Daimler Begins Export of Smart Forfour to China

VIENNA – Production of China-bound Smart Forfour cars is under way at the Revoz plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.

Revoz, a car factory owned 100% by Renault, manufactures the Smart 4-seater for Daimler together with the third-generation Renault Twingo small car in a cooperation internally called the Edison project.

“The first batch is expected to arrive next month in China,” Albin Kuznik, the Revoz board member in charge of production, tells the Dnevnik daily. “Currently, we produce 50 vehicles per week for the needs of the Chinese market.”

While Smart Fortwo models were launched in China in the previous decade, it will be the first time a Smart 4-seater will be sold there.

“Our estimate is that the Chinese market should account for 4% to 5% of our production,” Revoz CEO Patrice Haettel tells local media.

Revoz manufactured 129,405 cars in 2015, up 9.1% from 2014. Last year’s total figure includes 83,376 Renault Twingos, 41,479 units of the Smart Forfour as well as the last 4,550 units of the Renault Clio II. Production of the old Clio was phased out in May 2015.

Haettel expects production to increase another 10% for 2016. However, there currently are no plans to hire additional workers. The company keeps the current system of two shifts with its 2,100-strong workforce at the present level and adds Saturday shifts in order to make more cars.

Despite the production increase, Revoz’s output remains far below the original Edison project plans.

Production of the current-generation Renault Twingo and Smart Forfour was launched in 2014. The company added a half-night shift in December 2014 but had to cut it the following February. It then reduced production further from 42 to 38 cars per hour in September.

Revoz achieved record production with 212,680 cars in 2009.