AutoBeta(AutoBeta.net)03/31 Report--

On March 28th, Geely Daimler both announced that they would set up a joint venture to jointly operate and promote the transformation of the smart brand around the world, turning smart into a high-end electric smart car brand.

Geely's 50% stake in the smart brand has aroused widespread concern in China, and there are different views on the cooperation between the two sides. The secretary general of Zhongguancun New Battery Technology Innovation Alliance and the chairman of the Battery 100 Association are not very optimistic about Geely Daimler's deal. He said: "not very optimistic about this deal, smart or MINI, in addition to the brand, the product is also a chicken rib, making electric cars under 300km." Unless the price is low, the market is also cool. "

(chairman of the Battery 100 Association, Yu Puritanism)

In addition to Puritanism, Lu Wenliang, general manager of Sadie Consulting Automotive Industry Research Center, said, "if the range of pure electric products of luxury brands is too low, it will be difficult to win favor in the market for a long time only based on the premium power of the brand." on the contrary, it may bring harm to its brand image. "

Prior to this, experts from the China Automobile Circulation Association expressed the view that Geely won 50% of the smart brand. "the establishment of a joint venture between Daimler and Geely is the beginning of Geely's strategic layout. As a major shareholder of Daimler, it seems to be at a loss this time, but actually binding Mercedes-Benz is the value of this marriage, and Mercedes-Benz is Li Shufu's dream car."

Geely Daimler's new joint venture, which will be headquartered in China, is expected to be established by the end of 2019, each holding 50%. The pure electric smart will be designed by Mercedes-Benz's global design department, Geely Holdings Global R & D center will be responsible for engineering research and development, production in a new plant in China, and is expected to be put on the market and sold worldwide in 2022. In addition to small cars, as part of the overall new model research and development plan, smart's future product lineup also plans to expand to the fast-growing compact model segment.

Under the joint venture agreement, the new generation of pure electric smart will be designed by Mercedes-Benz's global design department, while Geely will be responsible for R & D, manufacturing and supply chain. The commercial terms of the joint venture have not been disclosed, but Geely's contribution is almost certain.

In July last year, Great Wall and BMW formally signed a joint venture contract, the two sides will set up a joint venture "beam car", the future beam car company will produce MINI electric cars, promote the electric brand MINI.

Both BMW and Daimler intend to transform to electric vehicles. BMW Daimler's small car brands have basically determined to be domestically made in the form of electric vehicles. Although China is the world's largest new energy market, the competition is also very fierce. Emerging car companies such as NIO Xiaopengweima have entered a state of delivery, and traditional car companies such as BYD and BAIC Guangzhou Automobile have also been deeply cultivated in the field of electric vehicles for many years, whether it is MINI or smart. After making China, they will face fierce competition from their peers.

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