China will be the 14th market worldwide to get Smart’s ForTwo Electric Drive model, with the EV minicar becoming the first Europe-imported all-electric model available in the world’s largest car market.
The announcement was made at the Guangzhou Auto Show, where the ForTwo Electric Drive celebrated its Chinese debut. The EV is already available to buy from dealerships around the country.
The new generation Smart Electric Drive has been available in Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan since production began in 2012. The model is the number one battery-powered electric vehicle in Germany, making up around 40 percent of the EV market. Smart says roughly 93 percent of customers would recommend the smart electric drive.
The Smart ForTwo Electric Drive is powered by a 55kW (74hp) electric motor delivering 130 Nm (96 lb-ft) of instant torque which helps the EV sprint from 0 to 60 km/h (37 mph) in 4.8 seconds. Top speed is limited to 125 km/h (78 mph) to help the car achieve a driving range of 145 km (90 miles).
Smart sales in China rose 43.8 percent in 2012, with the country set to become a crucial market for vehicles with alternative drive systems, thanks to supportive measures from the local government. Many analysts predict China will become the world’s largest market for alternative drive vehicles as well.
By Dan Mihalascu
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