The Smart Car Is Coming Back—This Time Fully Electric

After unveiling multiple much larger models, Smart reveals it’s testing an electric successor to the ForTwo.

Smart #2 Testing

Photo by: smart

Andrei Nedelea

By: Andrei Nedelea

Dec 17, 2025 at 1:55am ET

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Smart reveals that it's testing the #2 two-door electric city car that continues where the ForTwo left off.
It will be available exclusively with electric power and debut a new dedicated urban EV platform.
It will be fully revealed in late 2026, and it's primarily aimed at the European market, where it's expected to cost around €20,000 ($23,500).

The Smart car brand isn’t what it was. It’s now owned 50/50 by Mercedes-Benz and China’s Geely and has been releasing a steady stream of increasingly larger new models, the most recent of which is a sedan that is the biggest car ever to wear a Smart badge. But it also confirmed it’s on track to launch a spiritual successor to the original Smart.

The company, now headquartered in Ningbo, China, has unveiled a camouflaged prototype of next year’s Smart #2, which closely resembles the ForTwo. Smart is expanding its lineup with more models than ever while moving upmarket to attract new buyers. That could be reflected in the new #2, which may be more luxurious than previous iterations.

Smart #2 Testing

Photos by: smart

Smart #2 Testing

Photos by: smart

The manufacturer notes that the prototype shown in the photos is a mule using the old ForTwo body, so it's not representative of the new model's design. However, it will still be recognizable as a Smart, with the same proportions and stance.

It will retain the original’s layout, with a short wheelbase, wheels pushed to the corners, and power delivered exclusively to the rear tires. Mercedes-Benz has redesigned the interior and exterior, so it will appear to be a continuation of the three generations that preceded it, even though the company now has an entirely different focus.

The model will be offered exclusively with electric power and ride on a new bespoke EV platform called ECA (Electric Compact Architecture). The manufacturer describes the platform as offering “a next-generation electric drivetrain, advanced safety, and an urban driving experience that’s unlike anything else.”

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Smart is likely making this model mainly for Europe, even if it’s being developed in China and that’s also where it will be produced. The Smart brand is present in the Chinese market, and tiny city cars are very popular there, so the new #2 could also be sold there.

It’s scheduled for release in late 2026, with production and deliveries likely to begin in 2027. With a larger-than-ever battery pack expected to deliver around 30 kilowatt-hours of capacity, the #2 will be relatively expensive for its size, with an expected price of over €20,000 ($23,500). It may be a hard sell at this price, with larger, more practical cars just around the corner costing about the same or even less.