Skip advert
Advertisement

Fiat to focus on 500 and Panda family

New all-electric Fiat 500e and 500 Giardiniera estate to join range by 2022, however the ageing Punto will be axed

Fiat 500 - front

FCA boss Sergio Marchionne has confirmed plans to realign the Fiat brand to focus on money makers like the fashionable 500 and practical Panda city cars. The news was revealed at the company’s five-year Capital Market Day presentation in Balocco, Italy. 

“Fiat in Europe is going to get redefined in a more exclusive area,” Marchionne said. “It is difficult for the mass markets to be profitable, and in our plan we have identified areas where Fiat works best.” 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Best city cars to buy in 2018

As such, Mr Marchionne announced his plans to focus the Fiat brand around models that can “recoup the cost of electric development” – phasing out slow-sellers like the ageing Punto supermini. He highlighted a total revamp of the 500 model range, with an all-new 500e due in 2020. 

It comes as part of a €9bn investment in electrification over the next five years. Marchionne expects 60 per cent of European FCA sales to be of electrified models by 2022. 

The 500e will be joined by an all-new retro-inspired 500 Giardiniera - a small estate car with an all-electric powertrain. The 500X and 500L will feature hybrid powertrains, too, to create a “fully electrified 500 family”. 

Elsewhere, Fiat will work to improve the Panda – another popular and profitable model in Europe. It will focus on “practicality and simplicity” and will not feature an electrified powertrain, instead favouring “affordable, eco-friendly combustion engines”.

The existing Punto will be axed, but it’s not yet clear whether Fiat will drop the Tipo hatchback and Estate models at the end of their current lifecycle. Despite scaling back the Fiat model range, Marchionne insisted the firm’s European production will “remain [the same] or increase” up to 2022.

Are you excited about the prospect of an all-electric Fiat 500? Let us know your thoughts below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Deputy editor

Richard has been part of the team for over a decade. During this time he has covered a huge amount of news and reviews for Auto Express, as well as being the face of Carbuyer and DrivingElectric on Youtube. In his current role as deputy editor, he is now responsible for keeping our content flowing and managing our team of talented writers.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

The scariest cars we've ever driven
Scariest cars we've ever driven - header image

The scariest cars we've ever driven

The Auto Express team have cast their minds back to the scariest cars they’ve had to endure
Best cars & vans
31 Oct 2024
New Fiat mid-size SUV twins to launch assault on the Nissan Qashqai
Fiat electric SUV - front (watermarked)

New Fiat mid-size SUV twins to launch assault on the Nissan Qashqai

Fiat’s new SUV and coupe-SUV will be based on an enlarged Grande Panda platform, and our exclusive images preview how they could look
News
25 Jul 2024
New electric cars coming soon: the fresh EVs of 2024 and beyond
Future electric cars - header image

New electric cars coming soon: the fresh EVs of 2024 and beyond

The EV explosion has brought a huge range of choice to the market already but it’s only going to get bigger in the coming months
Best cars & vans
4 Jul 2024
Fiat Doblo, Scudo and Ducato vans go on sale with 2024 style and tech updates
Fiat Doblo, Scudo and Ducato vans - front tracking

Fiat Doblo, Scudo and Ducato vans go on sale with 2024 style and tech updates

All three of Fiat’s vans are available with pure-electric power
News
25 Mar 2024

Most Popular

New Vauxhall Mokka facelift takes the fight to the Ford Puma with £24k starting price
Vauxhall Mokka facelift - front static

New Vauxhall Mokka facelift takes the fight to the Ford Puma with £24k starting price

Vauxhall’s stylish small SUV has been given an interior makeover, bigger screens and a simplified engine line-up
News
6 Nov 2024
Dacia Spring Cargo is a new city slicker electric van for only £13k
Dacia Spring Cargo - front static

Dacia Spring Cargo is a new city slicker electric van for only £13k

The commercial version of Dacia’s cut-price Spring EV ditches the back seats to increase cargo space
News
5 Nov 2024
New Suzuki e Vitara revealed: Japanese brand’s first EV only offers 248-mile range
Suzuki e Vitara reveal - front

New Suzuki e Vitara revealed: Japanese brand’s first EV only offers 248-mile range

The compact Suzuki e Vitara electric SUV will be available with four-wheel drive, and should arrive next summer
News
4 Nov 2024