- Smart has expanded its portfolio for the right-hand drive market with the launch of the Smart #5 in Hong Kong and its debut in Malaysia.
- The model is expected to be officially launched in Malaysia in the second half of this year.
Mercedes-Geely joint venture Smart Automobile has launched the Smart #5 in Hong Kong and debuted the electric SUV (sport utility vehicle) in Malaysia, expanding its portfolio for the right-hand drive markets.
The Smart #5 available in Hong Kong comes in four variants -- Pro, Premium, Brabus and Summit Edition -- with a suggested retail price range of HK$289,000 (US$37,100) to HK$439,000, according to a May 9 press release.
The model is expected to be officially launched in Malaysia in the second half of this year.
The Smart brand was born in 1998, targeting the small premium car market, and is a brand designed by Mercedes-Benz to come up with solutions to tackle mega-city mobility.
On January 8, 2020, Mercedes-Benz and Geely jointly formed a new joint venture based on the Smart brand, headquartered in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, to bet on the electrification transition.
As part of the agreement between the two, Mercedes-Benz designers designs Smart cars and Geely engineers them.
Current Smart models sold in the Chinese mainland include the Smart #1, Smart #3, and Smart #5, priced between RMB 149,900 ($20,860) and RMB 368,000 ($20,860).
The Smart #5 is the most expensive of the three models, with a starting price range of RMB 239,900 to RMB 368,000 yuan.
The Smart #5 is the Smart brand's first premium mid-size SUV designed to go beyond urban confines, the EV maker said.
" The launch of Smart #5 in Hong Kong and Malaysia premiere represent an important step in our Asia Market. These markets have shown strong enthusiasm for smart's premium electric vehicles," said Mandy Zhang, Global CMO of Smart.
As of April, Smart's business has expanded to 37 markets worldwide, spanning China and Europe, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
The brand plans to further expand to 10 new overseas markets in 2025.
($1 = RMB 7.1873, $1=HK$ 7.789)
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