The battery-electric models from smart will serve as the initial vehicles of the Mercedes-Benz Cars EQ family.
As it is smart is currently the only car manufacturer worldwide to offer its model range in both combustion-engine and all-electric variants. In the U.S. market, smart has already converted to an all-electric strategy to support a sustainable, zero emissions future.
The smart EQ four two coupe and cabrio are making their world premiere this week at the Geneva Motor Show and will be available in the U.S. market later in 2018.
“Smart is electric, innovative, intelligent and totally unique, or in three words each: ‘smart EQ fortwo’ and ‘smart EQ forfour,'” said CEO of smart Annette Winkler. “With the smart EQ fortwo and forfour, we are putting the first products from the Mercedes-Benz Cars EQ family on urban roads and showing how much fun electric mobility can be,” she added.
(A round of up the important products from Geneva. Click Herefor the story.)
The battery-electric versions from smart are the first series-produced models of the EQ product and technology brand. smart will be presenting the special night sky edition at the Geneva Motor Show as the first series-produced model in the hallmark blue EQ paint finish.
Smart also offers gasoline-powered versions of its various models.
But it is the first car manufacturer to offer its entire model range in both combustion-engine and all-electric variants, smart becomes the first car brand to set its sights on a systematic changeover from combustion engine to electric drive: smart has been selling only electric vehicles in the U.S., Canada and Norway since 2017, and from 2020 it will be marketing only electric battery-powered vehicles in Germany and Western Europe, too. The rest of the world will follow suit shortly after.
The EQ brand from Mercedes-Benz also offers what it describes as “comprehensive electric mobility eco-system comprising products, services, technologies and innovations.”
(Click Here to see which German maker will let you talk with your car.)
The spectrum ranges from electric vehicles to wall boxes and charging services to home energy storage units. The name EQ stands for “Electric Intelligence” and is derived from the brand values “emotion” and “intelligence.” The new brand covers all key aspects of customer-oriented electric mobility and extends beyond the vehicle itself.
The first Mercedes-Benz production model of the new EQ technology and product brand, the EQC, will go into production at the Mercedes-Benz Bremen plant in 2019. It will be based on the Concept EQ which was shown in Paris in 2016.
Globally, smart will celebrate the beginning of the EQ era with special night sky edition models, that feature Braebus Exterior styling. The night sky edition will not be sold in the U.S.
(For more abou the EQ platform, Click Here.)
The smart EQ fortwo, fortwo cabrio and forfour will will be available the U.S. market starting mid-model year 2018.
I wonder if the Smart has been studied by any business schools? Is it stubbornness of hopefulness that keeps this terrible car on the road. Mercedes has sunk billions with not much hope to see any return.
Smart Company is the Daimler answer for European CAFE : it costs a lot of money but less than European penalties. With the DieselGate,Daimler need EVs to compensate lowered Diesel volumes and reduce Group average CO2 contribution…