Start of production and sales of the new smart fortwo electric drive in Hambach

Daimler AG started production of the new smart fortwo electric drive at the smart Hambach plant. Like the models with combustion engines, the electric vehicle is now rolling off the production line in the standardised production process.

Furthermore, Daimler invests
more than €200-million to upgrade the site and secure its future.

"The new smart electric drive and the expansion of the Hambach plant are two important milestones for the future of smart," said Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of smart.

"With the new smart electric drive we are further expanding our leading position in urban mobility and making fully electric driving accessible to everyone. For this - and for the successor generation to the current smart - we are making significant investments in the Hambach site. And I am convinced that this is money extremely well invested," he added.

Dr. Joachim Betker, Head of the smart plant in Hambach, emphasised the ground-breaking integration of the electric version in the production process, "For the first time we have realised the consistent and perfectly integrated production of models with electric drive and those with combustion engines. In production, we are now optimally utilising the smart vehicle concept’s immanent potential for different drive systems."

Goodbye, filling stations – the new smart fortwo electric drive
June 12, 2012 – this date marks the start of sales* for the first real alternative to the usual refuelling stops. With the launch of the new smart fortwo electric drive, in future smart customers can enjoy even more fun at the wheel of an attractively priced vehicle that has the familiar compact dimensions - as a coupe or a cabriolet. The most important feature distinguishing it from its siblings with conventional engines is the fact that it has no exhaust, which means that it does not produce any emissions on the road.
(*may vary in individual markets)

With its 55 kw electric motor the smart fortwo electric drive accelerates from 0-60 km/h in 4.8 seconds, and with a maximum speed of 125 km/h driving pleasure is also guaranteed on urban motorways. The 17.6 kwh battery enables the urban two-seater to travel approximately 145 km in city traffic without producing any local emissions. As those components each come from joint ventures with the German companies Bosch (EM-motive) and Evonik (Deutsche ACCUmotive) and as the vehicle is built in the plant in Hambach (France), the new smart fortwo electric drive is the first true European electric car.

The new sale&care model makes opting into electric mobility particularly attractive: it offers customers an opportunity to buy, finance or lease the vehicle at an attractive price and to rent the battery for a monthly fee. Purchase, financing or leasing of the vehicle including the battery is also possible.

Prices in Germany (including 19 per cent VAT):

sale&care - Coupe - Cabrio
smart fortwo electric drive - 18.910,00 € - 22.000,00 €
Battery-rent - 65,00 €/month

Vehicle including battery - Coupe - Cabrio
smart fortwo electric drive - 23.680,00 € - 26.770,00 €

Delivery in Germany starts in late summer, all other markets - a total of more than 30 - will follow successively.

Posted in: Assembly/Manufacturing Plant,Coupe,Daimler,Dr. Annette Winkler,Dr. Joachim Betker,Electric Vehicle,Europe,Hambach,International,Small Car,Smart,smart fortwo