The smart EV will be sold in Malaysia at a premium selling price.
Its confirmed, Proton will start selling electric cars, but it will not be rebranded Geely vehicles (interesting updates will be shared in the very near future). Instead it will be a premium electric car from a brand which the Geely Group has shares.
Its ‘smart Automobile’ and it’s a product from Mercedes-Benz. Yes, the ‘smart’ brand was started by Mercedes-Benz and it first ever product was the rear-engine, rear wheel drive smart fortwo which was a micro city car that had a short popular run.
Over the years, Mercedes-Benz expanded the range to a compact four door model and even until a few years before Covid-19, smart cars were still being made and sold in Europe with some units being imported into Malaysia by private importers (AP) at a high selling price.
You can browse our local car classifieds and you will find a 5-year old 1.0L turbocharged petrol powered smart forfour (4 seat, 4 door) PRIME unit for sale at RM88k and it comes with some luxury refinement and a quirky compact car look.
It might even be mistaken by the average Malaysian to be an electric car, but it is not.
However, today, ‘smart’ has evolved to be a full electric car brand and this is why Proton management this afternoon (18th August 2022) formalized its deal to sell and service vehicles from the premium EV brand ‘smart Automobile Company’ (smart) in Malaysia and also Thailand by signing a General Distributorship Agreement.
In a ceremony witnessed by attending media and officials from various government agencies, both sides put pen to paper to pave the way for the introduction of new energy vehicles by the national car maker, Proton.
The first ‘smart’ model to be sold by Proton during the first phase of the collaboration will be launched in early Q4 of 2023.
So, the ‘smart Automobile’ Co., Ltd., was founded as a joint venture in 2019 by Mercedes-Benz and Geely Group, with both parties leveraging synergies in R&D, manufacturing and supply chain to develop smart into a world-leading, premium electric vehicle technology brand.
The new generation of smart electric vehicles is designed by the Mercedes-Benz Global Design Department, with engineering led by the smart R&D team, and products set to expand into more market segments.
The first all-electric SUV will go onto the market in 2022 and be sold worldwide. To support its global operations, smart has established sales centers in China and Germany.
