The two-seater model features a 55kW electric motor with 130Nm of torque, giving it a 0-60km time of less than five seconds and a top speed of 125kph. The 17.6kWh also offers a range of 145km.

The model is produced at the Hambach plant in France and sold more than a thousand models in Europe last year. This year, production of the electric drive will be stepped up continuously to satisfy high global demand reported by smart.

Dr Annette Winkler, head of smart, said: ‘smart has conquered the hearts of our Chinese customers by storm – they appreciate and love smart because it is the perfect city car. By bringing the smart electric drive to the Chinese market we will be the first European importer to introduce a fully electric vehicle in China. Again we are proving our role as the global pacemaker of urban mobility. Our numerous forward-thinking clients in China will be enthusiastic about the smart electric drive’s fabulous driving dynamics.’

In addition to Germany and Italy, China is one of the smart’s main sales markets, with sales there increasing by 43.8% in 2012.