Smart will ditch its gas engines for the 2018 model year in the US and Canada, with the small car brand switching its entire lineup to electric motors.
The current 2017 range of gas powered Smart ForTwo coupes and convertibles will continue as is, but the 2018 range will only have electric motors.
In a letter to Smart’s North American dealers, Dietmar Exler, head of Mercedes-Benz USA, wrote, “Developments within the micro-car segment present some challenges for the current smart product portfolio. A dedicated focus on the electric drive in the U.S. and Canada provides a logical step to support a sustainable, zero emissions future.”
The change will not affect other markets where Smart will continue sell cars with internal combustion engines and electric motors. The larger Smart ForFour is not sold in the US or Canada.
In 2016, Smart sold 6,211 cars in the US and 144,479 across the world. Daimler as whole, including Mercedes-Benz, sold a total of 2.1 million vehicles.
Source: Reuters
