Smart (marque)
Smart is a car brand created in 1994 as a joint venture between Swatch’s SMH and Daimler-Benz, originally to produce tiny city cars like the Fortwo and Forfour. The early company started as Micro Compact Car (MCC) and built its cars mainly at a dedicated factory in Hambach, France, earning the nickname “Smartville.”
Over the years, MCC evolved into MCC smart GmbH and then smart GmbH, eventually becoming part of the Mercedes-Benz Cars division. The brand became known for its distinctive two-seat city cars and a safety concept based on the Tridion steel safety cell that surrounds the passenger cabin.
In 2019, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz) and Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group created a new joint venture called Smart Automobile Co., Ltd. to produce Smart-branded cars in China for global markets. The Ningbo, China-based plant handles manufacturing, while Smart Europe GmbH, based in Stuttgart, Germany, oversees distribution, marketing, and aftersales in Europe. The deal gave Smart a stronger focus on small electric vehicles.
Today, Smart’s direction centers on compact battery-electric cars built in China for worldwide markets. The first concept under the new partnership, Concept #1, was unveiled in 2021 and used Geely’s SEA platform, combining Smart design cues with modern electric technology.
Key people include Tong Xiangbei as global CEO and Dirk Adelmann as CEO of Smart Europe. The brand remains co-owned by Mercedes-Benz AG (50%) and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (50%). After years of shifting markets and models, Smart continues to pursue small, efficient electric cars with a global reach.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 10:50 (CET).