Press Release: smart, the new-premium intelligent and all-electric auto brand, today made history with the launch of smart #1 and smart #3 in Cairo, Egypt. This spectacular event, held against the backdrop of the iconic Pyramids and featuring a groundbreaking flyby, marked a pivotal moment for the brand as it expanded its global presence and made its first entry into the Egyptian market. The introduction of these award-winning models signifies smart's dedication to innovation and sustainability, capturing the imagination of audiences and setting new standards in the region.
Ms. Mandy Zhang, Global CMO of smart, said, "We are excited to introduce the smart #1 and #3, as well as the premium brand and service experience to Egypt, a country known for its rich history and culture, while also looking forward to the future, in collaboration with our general distribution partner, Ezz Elarab Star. As a brand always committed to exploring the best solutions for future mobility, smart's vehicles embody our ‘open your mind’ brand claim. They provide an exceptional, adventurous experience that encourages eco-conscious and tech-savvy Egyptian customers to explore every opportunity and new wonder.”
Bringing the Brand to New Wonders with inspiration: open your mind.
The Great Pyramids, also symbolizes the dawn of a new wonder that smart is poised to unleash. As smart's new brand claim, "open your mind," a visionary call to action elevates the brand by embracing three core pillars. The Contemporary Premium pillar redefines the concept of “premium” for the modern era, blending sophisticated Mercedes-Benz design with cutting-edge technology. Through Inspirational Co-Creation, smart sparks unique inspirations with leading brands, industry pioneers, artists, and trendsetters. Mindful Technology represents a means to create safer, more efficient, sustainable, and enjoyable mobility experiences.
Accelerating Sustainable Mobility to New Wonders
Guided by Vision 2030, Egypt's rapidly evolving electric vehicle market, driven by environmental awareness and government incentives like the 0% tariff policy, presents a prime opportunity for smart's premium all-electric portfolio. The introduction of the all-electric smart #1 and #3 signifies a key step towards reducing emissions and fostering cleaner urban environments, serving as the cornerstone of smart's commitment to the Egyptian market and its all-electric product portfolio aimed at shaping a sustainable future.
As the first two members of the new generation of all-electric product portfolios from smart, the smart #1 and #3 — developed by smart in collaboration with the Mercedes-Benz Global Design team — embody the key design elements of “Love, Pure, Unexpected”. The smart #1 was created as a premium compact urban SUV, with the smart #3, an SUV coupe, representing a larger and sportier interpretation of the same aesthetic. Offering a combination of premium avant-garde style and high-tech features while embodying smart's dedication to innovation and sustainable urban mobility, the smart #1 and #3 have already won the acclaim of media and customers worldwide, including the renowned iF and Red Dot design awards.
Mr. Adham El Gazzar, the Managing Director of Ezz Elarab Star, said, " The launch of the smart brand in the Egyptian market is not merely an addition to the Ezz Elarab family but a strategic commitment to following the global trend towards sustainable and innovative transportation. Ezz Elarab Star aims to offer the best to our customers, not only through high-end products but also by completely redefining the customer experience. Our partnership with smart demonstrates our ability to grasp global changes and adapt them to the needs of the Egyptian market. We believe that smart vehicles, with their intelligent design and innovative performance, will make a distinctive addition to the future of transportation. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Egyptian automotive industry and a step towards the future that we are building together.”
Creating Global Development to New Wonders
Following a "China-Europe, dual-home" global development strategy, smart continues to grow its business footprint worldwide, covering 31 markets in China, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Oceania, Latin America and now Africa. The brand is continuously expanding its partnerships with over 10 new markets by 2025. With the launch of the bold and boxy smart #5, smart steps into the mid-size SUV segment and keeps expanding the boundaries of premium electric mobility worldwide.
About smart Automobile
Since the birth of the brand in the 90s, smart has always maintained the vision of exploring the best solutions for future urban mobility. smart Automobile was officially established in 2019 with a forward-looking "China-Europe, dual home" global development strategy, and is committed to becoming a world-leading, new-premium, intelligent, and all-electric auto brand.
Following the comprehensive renewal of the brand, product and business model, smart will "Sprint to the Next Level" and has updated its brand claim. "open your mind" reflects a commitment to embracing diversity of thoughts, cultures, and beliefs, with an optimistic and open attitude, and making inspiration a reality through innovation. Engineering, research, and development for the new generation all-electric vehicle portfolio is led by the smart R&D team, with the Mercedes-Benz Global design team overseeing vehicle design. smart has introduced three SUV models, namely the #1, #3, and the all-new smart #5, which indicates the brand's formal foray into the premium mid-size all-electric SUV market segment.
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