The question is who makes the smart car, often raises eyebrows among those who are used to seeing these compact cars exclusively bearing the Mercedes-Benz logo. For a long time it was believed that this brand was entirely the brainchild of the German school of engineering, but the actual picture of ownership and production has changed several times over the past decades.
Today Smart is the result of global cooperation between European and Asian auto giants. Understanding who is at the helm of development and assembly will help you better appreciate the quality, reliability and ownership prospects of these unique city cars. In this article we will analyze the evolution of the brand from the idea of Swatch to modern electric crossovers.
The relevance of the topic is due to the fact that modern models are radically different from the classic “city cars” of the early 2000s. Now these are full-fledged cars with advanced technologies, and new forces in the global automotive industry are responsible for their creation.
Historical context: from the idea of a watch to a car
The brand's history began not in a car showroom, but in the headquarters of a Swiss company Swatch. Nicolaas Hayek, the creator of the famous plastic watch, wanted to create the Switchmobile - an affordable, stylish and environmentally friendly car for the city. However, Swiss watchmakers quickly realized that design and desire alone are not enough to create complex technology.
A German company came to the rescue Mercedes-Benz (at that time part of the Daimler-Benz concern). It was Mercedes engineers who provided the technical base, safety and production capacity. In 1994, the joint company MCC (Micro Compact Car AG) was founded, which began developing the first generation.
⚠️ Attention: Many people mistakenly believe that Swatch produced the cars themselves. In fact, the Swiss left the project at the prototype stage, transferring all rights and technology to the Germans, who brought the project to mass production.
The first plant was built in Amber, France. This place became a symbol of the brand for many years. Concept Smart City Coupe was supposed to revolutionize urban traffic by offering a car less than 2.5 meters long with a high level of safety.
Daimler era: German quality and French assembly
In the period from 1998 to 2019, the main owner and developer of the brand was the concern Daimler AG. During this period, Smart became synonymous with the ultra-compact car. All classic models such as Fortwo and Forfour first generation, developed in Germany and assembled in France.
The Amber (Smartville) plant was a marvel of logistics and automation. The assembly line was designed to minimize the distance between component suppliers and the assembly line. This made it possible to assemble a car in just a few hours.
- 🏭 Localization: Smart's only production plant was in France, making the brand formally a Franco-German product.
- ⚙️ Technologies: Engines were often developed jointly with Renault, a unique case of collaboration between competitors.
- 📉 Crisis: By the 2010s, sales of compact ICE models began to decline due to stricter environmental regulations and changing consumer preferences.
It was during this period that the image of Smart as a premium, but small car was formed. However, the low cost of production in Europe and the low margins of small cars have called into question the future of the brand.
Turning point: alliance with Geely
In 2019, the most significant transformation in the history of the brand took place. Mercedes-Benz announced a joint venture with the Chinese giant Geely Holding Group. From that moment on, the answer to the question “who makes Smart” became international.
The new ownership structure implies a 50/50 division of responsibilities. Mercedes-Benz is responsible for design, engineering and safety, preserving the brand DNA. Geely, in turn, provides platforms, production facilities and advanced technologies in the field of electrification and connectivity.
| Parameter | Old model (Daimler) | New model (Smart #1, #3) |
|---|---|---|
| Brand owner | Daimler AG (100%) | Mercedes-Benz + Geely (50/50) |
| Platform | Unique rear engine | SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) |
| Assembly | Amber, France | Xi'an and Zhangjiakou, China |
| Engine | Petrol/Diesel/Renault | Clean electrification |
This partnership has allowed the brand to survive and transform. Without Geely's resources, switching to electric vehicles and expanding its lineup would not be economically feasible for Mercedes in current market conditions.
When buying a used Smart, pay attention to the year of manufacture: until 2019 it was a purely German-French product, after that it was the result of Chinese-German cooperation with a different technical base.
Where are new Smarts being assembled now?
With the transition to electric rails, the geography of production shifted to Asia. New models such as Smart #1 and Smart #3, are produced at Geely factories in China. Specifically, it uses powerful factories in Xi'an and Zhangjiakou, which also produce cars from the Zeekr and Volvo brands.
