Smart heads to China with first European-imported electric car
Smart has become the first European importer of electric cars to the Chinese market, as the country shows a growing appetite for electric vehicles.
It’s the 14th market to welcome the fully-electric version of the smart fortwo, which is already available to buy across Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan.
The smart fortwo electric drive (ED) is now available to buy from dealerships across China, with the brand celebrating the model’s launch at the Guangzhou Motor Show, where it was presented to the Chinese public for the first time.
Dr Annette Winkler, Head of smart: "Our smart electric drive was one of the first all-electric cars and is the clear market leader in Germany. We are now bringing this successful vehicle to China, and are the first European manufacturer to launch an all-electric car on this market. Offering powerful driving pleasure with zero local emissions, the smart electric drive is perfectly suited to China's big cities."
Chance for growth
The new generation of the smart fortwo ED has been available over here since 2012. In Germany, smart became the number one retailer for electric vehicles, securing a market share of around 40 per cent.
China is already one of the leading markets for the diminutive smart brand, alongside its native Germany and Italy. In 2012, smart sales in China increased 43.8 per cent
Featuring a 17.6kWh lithium-ion and a 55kW electric motor, delivering 130Nm of torque, the smart fortwo ED is quick off the mark, sprinting to 37mph in just 4.8 seconds. With a top speed of 77mph, the model also achieves a range of up to 90 miles.
The electric smart is European import through and through: the battery is produced by Deutsche ACCUmotive (a Daimler joint venture with Evonik), the electric motor comes from EM-motive (a Daimler joint venture with Bosch) and the vehicle itself is manufactured in the Hambach smart factory in France.
As the world's largest automotive market today already, China is expected to play a pivotal role in the growing demand for alternative fuel vehicles, thanks to the supportive environmental legislation created by the Chinese Government. China’s government recently renewed a grant programme which gives buyers of fully electric cars a subsidy worth up to 60,000 yuan (around £6,105) towards their purchase.