Inovev plans 75,000 units per year of the new Smart #3
- Smart (a subsidiary of Mercedes and then of the 50-50 Mercedes-Geely JV) has started producing in China (Ningbo), at Geely, the new Smart #1 which is a 100% electric four-door segment B sedan measuring 4.27 m long, very different from the 100% electric two-door Smart Fortwo in segment A, 2.70 m long, which nevertheless continues to be produced in France (Hambach) until April 2024. As for the 100% electric Smart Forfour four doors of segment A of 3.50 m long, it ceased to be produced in 2022.The Smart #1 can be considered as its replacement.
- At the 2023 Munich Motor Show, Smart presented its new #3, 4.44 m long, which places it in the C segment. This model produced in China (Ningbo) will undoubtedly be more suited to the Chinese market which prefers C-segment cars to B-segment cars. On the other hand, in Europe, B-segment is still in high demand and competition is tough in C-segment. And the price of the Smart #3 will likely be quite high, as the price of #1 range from 40,000 to 45,000 euros depending on the version. In the best case, price should be set set in the range 45,000 to 50,000 euros. However, a Volkswagen ID4 is valued between 45,000 and 50,000 euros, and a higher segment Tesla Model 3 (D-segment) is purchased between 42,000 and 50,000 euros. A Renault Megane E-Tech costs 38,000 euros in its basic version. As for Chinese manufacturers, an MG 4 costs 30,000 euros in its basic version. The mission of the Smart #3 will be to revive the brand's production, which has fallen to 43,000 units in 2022, compared to 145,000 in 2016 and 123,000 in 2019. Inovev plans 75,000 units per year of the new Smart #3 produced in China.