smart electric cars

The reborn all-electric smart marque — now a Mercedes-Benz/Geely joint venture headquartered in Ningbo, China — returned to Australia in 2024 via LSH Auto's Mercedes-Benz dealer network in three capital cities.

smart began in 1994 as Micro Compact Car AG, a joint venture between Daimler-Benz and Swatch-maker SMH, based in Boblingen, Germany. The brand was reborn as an all-electric marque in 2019-2020 when Mercedes-Benz AG and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group formed a new 50/50 joint venture, 'smart Automobile Co., Ltd.', headquartered in Ningbo, China, with Mercedes-Benz responsible for design and Geely for engineering and production. smart announced its return to Australia in 2024, its first local presence in years, distributed through LSH Auto's existing Mercedes-Benz dealer network.

smart's Australian range comprises two battery-electric SUVs: the smart #1 urban SUV and the smart #3 SUV-coupe (0.278 drag coefficient), both launched in 2024 with deliveries from around September, and both sold in multiple grades (Pro+, Premium, BRABUS performance flagships). A smart #5 is flagged as 'coming soon to Australia' for 2026. Distribution is deliberately narrow — LSH Auto initially sells smart only through its Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

premium/niche urban EV, deliberately narrow distribution footprint

Battery-electric: smart #1 urban SUV and smart #3 SUV-coupe, each in multiple grades including a BRABUS-branded performance flagship. A smart #5 SUV is announced for Australia in 2026.