Remember that car brand Smart? It’s set to return to New Zealand soon.
It will be represented here by the Armstrong group. Of the announcement, head honcho Rick Armstrong said; “We are very honoured to have this opportunity to represent smart Automobile in New Zealand. It fits perfectly with our existing Mercedes-Benz representation throughout New Zealand in key centers, and will provide a separate but very complementary product offering.”
Armstrong sees Smart as “filling a large gap in the premium EV market” here.
Armstrong’s will set up facilities for Smart in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin and cover a full sales and service customer experience.
The range will include the #1 and #3 models in several trims and will include the Brabus variants, which are capable of running to 100km/h in under four seconds.
The #5 SUV EV model (above) was premiered at the recent Beijing Auto Show as a concept car and will also soon be destined for New Zealand.
Armstrong said; “we are working through the final details now. We can’t wait to reintroduce the smart brand to New Zealand.”
Smart describes itself as ‘the new-premium intelligent all-electric auto brand’ and it will ‘leverage its new local partner’s extensive network resources and experience in premium customer care. Armstrong’s three self-owned Mercedes-Benz retail dealerships in Auckland, Christchurch & Dunedin will incorporate a store within store format to host smart showrooms’