The Xi'an plant is a high-tech complex specializing in electric vehicles. This is where cars are assembled on architecture SEA, which is considered one of the most advanced EVs in the world. The build quality here is controlled according to Mercedes-Benz standards.
European dealers receive fully finished cars from China. The logistics chain is structured to minimize delivery time, but this means that “European assembly” for new electric Smarts no longer exists in the classical sense.
⚠️ Attention: If the origin of the assembly (Made in France/Europe) is critical to you, then only models released before 2019-2020 are available to you. All new electric models are marked “Made in China”.
Despite the Chinese assembly, final chassis tuning and safety system calibration are carried out by Mercedes engineers in Germany and Sweden (Volvo technologies). This is a hybrid approach designed to preserve the “German character” with Chinese efficiency.
Technical basis: SEA platform and electrification
Modern Smart is no longer the same minicar with a rear engine. New models are built on a modular platform SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture). The same “trolley” is used for the Volvo EX30, Zeekr X and Lotus Eletre.
The use of a common platform made it possible to significantly reduce production costs and introduce advanced technologies. Batteries, electric motors and control systems are now common to the entire Geely alliance, ensuring they are modern and reliable.
- 🔋 Batteries: Uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and (NMC) batteries from leading suppliers such as CATL.
- 💻 Software: The multimedia system and interface are based on Android Automotive, which provides excellent integration with smartphones.
- ⚡ Charging: Support for DC fast charging allows you to replenish the power reserve from 10% to 80% in just 15-20 minutes.
Such a technological leap would not have been possible within Daimler's old production model. The SEA platform allows you to create cars of different classes - from hatchbacks to crossovers, while maintaining a single technical basis.
What is SEA architecture?
It is a modular electric vehicle platform developed by Geely. It is highly flexible, allowing different battery capacities and different types of pendants to be used, making production cheap and fast.
Model range: from Fortwo to crossovers
The change of owner and production site led to a radical change in the model range. If earlier Smart was associated exclusively with two-seater coupes, the brand is now entering the compact crossover segment.
Model Smart #1 became the first representative of a new era. This is a full-fledged compact SUV, which is larger in size than any previous Smart. He was followed Smart #3, which is a coupe-crossover with a sportier character.
Classic Fortwo is gradually fading into history. The petrol versions have been discontinued and the brand is focusing entirely on the electric future. This is a strategic decision by the brand owners to comply with global environmental standards.
☑️ What to look for when choosing Smart
Brand prospects and conclusion
The answer to the question “who makes the Smart car” now sounds like “Mercedes-Benz and Geely together.” It is a symbiosis of German design and engineering with Chinese manufacturing power and technology in the field of electric vehicles.
The brand has successfully transformed from a niche manufacturer of microcars into a player in the market of modern electric crossovers. The future of Smart looks stable thanks to the support of two of the world's largest automakers.
Smart is no longer a pure Mercedes-Benz sub-brand - it is an equal joint venture, where Chinese technology plays a key role in the survival and development of the brand.
Buying a new Smart today, you get a product of globalization, which intertwines the best competencies of Europe and Asia. While the old models remain cult classics, the new ones open up completely new horizons for the brand.
Who is the main owner of the Smart brand now?
The Smart brand belongs to a joint venture, where the shares are divided equally (50/50) between Mercedes-Benz AG and Geely Holding Group. Operational management is carried out by Smart Automobile Co., Ltd.
Where are the new electric Smart #1 made?
The production of new electric models Smart #1 and #3 is carried out at Geely factories in China (the cities of Xi'an and Zhangjiakou). Mercedes' European factories no longer produce these cars.
Has the production of petrol Smarts ceased?
Yes, the production of petrol and diesel models (the classic Fortwo and Forfour) has been completely discontinued. The brand has completely switched to the production of electric vehicles.
Why did Swatch leave the Smart project?
Swatch withdrew from the project at an early stage, as it did not have the necessary resources and technologies for mass production of cars. All rights and developments were transferred to Mercedes-Benz.