Smart #2 expected to cost under €22,500

Smart has provided a clearer indication of the pricing for its upcoming electric two-seater. According to Europe CEO Wolfgang Ufer, the #2 could launch in Europe next year with a starting price below €22,500. Ufer also said European production could become an option if demand reaches sufficient volumes.

The Smart #2 is set to become the battery-electric successor to the Fortwo, reviving the brand’s original core concept. Smart unveiled the Concept #2 in April and revealed additional technical details of the production model in Rome this month. The two-seater will be based on the new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA), measure 2.79 metres in length and offer a turning circle of 6.95 metres.

Smart currently specifies a battery capacity of 35.7 kWh, which is expected to provide a WLTP range of around 300 kilometres, although this remains a target rather than a homologated figure. Compared with the previous Smart EQ Fortwo, the new model would more than double both battery capacity and driving range. Smart also expects DC fast charging from 10 to 80 per cent to take less than 20 minutes.

“A legend is making its return – and it will be the best two-seater ever,” said Wolfgang Ufer, Head of Smart Europe, confidently in our podcast eMobility Insights. The #2 is designed to embody the iconic DNA of the Fortwo while elevating it technologically and conceptually to a new level.

Pricing remains one of the key open questions. When asked by auto motor und sport whether the entry-level model would be priced between 20,000 and 25,000 euros, Smart Europe CEO Dirk Adelmann Ufer replied: “It will be below the midpoint.” This indicates that the Smart #2 could start at less than 22,500 euros. However, Ufer said the company cannot yet confirm the final entry price. Smart plans to announce pricing when it unveils the production model at the Paris Motor Show in October.

Ufer also commented on the possibility of producing the #2 in Europe. Initial production will take place in China, but Smart could consider manufacturing the model in Europe if demand reaches a sufficient level. Ufer did not specify a potential production site, timeline or volume threshold. For now, he said, the company is well positioned with its centralised and scalable manufacturing setup.

Smart expects strong demand for the #2, particularly in Europe. According to Ufer, Germany will be the most important market, followed by Italy, France, the UK, Spain and Portugal. The company also intends to build on its existing customer base. Ufer noted that between 300,000 and 400,000 Fortwo models are still on the road in Germany, while nearly 600,000 units of the two-seater have been sold in Italy since 1998.

lifepr.de, auto-motor-und-sport.de (paywal; both in German)