Smart has announced it’s re-entering the city car market with a new EV called the Smart #2.
The company will launch this super-compact two-seat electric car in late 2026. It’s one of three new EVs Smart plans to release over the next three years.
Smart previously sold an electric version of its original city car – the ForTwo EQ – but discontinued that model in 2024.
Since then, the brand has focused on larger vehicles. These include the #1 compact SUV, its coupe-SUV sibling the #3, and the upcoming #5 C-segment SUV.
Smart says the new #2 will “build on the heritage” of the original ForTwo. This marks the company’s return to the A segment, which it helped create.
Development and Design
The car evolved from a feasibility study called “project: two.” Mercedes-Benz Design handled the styling work.
Early teaser images suggest the #2 will echo the instantly recognizable lines of the ForTwo. Expect an upright rear end, large windscreen, and stubby bonnet.
Smart hasn’t released technical details about the #2 yet. The company confirmed the car will be built for global markets in China.
The brand’s existing models use the SEA platform developed by parent company Geely. This platform is shared with the Volvo EX30. However, the #2 is expected to use a new architecture.
Whatever its underpinnings, significant improvements over the ForTwo EQ are expected. That model had a 17.6kWh battery and 99-mile range.
Technology and Market Positioning
Smart claims the new model will feature “cutting-edge” EV technology not seen before in the segment. The company says it will evolve the core qualities of the original Smart ForTwo.
Smart boss Dirk Adelmann emphasized Europe as a key market for the #2.
“The confirmation of our ‘project: two’ and the upcoming launch of the smart #2 marks a milestone moment for the smart brand on a global scale. The smart #2 will shape a new era of individual urban automobility, especially in classic smart cities like Rome, London or Paris. The new smart #2 will be a unique, authentic addition to the all-electric product portfolio of smart in Europe.”
The A-segment currently houses budget-focused four-seat models like the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03.
The #2 will likely offer a smaller but more premium package. It should be closer in size to quadricycles like the Citroen Ami and Mobilize Duo – but with the safety features, specification, and powertrain of a full electric car.
