Core Insights - The smart 5 has achieved significant recognition in its debut year, winning six major international awards, including Norway's Car of the Year 2026 and Euro NCAP's "Best in Class" Large SUV of 2025, showcasing its broad appeal and strengths in design, safety, and user experience [1][2][6]. Awards and Recognition - The smart 5 has been awarded Norway's Car of the Year 2026, What Car? Family Electric SUV of the Year in the UK, runner-up in the 2026 Swiss Car of the Year, and recognized in Hong Kong as one of UpCar's Grand Ten 2025 and the 2026 Best Urban SUV by Car1.hk [2]. - It has also received top safety honors as Euro NCAP's "Best in Class" Large SUV of 2025 and two Red Dot Design Awards for its product design and innovative user interface [2]. Product Features - The smart 5 is designed for urban environments, featuring an advanced 800-volt platform and a highly efficient drive system, delivering up to 475 kW of power and a range of up to 590 km (WLTP) [4][6]. - The vehicle's interior includes a spacious cabin with a digital ecosystem powered by an AMD V2000 chipset, featuring a 10.25-inch full HD digital instrument cluster and two 13-inch OLED screens, along with a boot capacity of 630 liters [8]. Safety Performance - The smart 5 secured a five-star Euro NCAP rating in September 2025, achieving the highest overall score in the large SUV segment, with top scores in Child Occupant and Safety Assist categories [10]. Market Expansion - Following successful launches in 17 European markets and key regions such as China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Morocco, the smart 5 is set to expand into new international markets in 2026, starting with the UAE on February 10 [12]. Company Background - Smart has evolved since its inception in the 1990s, focusing on urban mobility solutions. In late 2019, a joint venture was established between Mercedes-Benz AG and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, leading to a comprehensive brand renewal and strategic objectives achieved by 2024 [13][14].

Core Viewpoint - The smart brand is successfully navigating the competitive landscape of the electric vehicle market by focusing on its unique brand identity and product differentiation, while expanding its global presence and enhancing customer engagement [2][27]. Global Expansion and Market Performance - In 2025, smart entered 10 new overseas markets, increasing its global business coverage to 39 countries and regions, with a retail network growth of 25% year-on-year [2][10]. - The total number of smart stores reached 688, with a notable 43% increase in China, where the number of stores rose to 294 [6][10]. - Emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Latin America saw a 130% increase in retail outlets, reaching 72 [6]. Product Innovation and Awards - Smart's entire model lineup has won the Red Dot Design Award and achieved Euro NCAP five-star safety ratings, showcasing the brand's commitment to quality and safety [14][16]. - The upcoming launch of the 2 and 6 EHD models in 2026 will expand the product matrix from 3 to 5 models, with a focus on unique design and advanced technology [2][9]. Brand Philosophy and User Engagement - The brand emphasizes a return to its core identity, promoting the idea of "being different by nature" to resonate with its target audience [18][27]. - Smart's marketing strategy targets urban millennials, focusing on their desire for quality, functionality, and emotional connection with the brand [18]. Strategic Collaborations and Cultural Integration - Smart's collaboration with the Keith Haring Foundation exemplifies its commitment to integrating art into everyday life, enhancing emotional connections with users [23][25]. - The brand's approach to partnerships emphasizes shared values and meaningful engagement rather than mere promotional tactics [25]. Conclusion and Future Outlook - Smart's strategic transformation over the past six years highlights the importance of maintaining brand integrity and differentiation in a saturated market [27]. - With the upcoming product launches and the legacy of Mercedes-Benz's design influence, smart is poised to continue its growth in the premium electric vehicle segment [27].

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes smart's unique positioning in the competitive electric vehicle market, highlighting its commitment to brand authenticity, product innovation, and user engagement as key drivers for sustainable growth amidst industry challenges [2][28]. Global Expansion and Market Performance - In 2025, smart successfully entered 10 new overseas markets, expanding its global business coverage to 39 countries and regions, with a retail network growth of 25% year-on-year [2][10]. - The total number of smart stores reached 688, with a notable 43% increase in China, where the number of stores rose to 294 [6][10]. Product Innovation and Awards - Smart's entire vehicle lineup has received the Red Dot Design Award and Euro NCAP five-star safety ratings, showcasing the brand's commitment to quality and safety [14][16]. - The upcoming launch of the 2 and 6 EHD models in 2026 will expand smart's product matrix from three to five models, addressing diverse consumer needs [2][9]. Brand Philosophy and User Engagement - Smart's brand philosophy centers on "embracing individuality" and "returning to brand authenticity," which resonates with its target audience of urban consumers seeking unique and meaningful experiences [2][18]. - The brand has identified its core customer segments as "Urban Strivers," "Urban Creators," and "Open Explorers," focusing on their distinct lifestyle needs and preferences [18]. Strategic Collaborations and Cultural Integration - Smart's collaboration with the Keith Haring Foundation exemplifies its approach to integrating art into the brand experience, reinforcing emotional connections with users [24][26]. - The brand's strategy emphasizes meaningful partnerships that align with its values, enhancing brand visibility and resonance in the market [26]. Conclusion and Future Outlook - Smart's strategic transformation over the past six years has shifted from addressing "identity anxiety" to fostering "consensus," positioning the brand for high-quality development in the electric vehicle sector [28]. - With the upcoming launches and the legacy of Mercedes-Benz's design heritage, smart aims to redefine its presence in the global luxury electric vehicle market [28].

