Chen Xiaofei: Companion 6 has become the largest model of smart, and it will not extend to larger models in the future

On April 24, 2026, the 19th Beijing International Automobile Exhibition was officially opened in the spotlight. With the theme of "leading the era, smart future", this auto show focuses on cutting-edge technologies such as intelligent driving, full-stack self-developed architecture, 800V high-voltage fast charging, and AI large model entry. In the same period, the Automobile House invited Chen Xiaofei, deputy general manager of smart China Marketing Company, to carry out in-depth exchanges, focus on innovation together, and talk about the future of the industry. Chen Xiaofei, deputy general manager of smart China Marketing Company, shared insights on smart Beijing Auto Show double car appearance, Elf No. 6 product positioning and brand development strategy. Chen Xiaofei first introduced the core highlights of the Beijing Auto Show -smart brought two heavy new cars: the world premiere of the Elf No. 2 concept car, the pre-sale of the Elf No. 6 hatchback sedan and the simultaneous opening of the exhibition car to the store, and the test drive will arrive at the stores nationwide in the middle and late next month. The booth was fully upgraded at the same time, with the platinum tone of Genie 2 as the main line, creating a more stylish and luxurious overall visual style, and all models were unveiled. At the product level, Companion 6 builds a competitive advantage in the four dimensions of "the most beautiful, stable, able to run, and safe": the elk test score reaches 131 km/h, and the car home evaluation breaks through 140 km/h; equipped with the Thunder and Electric Mixing 2.0 system, the comprehensive range of full oil and full electricity is up to 1810 km; The hatchback tailgate adopts a honeycomb-type anti-torsion ring rigid structure, which balances safety and spatial performance. The Genie 2 concept car is based on the new self-developed ECA pure electric platform, which continues the classic "four wheels and four corners" layout, integrates the design language of luxury goods and sports brands, and attracts a lot of attention after release. At the level of brand strategy, Chen Xiaofei emphasized that smart always takes the "Mercedes-Benz original design, safety first, and enjoyable driving" as the core standard, rather than defining the brand boundaries with the body size. In the future, it will not extend to larger models, and will continue to focus on boutique and personalized routes, with the brand proposition of "born to love different" and the urban user group pursuing individual expression. The following is a transcript of the conversation: Automobile House: Mr. Chen, I am glad that you can accept our exclusive interview. This Beijing Auto Show, can you introduce us to the highlights of our booth? Chen Xiaofei: Thank you for the car home. I believe the highlight of this smart booth is the release of two new cars. The first is the Elf No. 2 concept car. The second is the Elf No. 6 hatchback sedan. The No. 6 has been officially pre-sold yesterday. From today, the showcase can slowly arrive at the store. By mid-to-late next month, the test drive can arrive at the store. The whole booth has also been greatly upgraded this year, matching the new models, especially the overall color of Genie No. 2 Platinum. The whole booth has also been made more fashionable, more like a personalized and trendy way of light luxury brands. Welcome to our booth. In addition to this car, all the whole series, from the No. 1, No. 3, No. 5 of the elves, including various versions, are on the scene, and there are some very interesting interactive devices that everyone can check in, which is more interesting. Car House: I saw the Genie 6 car yesterday, I think it is a hatchback sedan, I would like to ask how it was designed at that time? Chen Xiaofei: smart is a light luxury personalized new energy vehicle brand designed by Mercedes-Benz and made in China. Although No. 6 is the largest car in smart, we have been discussing why we launched a larger model, and we have also found that the market has this demand. The smart brand has been around for 28 years. The users who bought smart in the fuel car era have now grown up, and they also have a demand for larger models. In the face of these users, smart does not want to be a special traditional car, but hopes to bring different characteristics and choices to everyone. There is a saying of smart called "natural love is different", hoping to provide users with different light luxury personalized trend choices. The hatchback sedan still has a unique advantage in this segment. It has the spaciousness and comfort of a sedan. At the same time, it has a smart large hatchback. When the trunk is opened, it is 1.9 meters high and more than 1 meter wide. After the rear seat is down, it can form a space layout of 2 meters × 1.4 meters, which is a different choice for users. Coupled with the original design concept of the Mercedes-Benz team, a huge shark installation was set up next to the smart Genie 6 on the booth site, which was the source of inspiration for the design. Streamlined, very beautiful styling, including an elegant, moving feeling, and four adjustable tail wings, full of sporty feeling, I hope to give Chinese consumers a different choice. Car House: Who is the target audience of Elf 6, can you introduce it in terms of age and gender? Chen Xiaofei: For smart Genie 6, we also conducted relevant research internally, combined with market data, and conducted a lot of research on potential customers, focusing on the needs of car users in about 200,000 market segments. The survey results show that the sedan market in this price range is still very large. However, fuel vehicles still account for a large percentage of this segment. From the market data, luxury brand ABB's 34c model sales are still very impressive, so we are also thinking about whether we can target the new generation of users - those who have a younger mentality and pursue personality expression. The word "young" here does not simply refer to age, but a more open and energetic attitude to life. This part of the user wants to have a different choice, want the product to be more personalized, and at the same time have a better taste and texture. Against this background of demand, smart Genie 6 was built based on the advantages of two major