The Smart #1 EV recently made its debut in China, and it gives us an idea on how much the electric SUV could cost in other regions, including Malaysia. After all, it’s confirmed that Proton Edar will be the importer, distributor, and dealer for Smart vehicles in Malaysia and Thailand.

In China, the Smart #1 retails from 190,000 Chinese yuan (about RM126,330) for the base Pro+ model. The Premium trim, on the other hand, goes for 230,000 yuan (approximately RM152,900).

Do note that these are “pre-sale” prices; the finalised pricing will only be revealed sometime in June before deliveries begin in Q3 2022.

Just like the European-bound model, the Smart #1 for China features a 200kW motor driving the rear wheels that outputs 272PS and 343Nm of torque. This allows the EV to go from 0-100kmph in only 6.7 seconds with a top speed of 180kmph.

Aside from that, the Smart #1 – according to the CLTC standard – has a range of up to 535km for the Pro+; it goes up to 560km for the Premium model, thanks to the use of silicon carbide (SiC) technology in the motor. The Premium trim also gets a more sophisticated driver assistance systems, along with larger 19-inch wheels.

To recap, the Smart #1 starts at 190,000 yuan (about RM126,330) in China, and deliveries of the EV will commence sometime in Q3 2022 in the country. It remains to be seen exactly when the #1 will debut here in Malaysia; here’s hoping the EV will be priced similarly to China on our shores, thanks to the incentives given by the government.