Recharged and Redefined: The Story of smart
Since its market launch in 1998, smart has consistently revolutionized urban mobility, setting trends with distinctive designs and state-of-the art technology.
In 2019, the brand marked a pivotal moment by becoming the first automotive company to transition fully from internal-combustion engines to an all-electric product line-up. This bold step coincided with the founding of the joint venture between Mercedes-Benz AG and Geely Automobile Co., Ltd., and resulted in the reinvention of the smart brand with a new business model and a new product portfolio while keeping the same focus on innovation, customer dedication and value-driven attitude.
No more compromise: smart takes you out of the city and into the world
The launch of the all-electric smart #1 in 2022 underlined the brand’s new direction. With this spacious yet compact, and premium SUV, smart has redefined electric mobility, combining intelligent and convenient mobility solutions with style and comfort. Not only has smart grown bigger and more mature, it has also become more diverse with a continuously expanding product range. Today it is clear: a smart can no longer be reduced to its dimensions. smart can take many forms. Yet you can still sense its original DNA. The success of the next generation of all-electric smart vehicles is proof of the brand's enduring appeal and underlines smart's relevance in the rapidly evolving electric mobility landscape. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, smart remains a “zeitgeist seismograph”, addressing multiple lifestyles and customers, constantly adapting to customer needs and expanding into new markets.
From a revolutionary idea to a cultural sensation
The smart story is one of bold innovation and a vision to revolutionize urban mobility. It began in 1972 when Daimler-Benz conceptualized a compact city car to address growing traffic congestion and pollution. A milestone for smart came with the NAFA concept – a highly efficient “short-distance vehicle” with a small footprint, but it awaited advances in safety technology.
In 1997, the quirky smart brand made its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) and captured the imagination with its fresh approach to city driving. Its mantra was to rethink urban mobility with a focus on fun, efficiency and style. The following year, production of the first smart fortwo began in Hambach, France.
Always ahead of its time
Over the years, smart has become synonymous with pioneering mobility solutions. The launch of a fully electric test fleet in London in 2007 demonstrated the brand’s early commitment to emission-free mobility, which ultimately led to the mass production of the smart fortwo EV in 2011. Beyond its vehicles, smart has also championed innovations in mobility solutions, becoming an integral part of carsharing services such as car2go and its successor, ShareNow.
Every model as a statement of unique car design
smart’s journey began with the smart City-Coupé in 1998, a trailblazer for compact urban cars. With its minimal footprint and maximum interior space, it set the tone for smart’s design principle: compact on the outside, spacious on the inside. The introduction of the smart electric drive in 2008 marked another milestone, making smart a pioneer in sustainable mobility. With the all-electric smart EQ family (2017-2024), which underlines smart’s commitment to emission-free mobility, the brand has taken a further step in this direction. The unconventional spirit of smart has been reflected in bold and innovative models that pushed boundaries, from minimalist designs to sporty and family-friendly concepts. These vehicles paved the way for today’s generation of smart, combining functionality, fun, and forward-thinking design.
True to the core principles
From 2022, the smart product portfolio takes on the challenge of shaping today’s individual mobility with future-oriented solutions. This means delivering state-of-the-art technology in a thoughtful manner, prioritizing an efficient, safe, and sustainable EV experience. The new product generations combine premium quality with iconic astethics, striking a perfect balance between style and utility. This has also been recognized by international design juries: In 2023 and 2024, smart received the Red Dot Award and the iF Design Award for smart #1 and smart #3.
From 1998 to the present, every single smart model has been a celebration of creativity and technology. The brand’s core principles – ease of use, maximum interior space and forward-thinking design – are brought together by smart's design philosophy “Love, Pure, Unexpected”. With this legacy and a vision for sustainability, smart continues to shape a new era of future mobility.
Remark on imagery: The illustrations show some discontinued predecessor models from Mercedes Benz AG.
Pioneering electric mobility
With its growing portfolio of purely electric vehicles, smart is a pioneer in the automotive industry. On top, the new smart generation redefines individual mobility with every new model by ensuring driving fun, safety, and the well-being of all passengers. More specifically,
- the smart #5 sets new standards in charging technology. With an 800V system and super-fast 4C charging capability, the mid-size SUV provides an impressively fast charge. This ensures that drivers spend less time charging and more time on the road.
- driving a smart is always about fun and performance. With impressive acceleration, as exemplified by the BRABUS lines of all models, smart ensures that driving pleasure remains at the heart of the EV experience.
- smart continuously improves its vehicles through regular over-the-air (OTA) updates, directly incorporating customer feedback into new features and functionalities. This ensures that every smart driver benefits from the latest advances of technological development for improved safety, performance and convenience.
Being a first mover in pure electric mobility also means taking responsibility for people and the environment. This is why smart pursues a dual-home strategy in China and Europe, which bundles core competencies in both regions and drives smart's success story: the brand has already expanded to more than 30 countries worldwide, leveraging the advanced R&D and green production facilities in China, which were awarded the internationally recognized ISO 14001 environmental management system certification in 2023. While the development and production takes place in Geely's global engineering network, the exterior and interior design is lead by Mercedes-Benz Design.
This quest for a balance of ‘human-centric tech and sustainability’ guarantees a responsible yet emotional electric driving experience that enriches people's lives in a meaningful way.
The customer-centric era
In 2022 smart embarked on a bold new chapter. With the introduction of the compact and versatile SUV smart #1 as well as the dynamic and stylish SUV-coupé smart #3, the brand can meet the increasingly diverse lifestyles of its customers. With the launch of the highly versatile smart #5 in mid-2025 in Europe, smart offers the largest and broadest portfolio of all-electric vehicles in the company's history. Each smart model itself is a testament to the brand's commitment to combining practical solutions with cutting-edge design and technology to enrich individual mobility for a smarter, more connected future.
With the successful feasibility completion of “project: two” in September 2025, the brand returns to its iconic roots with the development of the smart #2 as a new all-electric city car. The ultra-compact two-seater is set to launch in 2027, with a focus on urban centers across Europe. Compact, intelligent, and future-ready, the smart #2 will expand the portfolio in the A-segment while carrying forward the core values of the original fortwo. This decision marks a significant milestone and reinforces smart’s commitment to offering the right mobility solution for a wide range of customer needs.