Smart: Joint venture with Geely from China
FUTURE Smart will be a joint venture between Daimler and Geely. The two groups announced the establishment of a global joint venture in which each partner will hold a half stake. As a result, the next-generation model of the brand's electric cars will be made in a purpose-built factory in China. Global sales are scheduled to begin in 2022. To [...]
For example, the next generation of the brand's electric cars will be built in a purpose-built factory in China. Global sales are to begin in 2022. The joint plans for the future also include a Smart model for the B segment.
Current generation further from Hambach
The joint venture is expected to be signed and sealed by the end of 2019. The financial terms are not disclosed. Until the market launch of the new models from 2022, Daimler will continue to produce the current generation of Smart vehicles at its Hambach site in France (Smart EQ fortwo) and at its Novo Mesto site in Slovenia (EQ Forfour).
In parallel, Hambach will take on an additional new role in the Mercedes-Benz production network and produce a compact-class electric vehicle under the EQ sub-brand in the future. Mercedes-Benz is investing 500 million euros in the plant.
