Daimler and Geely in talks for building electrified Smarts in China
27 February 2019, 03:03:39
Currently, Daimler is examining possible cooperation with the Chinese automaker Geely for building all-electric successors of its Smart car. This has been reported by the German managaer magazin which has received confirmations from several people familiar with the matter. Daimler's Chinese joint venture partner Baic is also interested. "We are working on the concept for the Smart successor model and are in talks with various possible cooperation partners," said a smart spokeswoman. In the past, the company had shared much of the technology with Renault, but the collaboration is on hold. In addition, Daimler has already decided that Smart will no longer be offered with combustion engines in Europe from 2020 and will instead only use electric motors.
Rumours that Daimler plans on making electric cars in China emerged in August 2018. A month earlier, in Jun 2018, Geely announced its electric vehicle strategy that includes launching around 30 BEVs and PHEVs by 2020. Furthermore, producing Smart cars in China for the local market will greatly lower the price of the vehicle, which is currently imported to China from Europe. So talks between Daimler and Geely for cooperation seem to be credible. We only have to wait and see what the future holds.Source
Related news
News related to Daimler, Smart or Geely
smart #5 is the brand's first premium mid-size all-electric SUV to be launched in Europe. It will be available to order for customers from the end of April 2025 in Germany. Additional European markets will follow soon afterward. With five distinct model lines available – and an additional high-performance version set to debut later – smart offers its European customers a diverse range of options. The entry-level...
24 March 2025
smart announced that it will bring its first luxury mid-size SUV Elf #5 to the US market during the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2025), presenting the smart brand's latest research and development results in the fields of intelligent driving and smart cockpits. During this exhibition, smart will use the new Phantom #5 / Elf #5 platform to showcase the latest research and development results in...
26 December 2024
The all-new Geely EX5 was formally launched at the International MotorXpo Hong Kong (IMXpo) 2024. To ensure smooth business operations in Hong Kong, Geely has appointed Zhilian Zhili New Energy Auto Service (Hong Kong) Limited as its official authorized dealer, responsible for Geely EX5 sales and after-sales service, to ensuring local users receive professional and convenient customer experience. The expansion into...
6 December 2024
DreamSmart Group (formerly Xingji Meizu) officially launched the Z10 STARBUFF gaming edition EV developed in collaboration with Lynk & Co. Coming in two variants, the Z10 STARBUFF is priced at 242,800 yuan and 329,800 yuan, respectively, with limited-time promotional prices of 236,800 yuan and 318,800 yuan. As an affiliated company of Geely, DreamSmart Group has made strides in integrating smart technology with...
27 September 2024
smart has unveiled the all-new smart #5 at the world premiere event in Byron Bay, Australia. With this vehicle, the brand is entering the premium mid-size SUV segment. The smart #5 is the third vehicle in the brand's all-electric portfolio. Alongside the smart #1 and #3, the smart #5 offers another premium SUV equipped with state-of-the-art electric drive, ADAS technologies and a seamless, intelligent cockpit. With...
28 August 2024
Geely Auto is showcasing its latest technological breakthroughs at Auto China 2024, which are epitomized by its cutting-edge SUV prototype, Starship, which makes its world premiere today at the auto show. With this prototype, Geely underscores its leadership in the new era of intelligent vehicles as the first automaker with the full-system capability to "Build AI Cars with AI Architecture". The Starship has been...
26 April 2024
Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC welcomes Geely Sweden Holding as a potential direct new shareholder. Volvo Cars is evaluating a potential adjustment to its shareholding in Polestar including a distribution of shares to its shareholders, with Geely Sweden Holding being the primary recipient. Volvo Cars will remain a strategic partner in areas across R&D, manufacturing, after-sales, and commercial. Polestar has...
7 February 2024
The all-electric smart #3 made its European debut at the IAA Mobility 2023 in Munich after its unveiling at the Auto Shanghai in April earlier this year. The vehicle features a sporty coupé body, athletic curves, and a powerful "shark nose." The wide A-shaped grill and slim LED headlights skillfully round off the front view. The rear is accentuated by a striking spoiler. The large wheels also blend harmoniously into...
4 September 2023
After the successful market launch in Germany and an ever-increasing availability and delivered cars for customers, with the Pulse smart announces the adventurous variant of the #1 that will hit European roads in 2023. For the German market, smart #1 Pulse will be available to order starting the 22nd of June. Other European markets will follow subsequently in 2023. The price in Germany starts at EUR 46,490. The...
22 June 2023
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding), China’s largest privately-owned automotive technology group, today announced that it has increased its shareholding in Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc (Aston Martin) to circa 17% as part of a new relationship agreement with the ultra-luxury British performance brand. Geely Holding will become the third largest shareholder in the iconic automotive company, the...
18 May 2023
smart #3 has been unveiled today at Auto Shanghai as the brand's first intelligent pure electric compact coupe SUV, following the "sensibility and agility" design philosophy tailored by the Mercedes-Benz global design team for the smart brand. Outside, stimulating, and dynamic; inside, a new luxury future. The new smart #3 touches the heart with its "new luxury sports aesthetic" from the inside out. The smooth body...
17 April 2023
Geely has unveiled in Hangzhou, China its new premium series of electrified products - the Geely Galaxy or Geely Yinhe. At the ceremony, Geely Auto also unveiled a multitude of new advanced electrified technologies including the new Aegis battery safety system, NordThor Hybrid 8848 powertrain, and the latest smart vehicle operating system Yinhe N-OS (Galaxy N-OS). The Galaxy series integrates Geely Auto's global car...
24 February 2023
NVIDIA today introduced NVIDIA DRIVE Thor, its next-generation centralized computer for safe and secure autonomous vehicles. DRIVE Thor, which achieves up to 2,000 teraflops of performance, unifies intelligent functions — including automated and assisted driving, parking, driver and occupant monitoring, digital instrument cluster, in-vehicle infotainment (IVI), and rear-seat entertainment — into a single...
22 September 2022
The biggest smart yet, Smart #1, has, actually, no relation to the previous smart fortwo and smart forfour EVs. Built as a joined initiative between Mercedes-Benz (design) and Geely (development), it happens to be the first European EV based on Geely's new SEA s the first European electric vehicle that features Geely’s new SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) EV platform. Geely's Zeekr 001 is also based on it...
8 April 2022
EV Specifications
Complete specifications of EVs, grouped according to their brand and year
Featured
Specifications of some of the most interesting and anticipated EVs.

