Proton-smart deal finalised, smart #1 launch confirmed for next year

KUALA LUMPUR: Proton and the Chinese electric carmaker smart (owned by Mercedes-Benz and Geely), signed a memorandum of agreement back in January to sell the latter’s electric cars. Now, as the next step of the process, the two companies have signed a general distributorship agreement (GDA) at a ceremony held yesterday.

The new agreement formalises the national automaker as the official distributor for smart EVs in Malaysia as well as Thailand. The first smart EV to come out under this new venture will be the #1, which will hit the Malaysian shores in early Q4 2023. 

Based on Geely’s SEA platform, the Smart #1 is an electric crossover, which comes equipped with a rear-mounted electric motor and a 66-kWh battery pack. It offers a driving range of 440 km (WLTP cycle)  on a single charge, which takes only 30 minutes when using a 150 kW DC fast charger. However, the 7.2 kW AC takes  7.5 hours for 0 - 80% state of charge. The smart #1 price in the home market ranges between CNY 190,000 (RM 124,959) - CNY 230,000 (RM 151,266).

Coming back to the collaboration, which is primarily a retail operation. However, the Malaysia-born carmaker looks at some big picture developments beyond that, which will pave the way to introduce its own new energy vehicles in the future. These include -

• The brand aims to invest in a charging network by collaborating with a local charging provider
• It also intends to provide/install domestic units for customers who want to charge their EVs at home
• The automaker also wants to explore the new market segment to attract young talents. It will utilise the long-term plans for sustainability and energy efficiency and increase its ESG (environmental, social and governance) scores, which appeal to the next generation of automotive industry workers.

“Today marks a big step for PROTON’s entry into the new energy vehicle market. The first phase of business with smart is focused on retailing but it provides us with valuable knowledge and experience on not only how to service and charge EVs but also how to transform the way we interact with our customers. The move into this market segment will also help drive PROTON’s move towards being more environmentally friendly in all facets of our operations as we work to help Malaysia achieve its carbon neutrality target by 2050,” said Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer, PROTON.

Also read: 2023 Proton Exora launched in Malaysia at RM 62,800