After greater than 26 years, manufacturing of the sensible fortwo on the Hambach plant on the German-French border, now owned by INEOS, ended on 28 March 2024.
Photograph: sensible
On the finish of 2020, Mercedes offered the Hambach plant to INEOS, who began the Grenadier off-roader manufacturing and some months in the past, the Quartermaster pick-up. Based on the contract signed between the 2 events, INEOS was supposed to supply the sensible fortwo for an additional interval, and that interval has now ended.
Greater than 2.5 million models in 26 years
In 26 years, greater than 2.5 million models sensible fortwo have been produced on the Hambach plant, a median of lower than 100,000 models per 12 months. sensible has develop into a 100% electrical model since 2019, and within the final 12 months, manufacturing has dropped to beneath 20,000 models.Mercedes has acknowledged a number of instances that Good has by no means been worthwhile. The Germans have tried a number of instances to make the sensible model worthwhile however failed.
The try and broaden the vary with the sensible Coupe and Roadster was a failure. Solely 43,000 models had been offered from August 2002 to November 2005. Later, the sensible Formore SUV idea unveiled in 2004 by no means made it to sequence manufacturing.
One other try adopted with the sensible fourfour. The primary technology (W454) was a mannequin primarily based on the Mitsubishi Coilt and was produced at Mitsubishi’s NedCar plant within the Netherlands between 2004 and 2006. After eight years, in 2014, Mercedes tried to revitalize the sensible forfour by means of cooperation with Renault, collectively growing the second-generation sensible forfour and the third-generation Renault Twingo. Each had been produced at Renault’s plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. From 2014 to 2019 they’d typical engines, adopted in 2017 by electrical variants. Manufacturing of the sensible forfour was stopped in 2021, whereas manufacturing of the Twingo continues. Renault unveiled final 12 months an idea of a Twingo successor that it desires to promote from 2026 at a beginning worth of 20,000 euros.
Starting of 2020: partnership with Geely
In early 2020, Mercedes introduced it had signed a partnership with Chinese language group Geely to kind a 50-50 three way partnership known as “sensible Vehicle CO. Ltd” to supply the subsequent technology of sensible fashions in China.
The primary mannequin of the brand new sensible period, the sensible #1, was unveiled within the fall of 2022 and is a small-class SUV constructed on the SEA platform, along with the Volvo EX30. In spring 2023 the sensible #3 SUV-coupe model was additionally unveiled, which is out there at a barely greater worth than sensible #1. Good has introduced that it’s going to launch a brand new mannequin yearly, and the subsequent one can be sensible #5, a van that has nothing to do with the sensible spirit. It measures 4.80 meters and is a shortened model of the Volvo EM90 idea.
For 2026, we lastly anticipate a successor to the sensible fortwo, which is the essence of the sensible model, but it surely’s too early for particulars. Almost certainly, the brand new mannequin may very well be known as sensible #2, with Geely holding this title for the two-seater.
Concept of Swtachmobile belongs to Nicolas Hayek, Swatch CEO
The concept for a small metropolis mannequin got here from Nicolas Hayek, head of watchmaker Swatch, in 1982. His thought was often called the Swatchmobile. Initially, Hayek tried to work with VW, however after Ferdinand Piech turned head of the VW concern in 1993, VW stopped all talks. Hayek was subsequently turned down by BMW, Fiat, Basic Motors, and Renault earlier than Mercedes lastly agreed to collectively develop the mission. Initially, a 50-50% three way partnership with a capital of fifty million Swiss francs was fashioned between Swatch and Mercedes. Hayek a minimum of wished a hybrid powertrain, however Mercedes selected to make use of a standard engine. Earlier than its launch in 1998, the sensible confronted critical stability issues. Chief engineer Johann Tomforde was changed by Gerhard Fritz, who lowered the middle of gravity, widened the wheelbase, modified the steering, and added extra ballast to the entrance axle for higher stability.Disagreements with Mercedes over powertrain and growing prices resulting from stability issues made Hayek surrender, and Mercedes purchased out Swatch’s shares in 1998, Good changing into a 100% Daimler firm.