Mercedes-Benz insiders told the aforementioned source that the smart brand is set to enter an expansion process that should allow it to achieve better financial results, with the upcoming vehicle being the first step in this plan.
The new plug-in scooter is being developed together with top components supplier companies and could come to the world via multiple plants around the world, with the list of sites including the existing factories in China, India and Thailand.
The plug-in electric smart scooter will take the brand into new territories. The city vehicle producer currently covers the supermini segment with the fortwo, which has just received a facelift, while the discontinued forfour will be replaced in 2013. Mercedes-Benz is planing to increase sales of the smart brand and is ready to enter various partnership that would facilitate this.
“Smart was originally established to tackle the need for improved mobility, especially in congested city environments. Up to now we have concentrated our efforts on four-wheel solutions. The next stage is to looking at how to expand beyond this with other environmentally friendly vehicles,” a senior Mercedes-Benz official told Autocar.
The new product is Mercedes-Benz’s answer to BMW’s C1-E concept, which is an electric version of the previously-introduced C1. The BMW vehicle is a bike that comes with a roof, offering advanced engineering but coming with a high price tag.
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