TUI and Smart to partner on co-branded EVs

smart and TUI are set to offer special edition electric SUVs as both company cars and rental vehicles for customers. Initially, this will include TUI-branded editions of the smart #1 and #3 cars, but there are plans to offer a special edition of the smart electric SUV #5.

A leading travel company, TUI operates hundreds of hotels and resorts around the world, cruise ships, airlines and more. The ‘special edition’ BEVs will therefore be offered at ‘attractive’ rates for TUI employees, their family and friends, as well as customers connected to its business. Further down the line, TUI plans to offer the models as company cars at its resort destinations.

Under the bonnet, the vehicles themselves will largely remain the same as the standard Smart models. However, they will be available in TUI colours and feature TUI accessories, including a navigation system which will display the nearest TUI travel agent or hotel onscreen.

Details on other features, as well as pricing, are still to be announced. But the initiative is part of a wider project by the company to ensure that 90 per cent of employee service and operation vehicles and 80-90% of all guest transfer vehicles will be electric by 2030. The partnership was announced at a joint presentation between TUI CEO Sebastian Ebel and Wolfgang Ufer, CEO of smart Germany, which outlined how the ‘special edition’ EVs fit into the TUI ‘People, Planet, Progress’ strategy.

TUI CEO Sebastian Ebel said: “With this partnership, TUI is not only increasing the visibility of its own brand, but also strengthening emotional brand loyalty. Customers experience e-mobility as part of the holiday experience. The design, technology and responsibility of the smart brand are a perfect fit with the TUI Smile and its global recognition.”

For those who aren’t familiar, the Smart #1 and #3 are the company’s first two EVs. The entry level Smart #1 comes in a range of variants, with the base ‘Pro’ trim featuring a relatively small 49kWh capacity with 310km of range and a maximum charging rate of 130kW. Meanwhile the Smart #3 is a slightly larger EV with the Premium trim featuring a 62kWh battery and 455km of range. In April, Smart opened its European order books for the Smart #5, an electric SUV targeting the premium segment.

tuigroup.com