Jordan Mulach
When every car brand is going EV-only
Australia has a long list of car brands, and some have committed to only selling electric vehicles globally – but by when?
27 Days Ago
Smart
Smart was founded in 1994 as a joint venture between Swiss watch company Swatch and Mercedes-Benz, and in 2019 it was reinvented as an EV brand as part of a JV between Mercedes-Benz and the Geely Group, whose founder and chairman Li Shufu already has a majority stake in the German automaker.
Best known for its diminutive ForTwo city car, which will be reincarnated as the #2 EV in future, Smart exited the Australian market in 2015. But in late 2024 it returned with two small electric SUVs, the #1 and the sleeker #3 - both available in three variants including a hot Brabus version.
