FIAT is still betting on cheap city cars, even if they are electric

We are at a time when brands are considering abandoning the A-segment and B-segment in their line-ups. That is, we are going to be left with few city cars to choose from. The difficulty of adapting the engines of these vehicles to the Euro 7 standard, and the high cost of the transition to electric mobility, has made them unviable for many of them.

But while Mercedes-Benz has decided to abandon the A-Class, Volkswagen is going to forget about the legendary Polo, and Ford will stop manufacturing the Fiesta, there are brands that still bet on these cars. FIAT has traditionally been a brand of economical cars operating in that segment of mobility. So its intention is to keep offering cars in these segments for quite some time. Electrified, yes, but still.

Five electric city models

The Italian brand wants to have five new city models joining the family started by the FIAT 500e. The first of these models could arrive in 2023. It would be built on Stellantis’s e-CMP platform. This would mean it would be a model close to the Peugeot e-208 or the Opel Corsa-e, but cheaper. Later on, one of the brand’s most popular names would return, one that in Spain we knew through SEAT. That is, it would mean the conversion of the Panda to electric format.

This model could arrive in 2025 and position itself against two electric city models, one that is already quite popular, such as the Dacia Spring, and another that is expected to be a hit as soon as it launches, such as the Renault 5. The disappearance of many of its rivals will allow FIAT to consolidate its presence in these segments.

Olivier François, CEO of FIAT, understands that it is easier to pass on the cost of electric cars to high-end models, since the higher price allows the investment to be recovered more quickly. But even so, FIAT’s efforts will go towards maintaining its position in these segments.