Fiat, a model right down to only one mannequin, is getting a jolt of vitality in North America with the return of the electrical 500e in 2024.
Fiat model CEO Olivier Francois plans to announce the 500e’s return Thursday on the Los Angeles Auto Present. The official reveal of the North American 500e will happen subsequent 12 months, on the 2023 L.A. present.
It is scheduled to go on sale within the first quarter of 2024.
Stellantis possible will export the 500e from its Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy, the place the European model, often known as the New 500, is constructed.
“Since 1899, Fiat has performed a job in creating mobility, not solely delivering autos to the plenty but additionally pursuing a social mission and driving the wave of ‘what’s subsequent,'” Francois stated in a press release. “At this time, greater than ever, we face a world revolution, which signifies that prospects are searching for greater than only a automobile and we intend to embrace their altering wants. The brand new 500e is greater than a automobile, it’s a social venture to feed America’s urge for food for change towards sustainable mobility.”
Fiat discontinued North American gross sales of the 500e and the usual gasoline-powered 500 in North America. The reintroduction of the 500e is welcome information for U.S. and Canadian sellers who’ve had nothing to promote besides the 500X since earlier than Fiat Chrysler merged with PSA Group to kind Stellantis in 2021.
Throughout Thursday’s press convention, three one-off 500e designs from Italian manufacturers Armani, Bulgari and Kartell will probably be on stage with Francois. The fashions had been first proven in March 2020 in Milan when Fiat unveiled the electrical New 500 for Europe.
The 500e has a rocky historical past. Former FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne urged customers in 2014 to not purchase the 500e as a result of he stated every sale value the corporate $14,000. The late Marchionne, who wasn’t a fan of U.S. insurance policies pushing automakers to construct EVs, stated on the time that he would promote the minimal quantity he wanted to promote and “not yet one more.”
Issues are totally different underneath Stellantis, which has dedicated $35 billion to electrification and software program because the automaker appears to turn out to be a frontrunner within the EV house. Fiat is the most recent Stellantis marque to unveil EV plans for the U.S., following Ram, Jeep and Dodge. Chrysler and Alfa Romeo have stated their lineups will turn out to be absolutely electrical later this decade.