Smart Concept #1, an electric crossover launched last September Smart Automobile, a Hangzhou-based joint venture between Chinese automaker Geely and Germany’s Mercedes-Benz, plans to sell Chinese-made smart electric vehicles in Southeast Asia, local media reported. The cars, designed by Geely, designed by Mercedes and built at a dedicated factory in Xi’an, central China, will initially be imported and distributed in Malaysia and Thailand by Malaysian automaker Proton Holdings, which is partly owned by Geely. Agreement signed by Proton and Smart Automobile. Under the agreement, Proton will establish a multi-level sales…
Smart Automobile, a Hangzhou-based joint venture between Chinese automaker Geely and Germany’s Mercedes-Benz, plans to sell Chinese-made smart electric vehicles in Southeast Asia, local media reported.
The cars, designed by Geely, designed by Mercedes and built at a dedicated factory in Xi’an, central China, will initially be imported and distributed in Malaysia and Thailand by Malaysian automaker Proton Holdings, which is partly owned by Geely. Agreement signed by Proton and Smart Automobile.
Under the agreement, Proton will establish a multi-level sales and service network in Malaysia and Thailand, as well as Smart’s “brand experience center”, the company said, without giving further details on the partnership.
Enter the Southeast Asian market
Founded in 2019, Smart Car is a 50:50 partnership between Geely and Mercedes to develop a new model range of smart branded electric vehicles. Geely bought a 49.9% stake in Proton from Malaysia’s DHS in 2017 to enter the Southeast Asian market.
While Proton has not revealed a timetable for launching the Smart brand, it is expected to launch in Malaysia as early as this year to take advantage of the new full tax exemption for electric vehicles until the end of the year. In 2023, once the sales infrastructure is in place, Thailand will follow.
Mercedes and Geely have unveiled an electric crossover called Smart Concept #1 at the IAA MOBILITY motor show in Munich last September and said their first electric car is expected to go on sale globally in 2022 Sales.
