smart #1 Debuts In Malaysia This Weekend, Launches In Q4 This Year

smart Malaysia (ProNet) recently held an exclusive preview of the smart #1 for invited guest late last week.

The highly anticipated new smart #1 is set to make its public debut in Malaysia this weekend at the Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam. This was confirmed by smart Malaysia (ProNet) through a press statement issued earlier today.

Said debut will see the model being presented to the public over a span of two days – July 22 and July 23 – for the first time in Malaysia by dealer-partners Hap Seng smart.

The smart #1 will be uncovered to the public for the first time this weekend on July 22 and 23 at the Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam by dealer-partners Hap Seng smart.

In the same statement, the firm also confirmed that it has already conducted an initial exclusive preview for specially invited guests last week at the brand’s headquarters in Subang Jaya. According to smart Malaysia, the two-day event was aimed towards catering the to the excitement and anticipation of local EV enthusiasts.

During said preview, guests were granted the opportunity to explore both the brand’s and model’s design identity, its premium sense, and the cutting-edge tech it promises to deliver. The event also included special test drive sessions, followed by product exploration sessions plus a networking space for invited guests as well.

During this exclusive preview, test-drives, product exploration, as well as networking sessions were held.

“By bringing people together, especially the EV enthusiasts and sharing knowledge, we hope to increase awareness and enable participants to explore our product firsthand by providing opportunity to get up close and personal with smart #1,’’ said smart Malaysia CEO Zhang Qiang. He also confirmed that the smart #1 – pronounces as ‘hashtag one’ – will officially launch sometime in the final quarter (Q4) of this year.

Apart from this preview, smart Malaysia also highlights that the #1 has undergone no less than 12,000 comprehensive and rigorous tests locally across a span of roughly six months. Included here were up to 2,000 KM of adaptive tests to assess its performance. These were meant to ensure the model’s localised telematics, chassis, and displays worked well under local driving conditions.

Over 12,000 tests, including 20,000 KM worth of adaptive assessments, were conducted over a span of six months to ensure the smart #1's telematics, chassis, displays, and performance worked well locally.

To refresh your memory, the smart brand was re-energised following its partial acquisition by Chinese automaking giant Geely Group – it co-owns the brand with Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler. This explains the model’s unmistakable design that was penned by the fabled three-point star marque. It even has a hotter – read: sportier – Brabus-badged twin that’s widely touted to arrive in Malaysia alongside the base car too.

Also, with the arrival of the Tesla Model Y earlier today with a starting price of RM199,000, speculation online is rife that the smart #1 could command an more competitive figure over which. More details surrounding which are expected to be released as we get closer to its planned Q4 launch.