The first Smart #3 vehicles were delivered in 41 cities. To date, Smart has completed 164 offline stores in China.
(Image credit: CnEVPost)
The tight pace of new models from launch to delivery is one of the most important features of the highly competitive Chinese electric vehicle (EV) market.
Smart Automobile, a joint venture between Geely and Mercedes-Benz, began deliveries of the Smart #3 in China yesterday, just 20 days after the model's official launch.
Smart announced on Wednesday that the first Smart #3 vehicles were delivered in 41 cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Chengdu and Xi'an, without disclosing the exact number of vehicles delivered.
(Image credit: Smart)
Smart officially launched the Smart #3 in China at an event on June 1, its second model after the Smart #1 following its electrification transition.
The Smart #3 is available in three regular versions -- Pro+, Pulse and Premium -- starting at RMB 209,900 ($29,240), RMB 239,900 and RMB 255,900 respectively.
The model is also available in a limited edition Brabus Performance version of only 1,999 units at RMB 289,900.
The car is positioned as a coupe SUV with a length, width and height of 4,400/4,542 mm, 1,844 mm and 1,556 mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 2,785 mm.
The Smart #1 measures 4,270 mm in length, 1,822 mm in width and 1,636 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,750 mm.
This means that the Smart #3 is longer and wider than the Smart #1, but lower.
The Smart #3 is available with two power options, a single-motor version with 200 kW peak motor power and a dual-motor version with 115 kW and 200 kW peak front and rear motors, respectively.
It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds for the single-motor version and 4.3 seconds for the dual-motor version, and from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds for the Brabus Performance version.
The model is available in three range versions with CLTC ranges of 520 km, 555 km and 580 km, and its battery pack is a ternary lithium battery from CALB and Sunwoda.
On June 18, Smart announced the opening of its flagship experience center in Shanghai, its fifth after Chengdu, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Beijing.
Smart now has 17 stores in Shanghai, including one brand flagship center, four service centers and 12 retail showrooms. This year, Smart will add an additional eight stores in East China, it said.
To date, Smart has built 164 offline outlets in China, and the number is expected to exceed 200 by the end of this year, covering more than 60 first-tier, new first-tier and second-tier cities, it said.
Smart delivered 2,624 vehicles in China in May, down 40.23 percent from 4,390 units in April, according to data it released earlier this month.
Smart has delivered a cumulative total of 28,923 electric vehicles in China since last September, data monitored by CnEVPost show.
($1 =RMB 7.1795)
Chinese Lithium giant Tianqi reportedly mulling stake in Mercedes-Geely JV Smart
