Smart starts international platform on the future of urban life

The automobile brand smart is taking up this subject and inviting the exchange of ideas and dialogue on "The future of the city" in six European cities. A temporary exhibition platform is being set up – "smart urban stage" – where future-oriented projects will be exhibited. In the next twelve months the "smart urban stage" will visit the cities of Berlin, Rome, Zurich, Paris, Madrid and London.

"What will the future be like in urban areas and how will we move around? These questions have always driven the smart brand. With the ‘smart urban stage’ we are bringing leading thinkers from relevant areas together to discuss visions of urban life with them", says Marc Langenbrinck, Managing Director smart brand and Head of Sales & Marketing smart.

The starting signal will be given for the "smart urban stage" in Berlin. From 08 May to 13 June 2010 ten national projects from the fields of society, design, architecture, media, science and mobility will be presented in specially constructed temporary premises with an innovative architecture concept at Oranienburger Straße 59-63.

The works shown are concerned with future-oriented and sustainable ideas relating to the future of urban life. They aim to provide answers to the question of how people living in urban areas can bring more community and sustainability into their everyday lives. The exhibits will be curated by experts and leading thinkers from these fields.

The importance of the projects is reflected in the "smart future minds award". The car brand will award the future prize with prize money of €10,000 to the most innovative project at each of the six "smart urban stage" stations. The national winners from each of the six cities will also take part in the international final where the overall 2011 winner will be chosen.

In addition to the exhibition, smart is the first electric car manufacturer to offer a personal introduction to the subject of electric mobility. Those interested can experience mobility of the future in theory and practice and test drive the smart fortwo electric drive.

The smart fortwo electric drive is one of the main players on the ‘smart urban stage’. With its zero-emission drive it is already redefining urban mobility. smart has been producing the electric variant of the two-seater car since the end of 2009 and the electric vehicles are being delivered to the first customers in a total of eight countries in Europe and North America. From 2012 the smart fortwo electric drive as an alternative drive will be available from dealers alongside the petrol and diesel models.