Smart is bringing back the tiny two-seater that made the brand famous, this time as a pure EV.
Smart says it is officially moving ahead with a brand-new two-seat city car called smart #2, aiming squarely at the A-segment it once defined with the fortwo. The company completed its “project: two” feasibility phase and is now in final design and development, with a global premiere planned for late 2026.
What the new car is
The smart #2 will be an all-electric ultra-compact designed for dense cities and short hops, a modern spiritual successor to the fortwo. The company says the #2 will “evolve the unique characteristics that made the original smart fortwo an urban icon,” while adding the brand’s latest software and safety tech. In other words, it is meant to feel familiar in size and purpose but new in execution.
Smart confirms the #2 is styled by Mercedes-Benz Design and rides on a new proprietary architecture developed in-house specifically for ultra-compact vehicles. That is a departure from the larger #1, #3, and #5 models, which live in the small and mid-SUV space. The #2 will be built in China and sold in China, Europe, and other selected global markets. Positioning it as the fourth pillar in the lineup lets the brand cover a wider range of use cases, from agile city cars to premium mid-range SUVs.
Why is Smart doing this now?
“Developing an ultra-compact vehicle on an entirely new all-electric architecture is far more complex than creating a larger car. But now, we’re ready,” said Tong Xiangbei, Global CEO of Smart. He credits steady shareholder support and a renewed product plan for creating the right window to “reinvent our iconic city car.” Global CMO Mandy Zhang added context from the brand’s history: “27 years ago, the first smart fortwo took the world by storm… With our new smart #2, we are responding to the market’s enthusiasm with an all-electric two-seater that blends smart’s cutting-edge technology and latest design philosophy into our iconic concept.”
Where it fits
If the #1, #3, and #5 are Smart’s answers for buyers who want space and range, the #2 is aimed at the original mission: make urban mobility effortless and fun for one or two people, most of the time. Expect a tiny footprint, easy parking, fast charging for short-range use, and cabin tech aligned with the rest of the lineup. The company frames #2 as a way to serve “diverse customer needs,” not as a niche side project. For long-time Fortwo fans, the message is simple. The smallest Smart is coming back, and it is electric.
Timing
Smart says the car is in its final design and development phase now, with production planned in China and a world premiere targeted for late 2026. Launch markets include China and Europe first, with additional regions to follow. More technical details will be provided as the program transitions from design freeze to validation.