Geely-Mercedes JV to sell Smart EVs in Malaysia, Thailand

Smart Automobile Co., Geely Holding Group’s joint venture with Mercedes-Benz, plans to sell China-built, Smart-badged electric vehicles in Southeast Asia.

The EVs will be exported and distributed in Malaysia and Thailand first by Proton Holdings, the Malaysian carmaker partly owned by Geely, according to a tentative agreement signed by Proton and Smart Automobile last week. 

Under the agreement, it will establish a multi-level sales and service network in Malaysia and Thailand as well as a brand experience center for Smart, Proton said.

Additional details about the partnership were not disclosed.

Smart Automobile was formed in 2019 as a 50-50 partnership between Geely and Mercedes-Benz to develop a new vehicle architecture for Smart-brand EVs.

Under the joint venture deal signed by the two companies at the time, the EVs will be designed by Mercedes-Benz, engineered by Geely and produced in China. 

Smart introduced an electric crossover at the IAA in Munich in September. The vehicle is expected to go on sale globally in 2022.

Geely acquired a 49.9 percent stake in Proton in 2017 from Malaysian conglomerate DRB-Hicom in a bid to gain access to the Southeast Asia market.