Comprehensive Renewal and a Vision of the Future smart Brand Enters a New Era of Global Operations
- 2022 was the first year of smart’s operations following the comprehensive renewal of the brand, product and business model. In 2023, smart is entering a new era of global operations.
- From September 23 to December 31, 2022, 9,212 units of the all-new smart #1 were delivered in China, with 4,606 units delivered in December.
- Further deepening its commitment to the “China-Europe dual-home“ development strategy, smart is focused on these two major NEV markets while actively exploring Southeast Asia and other high-potential markets.
- In 2023, smart will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the brand and re-launch the world renowned, iconic "smart times" event together with customers.
(January 6, 2023, Hangzhou) Following the comprehensive renewal of its brand, product and business model, smart, the premium all-electric automobile and technology brand is preparing for a new era of global operations in 2023. Since the first batch of deliveries officially started on September 23, within 100 days, a total of 9,212 units of the all-new smart #1 were delivered in China, with 4,606 units delivered in December. As the first member of the new generation smart all-electric product portfolio, the all-new smart #1 has won the favor of customers and fans worldwide, laying a solid foundation for further development.
Mr. Tong Xiangbei, Global CEO of smart Automobile said: “In 2022, our young global team has worked together to achieve the goal of comprehensive brand, product, and business model renewal. With 2023 now upon us, smart is entering a new era of global operations. We will continue to uphold our forward-looking ‘China-Europe dual-home’ development strategy, and through continuous innovation, inject new vitality into the sustainable development of the company. Meanwhile, we will continue to collaborate with partners to improve delivery efficiency.”
Tong Xiangbei, Global CEO of smart Automobile
Mandy Zhang, Vice President of Global Sales, Marketing and After-Sales of smart Automobile said: “Facing a highly competitive global NEV market and the increasing demands of customers, there is no shortcut to success. It is more important than ever to focus on brand communication, full lifecycle service, product development and quality, while listening to the voice of our customers and ensuring the fine details are correct. We will continue to focus on our services, and bringing the smart brand feel to our customers.”
Mandy Zhang, Vice President of Global Sales, Marketing and After-Sales of smart Automobile
A Comprehensive Renewal, Enriching the smart Brand
In 2022, smart refined its brand values: “New Premiumness, Future Tech, Avant-garde Co-creation”; a number of events specially developed together with customers and partners for the Chinese market, such as the smart #1 Pulse launch “72-Hour Heartbeat Trip” live stream and the first ever smart PERFORMANCE DAY, exemplify the collaborative, premium, more high-tech and more avant-garde renewed smart brand.
The first ever smart PERFORMANCE DAY Grand Opening at Xiamen International Circuit
From the World Premiere on April 8 and the Asia Launch on April 25 to the official start of sales in China on June 6, the all-new smart #1 has gained new fans all over the world. From 2022 to 2024, smart will launch an all-new model every year, entering whole new market segments, accelerating the establishment of the new generation all-electric product portfolio.
smart is accelerating production of the new generation all-electric product portfolio
In terms of the expansion of the D2C agent-based business network, smart has completed the establishment of 150 independent points of sales and service throughout China in half a year, covering more than 40 first-tier, new first-tier, and second-tier cities. This solid foundation of brand, product and business model will continue to enrich the value of the smart brand going forward.
From 0 to 150 independent points of sales and service in just half a year
Accelerating Strategic Global Development
Based on smart’s forward-looking “China-Europe dual-home" global development strategy, outside of China, smart is working closely together with long-term strategic partners in Europe and has established 300 points of sales and service across 13 European markets. Meanwhile, smart is actively exploring the NEV market in Southeast Asia, officially signing a general distribution agreement with PROTON covering Malaysia and Thailand in August last year.
smart and PROTON officially signed a general distribution agreement for Malaysia and Thailand
While accelerating global operations, smart balances the impact of the company on the environment, society, and corporate governance (ESG), integrating future-oriented sustainable development planning into the entire process, from product development to business operations. In November last year, smart released its first sustainability report following the brand’s comprehensive renewal, demonstrating its performance and achievements in the field of sustainable development, taking a responsible role in decarbonisation, and committing to providing carbon neutral electric vehicles to the market by 2045.
smart takes its commitment to decarbonisation seriously, committing to providing carbon neutral electric vehicles to the market by 2045
In October last year, smart received more than RMB 8 billion in credit via a syndicate of seven banks. According to a carefully constructed financial plan, the funds will be allocated to further boost production efficiency, shorten delivery cycles, accelerate future product development and further expand the business network. In addition, smart has always maintained the vision of exploring the best solutions for future urban mobility, and has established smart Robotics Technology Co., Ltd., which aims at self-developing high-level full-stack autonomous driving software, and is committed to continuously improving the technological strength of the smart brand through ongoing R&D and innovation.
Staying “Customer-Centric” to Deliver the smart Brand Feel
Customers are the brand’s most valuable assets. In the future, smart will consider the user experience to be the core of its business, and through advanced online digital technology and high-quality services, will empower an avant-garde lifestyle and deliver the smart brand feel to customers. 2023 is also the 25th anniversary of the smart brand, and smart will celebrate the milestone with the re-launch of the world renowned, iconic “smart times” event.
smart operates under a truly "customer-centric" business philosophy
Based on strong brand appeal, smart will take its comprehensive renewal as the cornerstone of brand development, meeting the changes in the automotive industry through continuous innovation. Looking ahead, smart will continue to be rooted in meeting the needs of customers and join hands with more excellent partners to design a smarter future together.
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About smart Automobile
Since the birth of the brand in the 90s, smart has always maintained the vision of exploring the best solutions for future urban mobility. In 2019, smart Automobile Co., Ltd. was officially established. With a forward-looking "China-Europe dual-home" global development strategy, smart is committed to developing into a world-leading, premium, all-electric automobile and technology brand.
smart has recently completed a comprehensive renewal of its brand, products, and business model. New generation all-electric product development is led by the smart R&D team, with the Mercedes-Benz global design team responsible for vehicle design, and the product portfolio now expanded into more market segments. The renewed brand’s first all-new all-electric SUV, the smart #1, which premiered worldwide in April 2022, is now on sale in China, with official deliveries from September. To further enhance its global operations, smart has established marketing and sales centres across China and Europe.