Is the smart logo the same as Mercedes-Benz?
2 Answers
smart is not the logo of Mercedes-Benz. smart is a product of the collaboration between German Mercedes-Benz and Swiss watch giant Swatch. The 'S' in the name represents Swatch, the 'M' stands for Daimler AG, and 'art' signifies art, representing the artistic nature of their cooperation; while 'smart' itself means clever and lively, aligning with the brand's philosophy. Here is some relevant information about Smart: Smart is specifically designed for urban commuting, grocery shopping, and school runs, with a total length of less than 2.7 meters and equipped with a 0.6L three-cylinder engine, capable of reaching a top speed of 120km/h. Smart offers very agile handling, and its compact size makes parking easy.
This is actually a pretty common misconception—let me break it down historically. I know Smart originated in 1998 as a microcar project jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and Swatch, with Mercedes handling the tech and Swatch the design, almost like a "baby brand" under Mercedes. Later, Mercedes fully acquired it, but Smart always maintained its distinct DNA—its logo is that arrow-shaped symbol representing eco-friendliness and compactness, while Mercedes uses the three-pointed star, completely different identities. Now, Smart has pivoted to electric under the Geely-Mercedes joint venture, reborn as an entirely independent brand. So even though Smart once operated under Mercedes’ wing, it was never an official emblem of Mercedes. Knowing this backstory, you won’t mix them up in car chats with friends again.
