for the Chinese market.
Q.Why is the joint venture reintroducing the two-seater Smart model in China?
Why is the joint venture reintroducing the two-seater Smart model in China?
The reintroduction tests whether premium urban minicars can achieve strong retail margins in China's competitive market. It aims to convince city drivers to pay a premium over cheaper micro-EVs, despite the previous focus on larger compact crossovers.
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