shareholders: on the one hand, it comes from the design capabilities of Mercedes-Benz, and on the other hand, it comes from the strength of Geely's manufacturing and new energy technologies in China, including Raytheon Hybrid 2.0, as well as the support of smart cockpit, intelligent driving and other technologies. Therefore, this car not only has luxury attributes, but also has obvious advantages in intelligence. It can be said that it is a product that is "smarter than luxury, smarter and more luxurious". If you look at the product positioning, the first luxury hatchback sedan of many young people in the past may have come from a traditional luxury model such as the 34c, and the smart Genie 6 hopes to provide users with new options. It can be understood that in addition to 34c, the user can also have a completely new option such as "36c". Car House: Were there more singles? Or is there a second car for the family? Chen Xiaofei: Judging from our user portrait and the user structure of existing models, smart existing models are more used as the second car of the family, usually used by wives, to undertake daily trips such as transporting children. I believe that the smart Genie 6 will be more popular with young users who pursue personality, and as the first luxury car in life, it is also a very suitable choice. Car House: In addition to being beautiful or growing in size, what are the core highlights of Companion 6, and what scenarios can you introduce to showcase its product advantages? Chen Xiaofei: You can use a few "most" inside to summarize the characteristics of smart Companion No. 6. First, the most beautiful hatchback. From the exterior to the interior, the whole car continues the style derived from Mercedes-Benz design, especially the atmosphere of the interior is very prominent, so it is easier to attract users who like personality. The car has a rising flying saucer sound, all the atmosphere lights, the linkage effect of lighting and music, as well as the turbo air conditioning air outlet design and laser engraving process, the air outlet is also equipped with more than 190 LED light beads to echo, the overall creation of a very strong texture and immersive atmosphere experience. Second, the most stable hatchback. In terms of vehicle dynamic performance, Smart Elf No. 6 conducted a high-speed elk test (ISO 3888-1) at the Yancheng test site, with a score of 131 km/h. Some media also conducted further tests, such as the professional evaluation team of Auto House, which tested a stable performance of more than 140 km/h at higher speeds, and gave a high evaluation of the handling stability of the vehicle. At the same time, the vehicle also shows good grip and stability in the wetland control test. Third, the most runnable hatchback coupe. The vehicle is equipped with the Thunder and Electric Mixing 2.0 system, which can reach 1810 kilometers when it is full of oil and electricity. There is no need to replenish energy halfway from Beijing to Shanghai. For scenarios such as holidays or long-distance return home in the Spring Festival, it can effectively reduce endurance anxiety. Fourth, the safest hatchback. In terms of body safety structure, the hatchback door of smart Genie 6 adopts the rigid structure of "honeycomb anti-torsion ring", which ensures the hatchback shape while taking into account the body strength, spatial performance and quietness. At the same time, this is also a hatchback model with a large body width in the same class, especially the rear space. Previously, smart worked with Kobe Bryant, who was able to ride the smart model comfortably even when he was tall. The smart Genie 6 continued the "four-wheeled and four-corner" structural layout, further optimizing the interior space. Taking our new global CMO Kang Zong as an example, he was a little over one meter tall. When sitting in the second row, there was still a space around his head, and more than two fists on his knees. The overall riding space was abundant. Car House: Many people say that smart is getting bigger now, and there are more and more product matrices. How do we keep ourselves? As a woman, I can see that this car may be small, cute, and delicate, but now it is getting bigger and bigger, how do you keep yourself? Chen Xiaofei: Almost all media teachers will ask me this question. Are smart models getting bigger and bigger or are they still smart? The smart brand has a history of 28 years. About five years ago, smart established a joint venture with Geely Group in China, which opened the way for the development of new energy. It is also in these five years that Smart has successively launched Smart Companion No. 1, Smart Companion No. 3, Smart Companion No. 5 last year, and Smart Companion No. 6 this year, and the product size has increased compared to the past. Admittedly, in the first two decades of brand development, smart mainly focused on small cars, so many people will naturally think that smart is a "car brand". But from a brand perspective, smart has never simply defined itself as a car brand, and brands and specific products are actually two different logics. As of this year, smart has formed a relatively complete product family, and smart will not continue to develop into larger models in the future, such as six-seater models, large SUVs or MPVs, etc. These product types, whether Mercedes-Benz or Geely, have already been laid out in their respective brand systems. From the current market trend, small cars are showing a "boutique" trend, while larger models are showing a "personalized" trend. The No. 6 is currently the largest model of the smart brand, with a length of less than 5 meters, about 4.9 meters, and a wheelbase of 2926 mm, which is optimized for space utilization. When judging whether a model meets the smart brand attributes internally, it will not simply use the body size as a standard, but whether to adhere to the three core DNAs of smart. First, the original design from Mercedes-Benz. Second, safety first, always maintaining a high standard and uncompromising attitude in terms of safety, which stems not only from Mercedes-Benz's safety philosophy, but also from Geely's long-term insistence in the field of safety. Third, enjoy driving, both the driving pleasure of the driver and the comfort of the rider. The chassis and driving adjustment of the vehicle combines the experience of the Mercedes-Benz engineering team and the Chinese engineer