After being absent for more than a decade, Armstrong’s has won the exclusive distribution rights to represent the smart Automobile EV brand in New Zealand.
The brand became a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group in 2019, with the formation of the smart Automobile Co Ltd, and smart Europe GmbH to produce and market electric vehicles globally from 2022 onwards.
The Armstong’s Mercedes-Benz retail dealerships in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin will incorporate a store-within-store format to host smart showrooms, offering a full sales and service experience for the brand’s clientele.
The smart range for New Zealand will start with the #1 and #3 models in several trims, offering excellent travel ranges, and include the high-performance Brabus models with 0-100kph times from 3.6 seconds.
The #5 SUV EV model was premiered at the recent Beijing Auto Show as a concept car and will soon be destined for New Zealand.
“We are very honoured to have this opportunity to represent smart Automobile in New Zealand,” Armstong’s founder and chair, Rick Armstrong, says.
“It fits perfectly with our existing Mercedes-Benz representation throughout New Zealand in key centres and will provide a separate but very complementary product offering.
“The smart brand is already well known in New Zealand, but the new vehicles are exciting and will fill a large gap in the premium EV market. The smart brand is now a global joint venture that combines the design of Mercedes-Benz, intelligent technology, and outstanding build quality.
“We spent time at the Beijing Motor Show in April 2024, where the smart vehicles stood out. We are working through the final details now and can’t wait to reintroduce the smart brand to New Zealand,” he says.
“We are delighted to begin a new partnership in New Zealand with Armstrong’s,” says smart automobile Global chief marketing officer Mandy Zhang .
“We are rapidly expanding our global business footprint to tap into high-potential markets. New Zealand provides an excellent opportunity for long-term sustainable growth.
“With Armstrong’s proven experience in automotive services and customer care, we are confident in the road ahead together. We look forward to developing the country’s intelligent NEV market and delivering a premium mobility experience to New Zealanders,” she says.
Since the launch of its first product, smart Automobile has delivered 100,000 new-generation units globally and continues to grow its business footprint worldwide, now covering 28 markets in China, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
About smart Automobile
Since the birth of the brand in the 90s, smart has maintained the vision of exploring the best solutions for future urban mobility.
Officially established in 2019 with a “China-Europe, dual home” global development strategy, smart Automobile is committed to becoming a new-premium, all-electric automotive brand.
It has completed a comprehensive renewal of its brand, product, and business model and has established a global product development, sales and service management system.
Engineering, research, and development for the new generation all-electric smart Automobile portfolio is led by the smart R&D team, with the Mercedes-Benz Global design team overseeing vehicle design.
It has launched two all-electric SUV models, smart #1 and smart #3, with deliveries underway across multiple markets in China and Europe and continued expansion into high-potential markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
In 2024, the all-new smart Concept #5 was officially unveiled, opening up the mid-sized all-electric SUV segment. From 2022 to 2025, smart will bring an all-new model to customers each year.
