Daimler goes on electrifying Smart for a while already — in 2017 automaker stopped from selling cars with gas drivetrain in the US, and each Smart model received an electric version.
Now Daimler goes further. In partnership with Chinese Geely they make Smart the electric-only brand: there will be no Smart cars with other drivetrains available. The strategy towards the lineup electrification changes as well - instead of making the electric versions of existing models, new electric cars will be designed from the ground up.
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Daimler and Geely invested about $777 m into their joint venture. Mercedes-Benz will design new cars, while Geely is responsible for producing them at its facilities in China. Smart cars assembled there will be delivered worldwide.
