[Miss Mercedes]

As part of my new job covering the auto industry, I've been following the situation at smart very closely.

I have good news and I have bad news.

Good news: Geely has solid plans to keep the brand viable in a world where crossovers and SUVs rake in the cash.

Bad news: Said plans involve building at least one SUV -- likely two -- and going even further upmarket, and will not involve a return to the States.

Daniel Lescow, VP of Global Sales for smart, had this to say:

Vehicle length alone is no longer a decisive factor for us ... we have redefined the requirements for Smart.
[...]
We want to radiate even more premium and not appear quite so playful.

The pair of SUVs will have some autonomous driving technology and also receive over-the-air updates. The new smart line debuting next year will ride on a scalable EV platform. Basically, smart's models will share the same platform, albeit with different sizes. A lot of other EVs from other brands will also share this platform.

I'll have the full story tomorrow when I'm back in the newsroom, but those of you with access to Automotive News Europe can check out the original report:

Smart moves toward becoming an SUV brand

New cars launched by Smart will be bigger and more upmarket, with new connectivity and partially automated tech, the brand's boss says.

europe.autonews.com

No details on the new fortwo as of yet. However, it looks like smart is really going to lean on the SUV craze that's taking over the world.

Correction: Daniel Lescow. Writing while tired is fun!

 

[jwight]

The current U.S. market gave Daimler/smart the big middle finger so why should they come back? They can sell more cars in China alone than they would ever sell in the U.S., not to mention the M-B dealers got stung once - they won't get fooled again...

 

[smark]

Do we really need, another crossover in NA?

 

[jwight]

More info leaking out ahead of the reveal at the IAA Mobility in Munich in early September. This is not good news IMHO: "The new still unnamed crossover is expected to be roughly the same size as a Mini Countryman, Jaguar E-Pace, Mercedes-Benz GLA or Audi Q3."

Smart Teases New EV Crossover Larger Than Any Smart Before It

It still doesn’t have a name and the teaser gives us only a top-down perspective so doesn’t really reveal much.

insideevs.com

 

[DudeInTheSmart]

Thanks for the information, no concern that they aren't bringing this vehicle to the US, as I would have no interest in it. Now I need to find a way to keep my ED healthy for the next 5+ years...