2026 BMW iX M70 xDrive
Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 195.5 in / 4965 mm
Width: 77.6 in / 1970 mm
Height: 66.7 in / 1695 mm
Curb weight: 5687.93 lb / 2580 kg
Electric motor #1: 360 kW, 650 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Rear
Electric motor #2: 190 kW, 365 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Front
Voltage: 369 V

2026 BMW iX M70 xDrive US
Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 195.5 in / 4965 mm
Width: 77.6 in / 1970 mm
Height: 66.7 in / 1695 mm
Curb weight: 5687.93 lb / 2580 kg
Electric motor #1: 360 kW, 650 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Rear
Electric motor #2: 190 kW, 365 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Front
Voltage: 369 V

2026 BMW iX xDrive60
Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 195.5 in / 4965 mm
Width: 77.6 in / 1970 mm
Height: 66.7 in / 1695 mm
Curb weight: 5522.58 lb / 2505 kg
Electric motor #1: 230 kW, 400 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Rear
Electric motor #2: 190 kW, 365 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Front
Voltage: 369 V

2026 BMW iX xDrive60 US
Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 195.5 in / 4965 mm
Width: 77.6 in / 1970 mm
Height: 66.7 in / 1695 mm
Curb weight: 5522.58 lb / 2505 kg
Electric motor #1: 230 kW, 400 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Rear
Electric motor #2: 190 kW, 365 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Front
Voltage: 369 V

2026 BMW iX xDrive45
Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 195.5 in / 4965 mm
Width: 77.6 in / 1970 mm
Height: 66.7 in / 1695 mm
Curb weight: 5401.33 lb / 2450 kg
Electric motor #1: 200 kW, 400 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Rear
Electric motor #2: 190 kW, 365 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Front
Battery: 100.6 kWh, Voltage: 332.1 V