Core Insights - The article highlights smart's strategic expansion in 2025, entering new international markets and enhancing its product lineup, setting the stage for a significant growth phase in 2026 [1][2][16] Global Operations - In 2025, smart launched cars in 10 new international markets, increasing its operational presence to 39 countries and regions across five continents [3][6] - The brand's retail network expanded by 25% to 688 outlets globally, with a notable 130% increase to 72 outlets in new markets across Southeast Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Latin America, and a 43% increase to 294 outlets in China [4][7] Product Recognition - smart's models received multiple accolades, including the smart 5 being named Car of the Year 2026 in Norway and the smart 3 BRABUS winning Performance Electric SUV of the Year in Singapore [3][5] - All smart models have achieved Red Dot Design Awards and 5-Star Euro NCAP Safety Ratings, underscoring the brand's commitment to design and safety [6][8] Product Roadmap - The product lineup will expand from three to five models with the introduction of the smart 2 and 6 EHD in 2026, including the first premium fastback sedan [10][12] - The smart 2 is set to premiere in Europe in late 2026, showcasing the brand's engineering advancements [13][12] Brand Philosophy and Partnerships - smart emphasizes its "open your mind" philosophy, fostering creativity and collaboration through partnerships with various brands, including Disney and the Keith Haring Foundation [14][16] - The brand aims to shape a mobility culture that is expressive and inclusive, reflecting its commitment to premium electric mobility [16]

Group 1 - The core event is the presentation of smart's new product matrix at the 2025 IAA Mobility in Munich, marking the first time smart showcases its entire range of electric vehicles at a major European auto show [1] - smart officially confirmed the upcoming launch of the new smart 2, which is considered a milestone in the brand's development history, with production expected to begin in autumn 2026 in Europe [3] - The smart 3 "Celebrating the Streets" art car, created in collaboration with Keith Haring, was also unveiled, emphasizing the connection between urban culture and creativity [5] Group 2 - The smart 5 flagship model was showcased at the Munich auto show, featuring a maximum charging power of 400 kW, allowing the battery to charge from 10% to 80% in under 18 minutes [5]

Core Insights - The company has successfully expanded its global presence by entering seven new markets in the MENA region and Latin America in the first half of 2025, bringing its total to 38 countries and regions with over 580 stores worldwide [1][3][17] - Significant advancements in research and development (R&D) have been made, enhancing the company's long-term value proposition and addressing diverse customer needs [3][7] - The launch of the "open your mind Experiences" global campaign aims to refresh the brand image and foster collaborations with iconic brands and intellectual properties [5][10] Market Expansion - In the first half of 2025, the company entered seven new markets, contributing to its global footprint expansion [3][14] - The brand's commitment to enhancing global operations is evident as it continues to grow its presence across various regions [1][17] Product Development - The company is set to unveil more advanced R&D technologies and products in the coming months, enriching its product offerings [5][11] - The smart 5 model features enhanced driving assistance and AI-powered interactions, marking a significant step in intelligent cabin experiences [11][12] Strategic Partnerships - Collaborations with brands such as BRABUS, Sennheiser, Keith Haring, Disney, and Peet's Coffee are aimed at enhancing the brand's image and product offerings [8][10] - The partnership with the Keith Haring Foundation has led to the debut of the smart 3 Keith Haring Art Car, with plans for a production version later this year [8][10] Brand Campaign - The "open your mind Experiences" campaign emphasizes the importance of first-time experiences in creating emotional connections and unlocking new possibilities [7][10] - The campaign includes various crossover collaborations that span automotive, art, and lifestyle sectors, showcasing the brand's commitment to innovation [10][14]