The reborn 2024 Fiat 500e is coming to the U.S., Stellantis confirmed this week, though not till the primary quarter of 2024.
This would possibly not be the primary time Fiat has offered the 500e within the U.S. The earlier era of this mannequin was offered solely in California and Oregon—though it turned a favourite amongst EV lovers (and lovers of quirky small vehicles) for its perky driving character, constant vary, and discount lease costs.
It was the automotive that former Fiat Chrysler Cars CEO Sergio Marchionne known as out at varied occasions for being a loss chief for the model—to the tune of about $14,000 per automobile. “I hope you do not purchase it,” he even mentioned at one level to underscore the predicament with its compliance automotive.
With Fiat now underneath a brand new company entity, Stellantis, and Jeep electrical SUVs and a Dodge electrical muscle automotive arriving over the following couple of years, this 500e has a unique function for the corporate: It can provide an opportunity to experiment with the way it sells EVs forward of these higher-stakes fashions.
New Fiat 500e
“We have to study the way forward for the electrical automotive future enterprise mannequin in America. So, it is clearly much less dangerous to study with the Fiat the place I do probably not have massive strain on the volumes,” mentioned Fiat CEO Olivier François to Inexperienced Automobile Stories on the Los Angeles auto present. “We’ll attempt issues. And if we’re capable of crack the code of what is subsequent for the client expertise, the advertising and marketing, the distribution, the possession mannequin, then it can give use a wholesome aggressive benefit that we will then share with the opposite manufacturers of the group.”
In keeping with François, Fiat will pursue extra than simply conventional gross sales, suggesting a subscription method like for an iPhone or ride-sharing companies like Free2Move. François mentioned the subscription answer may give prospects entry to the automotive anyplace from an hour to a 12 months. “I would favor to have the worth by the mile, by the day, or the month,” François mentioned.
“Possibly once in a while you’ve got a restricted availability of probably the most lovely automotive you’ve got ever seen, and that one it is advisable to purchase, no subscription, first come first serve,” François added. “And it’ll have a ridiculously excessive worth and will probably be offered out.”
New Fiat 500e
François mentioned that a number of variations of the automotive may very well be supplied. It was proven on the L.A. auto present as a two-door hatchback with particular variations curated by way of life manufacturers Armani, Bulgari, and Kartell. It may additionally seem as a convertible, a four-door hatchback with a suicide rear door on the passenger aspect, or a performance-oriented Abarth mannequin. François instructed the variations may be supplied in six-month runs. An Abarth model of the 500e is anticipated to be proven subsequent week.
Whereas the final era of the 500e wasn’t offered in Europe, its resounding success there present completely different dynamics this time round. François mentioned the model is not going to low cost the 500e as each U.S. sale might be one much less European sale.
Proper now, the Fiat 500X is the model’s solely automobile within the U.S. It can stick round by way of its life cycle then fade away. After that, the 500e would be the model’s solely automotive. “I’ve a really clear plan to not do anything apart from the five hundred,” mentioned François.
The 500e once more will not be offered in all 50 states, however this time it will not be simply restricted to California emissions states. Fiat has mentioned it can focus gross sales in choose city facilities throughout the nation. The corporate has not but mentioned what these cities might be.
with further reporting from Bengt Halvorson
