Daimler and Geely create a global joint venture to develop Smart

28 March 2019, 04:32:25

Daimler and Geely create a global joint venture to develop SmartA month ago, we reported that Daimler and Geely are in talks for building electrified Smarts in China. Today, Daimler announced that it, indeed, has formed a 50:50 global joint venture with Geely to develop and operate the "Smart" brand globally as an all-electric one. The new company is based in China, so will be the production site. The first new all-electric Smart model is expected to be launched in 2022. The Smart product portfolio is also planned to be extended into the fast-growing B-segment. The joint venture is expected to be finalised by the end of 2019. Financial terms of the Smart joint venture have not been disclosed.

Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: "For more than 2.2 million customers, Smart represents a pioneer in urban mobility. Based on this success story, we look forward to further enhancing the brand with Geely Holding, a strong partner in the electric vehicle segment. We will jointly design and develop the next generation of Smart electric cars that combine high-quality production and known safety standards for sale both in China and globally. In the future, we are looking forward to working with all partners to sustain our success in China and worldwide. Separately, Mercedes-Benz will produce a compact electric vehicle at the Hambach plant, sustaining employment with further investment in the facility."

Li Shufu, Geely Holding Chairman, added: "We fully respect the value of Smart. This brand has a unique appeal and strong commercial value. Geely Holding and Daimler look forward to this challenging and exciting new project, through which we will further push the introduction of premium electric products to give a better mobility experience to our customers. As equal partners, we are dedicated to promoting the Smart brand globally; we will leverage our experience and global competencies in brand management, R&D, manufacturing, supply chain management and other areas. The synergies from this cooperation will lead to mutual benefits, at the same time we will further develop technologies for Smart including connectivity, to continue to lead in the industry as it undergoes a wider transformation."Source

Related news

News related to Daimler, Geely or Smart

smart #5 launches in select European markets at the end of April

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 returns to the U.S. during CES 2025 showcasing the latest intelligent driving and cockpit developments

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 all-electric SUV debuts at the Hong Kong IMXpo 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

Meizu (DreamSmart) and Lynk & Co co-introduce the Z10 STARBUFF gaming dedicated EV

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 #5 with a 100 kWh battery goes official with a CLTC range of 740 km

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 presents its smart strategy and the 11-in-1 intelligent electric drive at Auto China 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

Volvo's potential withdrawal from Polestar leaves Geely a direct new shareholder

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

European premiere of the all-electric smart #3 with its 25th Anniversary Edition model

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

smart #1 Pulse is launched in Europe, pricing in Germany starts at EUR 46,490

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

Geely Holding increases equity stake in Aston Martin Lagonda to circa 17%

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 is unveiled at Auto Shanghai

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 Galaxy or Geely Yinhe unveiled as Geely's new premium electrified series

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 DRIVE Thor goes official, will power 2022 autonomous EVs, including ZEEKR models

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

Smart #1 made by Mercedes and Geely debuted in Berlin

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

AudiBMWBytonCadillacChevroletDaciae.GOFIATFiskerFordGenesisGMCHondaHyundaiJaguarKIALexusLucidMazdaMercedes-BenzMGMININIONissanOpelPeugeotPolestarPorscheRenaultRivianSEATŠKODAsmartSubaruTeslaToyotaVolkswagenVolvoXiaomi

Featured

Specifications of some of the most interesting and anticipated EVs.

2025 Xiaomi YU7 Max

2025 Xiaomi YU7 Max AWD

Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 196.8 in / 4999 mm
Width: 78.6 in / 1996 mm
Height: 63.3 in / 1608 mm
Curb weight: 5423.37 lb / 2460 kg
Electric motor #1: 295 kW, Location: Rear
Electric motor #2: 220 kW, Location: Front
Battery: 101.7 kWh, Voltage: 800 V

2025 Xiaomi YU7 Pro

2025 Xiaomi YU7 Pro AWD

Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 196.8 in / 4999 mm
Width: 78.6 in / 1996 mm
Height: 63.3 in / 1608 mm
Location: Rear
Location: Front
Battery: 96.3 kWh, Voltage: 800 V

2025 Xiaomi YU7

2025 Xiaomi YU7 RWD

Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 196.8 in / 4999 mm
Width: 78.6 in / 1996 mm
Height: 63.3 in / 1608 mm
Curb weight: 4717.89 lb / 2140 kg
Electric motor: 235 kW, 528 Nm, Location: Rear
Battery: 96.3 kWh, Voltage: 800 V

2025 Xiaomi SU7 Ultra

2025 Xiaomi SU7 Ultra AWD

Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 199.6 in / 5070 mm
Width: 77.6 in / 1970 mm
Height: 57.7 in / 1465 mm
Electric motor #1: 850 kW, 1270 Nm, Location: Rear
Electric motor #2: 288 kW, 500 Nm, Location: Front
Battery: 93.7 kWh

