smart fortwo electric drive large-scale series production to begin in 2012

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Daimler owned smart has announced that large-scale production of the all-electric smart fortwo will start in 2012 in Hambach, France.

The Hambach plant has 1,600 workers and last during last year they produced 140,000 units of the tiny smart fortwo. In September 2008, the brand celebrated its tenth anniversary along with the 1-millionth smart fortwo produced at the Hambach plant.

A small series production of the smart fortwo electric drive will begin already next month. 1,000 units will be produced to customers participating in various mobility projects in major cities in Europe and U.S. in order to generate additional feedback from the use under everyday conditions. First trial customers should get their cars already end of this year.

From 2012 this little electric vehicle, equipped with lithium-ion-battery, will be offered to customers through the smart sales network around the world.

Power comes from a 30 kW motor that has a range of about 115 km (71 miles) from a single charge. 50 km/h (31 mph) comes in about 6.5 seconds. Its lithium-ion battery comes from a California based Tesla Motors.