2026 BMW iX xDrive45 US
Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 195.5 in / 4965 mm
Width: 77.6 in / 1970 mm
Height: 66.7 in / 1695 mm
Curb weight: 5401.33 lb / 2450 kg
Electric motor #1: 200 kW, 400 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Rear
Electric motor #2: 190 kW, 365 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Front
Battery: 100.6 kWh, Voltage: 332.1 V

2026 BMW i4 xDrive40
Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 188.3 in / 4783 mm
Width: 72.9 in / 1852 mm
Height: 57.0 in / 1448 mm
Curb weight: 5022.13 lb / 2278 kg
Location: Rear
Location: Front
Voltage: 398.5 V

2026 BMW i4 M60
Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 188.3 in / 4783 mm
Width: 72.9 in / 1852 mm
Height: 57.0 in / 1448 mm
Curb weight: 5028.74 lb / 2281 kg
Electric motor #1: 242 kW @ 8000 - 17000 rpm, 365 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Rear
Electric motor #2: 200 kW @ 8000 - 17000 rpm, 430 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Front
Voltage: 398.5 V

2026 BMW i4 eDrive40
Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 188.3 in / 4783 mm
Width: 72.9 in / 1852 mm
Height: 57.0 in / 1448 mm
Curb weight: 4713.48 lb / 2138 kg
Electric motor: 250 kW @ 8000 - 17000 rpm, 430 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Location: Rear
Voltage: 398.5 V

2026 Porsche Macan GTS
Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 189.2 in / 4805 mm
Width: 76.9 in / 1952 mm
Height: 63.5 in / 1613 mm
Curb weight: 5280.07 lb / 2395 kg
Location: Rear
Location: Front
Battery: 100 kWh, Voltage: 800 V

2026 Porsche Macan Turbo
Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 188.3 in / 4784 mm
Width: 76.3 in / 1938 mm
Height: 63.8 in / 1621 mm
Curb weight: 5302.12 lb / 2405 kg
Location: Rear
Location: Front
Battery: 100 kWh, Voltage: 800 V

2026 Porsche Macan 4S
Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 188.3 in / 4784 mm
Width: 76.3 in / 1938 mm
Height: 63.8 in / 1621 mm
Curb weight: 5169.84 lb / 2345 kg
Location: Rear
Location: Front
Battery: 100 kWh, Voltage: 800 V

2026 Cadillac Optiq
Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 189.8 in / 4820 mm
Height: 64.7 in / 1644 mm
Curb weight: 5238.18 lb / 2376 kg
Location: Rear
Location: Front
Battery: 75 kWh

2026 Polestar 4 Long Range Dual Motor
Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 190.7 in / 4845 mm
Width: 79.1 in / 2008 mm
Height: 60.4 in / 1534 mm
Curb weight: 5191.89 lb / 2355 kg
Electric motor #1: 200 kW, 343 Nm, Location: Rear
Electric motor #2: 200 kW, 343 Nm, Location: Front
Battery: 100 kWh, Voltage: 400 V

2026 Polestar 4 Long Range Dual Motor
Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 190.7 in / 4845 mm
Width: 79.1 in / 2008 mm
Height: 60.4 in / 1534 mm
Curb weight: 5191.89 lb / 2355 kg
Electric motor #1: 200 kW, 343 Nm, Location: Rear
Electric motor #2: 200 kW, 343 Nm, Location: Front
Battery: 100 kWh, Voltage: 400 V

2026 Polestar 3 Performance
Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 192.9 in / 4900 mm
Height: 63.5 in / 1614 mm
Curb weight: 5564.47 lb / 2524 kg
Location: Rear
Location: Front
Battery: 106 kWh, Voltage: 800 V

2026 Polestar 3 Dual Motor
Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 192.9 in / 4900 mm
Height: 63.5 in / 1614 mm
Curb weight: 5489.51 lb / 2490 kg
Location: Rear
Location: Front
Battery: 106 kWh, Voltage: 800 V

2026 Polestar 3 Rear Motor
Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 192.9 in / 4900 mm
Height: 63.9 in / 1622 mm
Curb weight: 5103.7 lb / 2315 kg
Electric motor: 245 kW, 480 Nm, Location: Rear
Battery: 92 kWh, Voltage: 800 V