2024 Xiaomi SU7 Pro

2024 Xiaomi SU7 Pro RWD

Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 196.7 in / 4997 mm
Width: 77.3 in / 1963 mm
Height: 57.3 in / 1455 mm
Curb weight: 4365.15 lb / 1980 kg
Electric motor: 220 kW, 400 Nm, Location: Rear
Battery: 94.3 kWh

2025 Tesla Model Y

2025 Tesla Model Y Standard Range RWD

Doors: 4, Seats: 5 / 7
Length: 188.6 in / 4790 mm
Width: 75.6 in / 1920 mm
Height: 63.9 in / 1624 mm
Curb weight: 4250.51 lb / 1928 kg
Electric motor: 220 kW @ 5000 rpm, 440 Nm, Location: Rear
Battery: 62.5 kWh, Voltage: 345 V

2025 Tesla Model Y

2025 Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD

Doors: 4, Seats: 5 / 7
Length: 188.6 in / 4790 mm
Width: 75.6 in / 1920 mm
Height: 63.9 in / 1624 mm
Curb weight: 4190.99 lb / 1901 kg
Electric motor: 220 kW @ 5000 rpm, 410 Nm, Location: Rear
Battery: 78.4 kWh, Voltage: 345 V

2025 Tesla Model Y

2025 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD

Doors: 4, Seats: 5 / 7
Length: 188.6 in / 4790 mm
Width: 75.6 in / 1920 mm
Height: 63.9 in / 1624 mm
Curb weight: 4396.02 lb / 1994 kg
Electric motor #1: 194 kW @ 5000 rpm, 340 Nm, Location: Rear
Electric motor #2: 137 kW @ 6380 rpm, 219 Nm, Location: Front
Battery: 78.4 kWh, Voltage: 345 V

2024 Porsche Macan

2024 Porsche Macan 4

Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 188.3 in / 4784 mm
Width: 76.3 in / 1938 mm
Height: 63.9 in / 1622 mm
Curb weight: 5302.12 lb / 2405 kg
Location: Rear
Location: Front
Battery: 100 kWh, Voltage: 800 V

2024 Porsche Macan

2024 Porsche Macan Turbo

Doors: 4, 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

2024 Xiaomi SU7

2024 Xiaomi SU7 RWD

Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 196.7 in / 4997 mm
Width: 77.3 in / 1963 mm
Height: 57.3 in / 1455 mm
Curb weight: 4365.15 lb / 1980 kg
Electric motor: 220 kW, 400 Nm, Location: Rear
Battery: 73.6 kWh

2024 Xiaomi SU7 Max

2024 Xiaomi SU7 Max AWD

Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 196.7 in / 4997 mm
Width: 77.3 in / 1963 mm
Height: 56.7 in / 1440 mm
Curb weight: 4861.19 lb / 2205 kg
Electric motor #1: 275 kW, 500 Nm, Location: Rear
Electric motor #2: 220 kW, 338 Nm, Location: Front
Battery: 101 kWh, Voltage: 871 V

2024 Volkswagen ID.7

2024 Volkswagen ID.7 Pro

Doors: 4, Seats: 5
Length: 195.3 in / 4961 mm
Height: 60.5 in / 1536 mm
Curb weight: 4788.44 lb / 2172 kg
Electric motor: 210 kW, 550 Nm, Location: Rear
Battery: 77 kWh

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Luxury 2

Doors: 5, Seats: 7
Length: 224.3 in / 5697 mm
Height: 76.1 in / 1934 mm
Electric motor: 505 kW, 1064 Nm, Location: Rear
Location: Front
Battery: 200 kWh, Voltage: 800 V

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Sport 2

Doors: 5, Seats: 7
Length: 224.3 in / 5697 mm
Height: 76.1 in / 1934 mm
Electric motor: 505 kW, 1064 Nm, Location: Rear
Location: Front
Battery: 200 kWh, Voltage: 800 V

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Luxury 1

Doors: 5, Seats: 7
Length: 224.3 in / 5697 mm
Height: 76.1 in / 1934 mm
Electric motor: 505 kW, 1064 Nm, Location: Rear
Location: Front
Battery: 200 kWh, Voltage: 800 V

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Sport 1

Doors: 5, Seats: 7
Length: 224.3 in / 5697 mm
Height: 76.1 in / 1934 mm
Electric motor: 505 kW, 1064 Nm, Location: Rear
Location: Front
Battery: 200 kWh, Voltage: 800 V

2025 Volvo EX30

2025 Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance (EK)

Doors: 5, Seats: 5
Length: 166.7 in / 4233 mm
Width: 76.4 in / 1940 mm
Height: 61.0 in / 1549 mm
Curb weight: 4034.46 lb / 1830 kg
Location: Rear
Location: Front
Battery: 69 kWh