team, and at the same time combines the technical empowerment of Barbos and other aspects, so that smart has formed a unique adjustment orientation in the driving style and driving experience. Car House: Companion 2 is returning to two doors and two seats. What are the highlights of this concept car? Since it is returning to two doors and two seats, what are the expectations in terms of the target audience? Chen Xiaofei: Genie 2 is a very high-profile model this year. After the exhibition, it attracted a large number of media and content creators with high traffic to the smart booth for attention and experience. The overall discussion and attention are very high. A lot of people showed a clear interest and expectation for this car. On the one hand, it continues the compact and dexterous product characteristics of the early smart models, while retaining the classic smart elements in the design. On the other hand, the design team has incorporated more crossover inspiration into the car, such as referring to luxury goods, sports brands and some design elements of fashion brands. The texture design on the concept car resembles the common pattern details of luxury goods, and the design of the door handle draws on the zipper structure common in sports brands, making the whole car more innovative and unique in vision and experience. In terms of architectural design, smart Genie 2 still adheres to the iconic "four-wheel and four-corner" layout concept of smart. The so-called "four wheels and four corners" refers to arranging the wheels at the four corners of the body as much as possible. This idea was first put forward in the era of smart fuel vehicles, when smart was mainly aimed at urban travel scenarios in cosmopolitan cities to solve the problem of parking difficulties. On the premise that the body size is small, by arranging the wheels at four corners, on the one hand, the stability of the vehicle can be improved, and on the other hand, the space can be left as much as possible for the riding area in the vehicle. The smart Genie 2 is based on the new self-developed ECA pure electric platform. Because the pure electric platform no longer needs the engine and gearbox structure of traditional fuel vehicles, it has more flexibility in the layout of the interior space, and can achieve more generous in-vehicle space performance than previous fuel models. From the perspective of the user population, the scope of application of this car is also very wide. It can be the first car of life for young people who have not yet graduated from school and a small car that is perfect for urban use for young couples who have just started a family. At the same time, it is also suitable for use as the second or even the third car in the family, as large SUVs and luxury models gradually increase, in the daily commute or urban narrow road environment, large vehicles will face some challenges in parking and traffic. For example, traffic congestion and parking difficulties are common on hutong roads in Beijing or narrow streets in Shanghai, as well as during peak school pickup times. In such usage scenarios, the value of small city cars will be more obvious. For example, if a family owns a large SUV and is equipped with a smart Genie 2 for daily commutes, pickups for children, or short trips to the city, it will not be unusual, but will be able to meet the travel needs of different scenarios. Car House: My friend is also in this configuration in the fourth-tier city. The second car in the family is the elf, just to pick up the children. I would like to ask, like Genie 2, there will be some men who bought it completely, that is, for the daughter-in-law in the house or the elderly to go out to pick up the children. Do you have any data on this? Chen Xiaofei: At present, there is no complete data on this aspect. Previously, smart was mainly a user group in the era of fuel vehicles, but recently we have begun to gradually reconnect with these old users and invite them to re-focus on the upcoming smart Sprite 2. Over the past two months, we have conducted a number of surveys and invited some fuel vehicle era users to participate in interviews and discussions. Although the complete data may still be available on the Mercedes-Benz side, from the dozens or even hundreds of old users we have met on site, the proportion of male users is not low. In the age of the fuel car, the internal codes of the smart Sprite models are 451, 453, and there are also a number of Brabus versions, as well as co-branded versions with fashion and luxury. Therefore, these models are not only the second car in the family, but also attract many enthusiast users who are keen on driving and modification culture. For example, the night before, I also communicated with the president of the Fuel Vehicle Age Motorists Association. They talked about the experience of driving a smart fuel version model to collectively complete a long-distance trip on the Sichuan-Tibet Line, and a team of small smart elf models drove on the Sichuan-Tibet Line together. This experience is very unforgettable for many car owners. He said that when we launched the convocation order, we gathered the original oil truck users to do something together. When we played together, we showed a photo of them going to Tibet at the scene. When one of the presidents of the motorist association saw the photo, he was very moved, and even cried on the spot, which had a strong emotional resonance to the experience and the culture of the motorist. Car House: Will Genie 2 come up with some relevant color schemes, interiors for male users? Xiaofei Chen: From the global data, Fortwo is not an absolutely female-dominated model in the era of fuel vehicles. After entering the era of new energy in China, it attracted more women's attention because the overall shape was more cute and the adaptability in household use scenarios was stronger. In addition, vehicles have significantly improved in terms of material use and overall refinement compared to the era of fuel vehicles. The overall style of the fuel car version is relatively more open and "playful", and the sense of refinement is not so prominent. In the new energy version, this sense of refinement and quality has been significantly enhanced. At the same time, the demand of male users for maneuverability and driving pleasure still exists, and it can still be well retained and reflected in this model.