Smart

The concept behind the smart car range was developed by SMH CEO Nicholas Hayek in the late 1980s. Hayek wanted to create small, stylish city car using the same manufacturing strategies behind his successful Swatch watch brand. In 1994, SMH and German manufacturer Daimler-Benz joined forces to establish MCC, and the design of a new ultra-compact car began. By the time the first smart ForTwo city-coupe was unveiled in 1998, the balance of power within MCC had shifted in Daimler-Benz’s favour, and all connection with SMH was soon severed. Under full ownership of Daimler-Benz, the newly named smart GbmH quickly released the Roadster sports car and the ForFour supermini. Despite smart cars being hailed as revolutionary in their design, sales were relatively low. In 2006, smart GbmH was liquidated, and its operations absorbed by Daimler-Benz directly. Now operating under the Mercedes Benz division of Daimler-Benz, the smart brand currently has one offering on the market – a new version of the original smart ForTwo. The ForTwo has been well-received, described by Top Gear magazine as “brilliant” and “fun”. The tiny car measures only 2.69 meters in length, making it particularly popular in European countries where parking space is short supply. The smart ForTwo is widely considered as an environmentally responsible vehicle, praised for its impressive fuel economy and honoured as one of five nominees for Green Car’s “Car of the Year” title in 2009.