Last sold in Australia in 2015, automotive brand Smart is returning to local showrooms from the third quarter of 2024 with a range of electric SUVs, including higher-performance Brabus-badged models. Now half owned by Chinese brand Geely – which also owns Volvo, Polestar and Lotus – and half owned by original creator Mercedes-Benz, the new generation of Smarts use Geely mechanicals and are built in China. Local pricing is yet to be announced, but orders will open in July for delivery from September.
Mandy Zhang, Global CMO of Smart, said: “Smart will ‘Sprint to the Next Level’ this year, with steadfast plans for global business expansion. The Australian market holds significant potential for growth, and with LSH Auto Australia’s extensive local resources and expertise, we are excited to join hands.”
“Together, we aim to promote the development of Australia’s intelligent all-electric New EV market and deliver a premium mobility experience to local customers.”
To be sold in Australia under distributor LSH Auto, which currently operates a number of Mercedes-Benz dealerships locally, Smart will initially sell two vehicles locally: the #1 (said hashtag one) electric small SUV and the larger and more coupe-like #3. Both vehicles use Geely’s ‘Sustainable Experience Architecture’ or ‘SEA’, which also underpins the Volvo EX30 that’s just gone on sale locally and the Zeekr X, which is due this year locally as well.
Both the #1 and #3 feature a single-motor rear-wheel drive layout with a 200kW electric motor – which the EX30 also uses – and a 66kWh nickel-cobalt-manganese battery for up to 440km of range on the WLTP cycle.
For buyers looking for more performance, both the #1 and #3 will be available in a higher-performance model using the Brabus (yes, the legendary Mercedes-Benz tuner) badge. Both the #1 and #3 Brabus use a dual-motor layout for a total of 315kW of power and can hit 100km/h in just 3.9 seconds. The Brabus models also add sportier exterior styling and brake and suspension changes to handle the extra grunt while the extra performance reduces the range slightly to 400km (WLTP).
Initially, LSH Auto will sell the Smart brand through dealerships in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Australian pricing for the Smart #1 and #3 is yet to be announced, but in the UK, the #1 is priced at around 25 per cent less than the equivalent EX30, which could point to drive away pricing at around $55,000 locally.
The Smart range will go on sale in Australia in July, with local deliveries due to commence in September. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
Leave a Reply