‘Fiat Is the five hundred, No Different Automotive’

• Fiat CEO Olivier Francois instructed Automotive and Driver on the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Present that the way forward for the model doesn’t embrace a next-generation 500X SUV.
• The electrical 500e minicar would be the main focus beginning in 2024 as the corporate shifts its North American technique.
• That technique might embrace subscriptions and car-sharing choices.

Fiat is discontinuing its SUV and shifting its focus again to the five hundred minicar, because the Cinquecento’s North American return was introduced in the present day on the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Present. The model at present has one mannequin on sale within the U.S.—the 500X SUV—however Fiat boss Olivier Francois instructed Automotive and Driver that it will likely be phased out after this present technology.

“Fiat is the five hundred, no different automobile,” Francois mentioned. “I’ve a really clear plan to not do anything than the five hundred.”

Fiat says the present 500X might be out there by way of the tip of its present technology, though it declined to say precisely when that might be. We anticipate it is going to soldier on a minimum of till the 500e formally launches in America in 2024.

Francois additionally defined that the way forward for the model on U.S. shores is to function a studying alternative for guardian firm Stellantis because it eyes a transition to electrical autos. Experimentation with digital gross sales, month-to-month subscription companies, limited-release specialty fashions, and even a car-sharing service are all prospects for Fiat when the 500e goes on sale in 2024.

“The very last thing the American market wants is another mainstream mannequin or model,” Francois mentioned.

The automobile could possibly be supplied in quite a lot of physique kinds however maybe not concurrently, giving Fiat a chance to change to no matter appears widespread or desired by patrons at any given time. For example, the 500e could possibly be supplied solely as a convertible for a sure time period, then swap again to gross sales of the hardtop. Whereas gross sales might nonetheless occur through the standard dealership mannequin, Fiat says a click-to-buy possibility is an attractive risk.

The model will deal with metro areas which might be greatest fitted to the automobile’s measurement and driving vary, however Francois added that rural and suburban patrons wouldn’t be locked out in the event that they so want a 500e. Pricing hasn’t been introduced nevertheless it’s probably that the 500e might be handled as a low-volume type merchandise relatively than a mass-market automobile, which might translate to higher-than-expected worth tags.

The designer fashions proven on the L.A. Auto present could possibly be a sign that branded collaboration fashions might play an enormous position within the automobile’s marketability. Fiat has a historical past of such collaborations, because the previous-generation automobile was bought as a Gucci version in America and in different markets beneath a partnership with luxurious yacht producer Riva.

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