Rumors of this have been circulating for some time. Absolutely the electric Fiat 500 is said to have been processed in hybrid. It is now Carlos Tavares, CEO of the company stellantis, confirmed the unusual approach at the meeting with the unions. Factory production Mirafiori in Turin, which currently lags behind expectations, should increase significantly with this step.
Transition from exclusively electric Fiat 500e with hybrid drive sounds strange. However, looking at the sales and production numbers makes perfect sense. After all, he was Fiat 500 with a hybrid engine sold more than in Europe last year 100.000 timeswhile 500e stagnated at approx 62.000 units. Battery-powered vehicles (BEVs) are still not gaining ground in Europe (especially in Italy). Help Fiat 500e is an economic move, as it should not only affect sales figures, but also increase Mirafiori's production.
Fiat 500 Hybrid and Fiat 500e - exterior
Factory in Turin has long been at the center of political debate. In 2023, she produced 77.260 vehicles. This is considerably less than 90.000, announced by Fiat, and unions fear that figure could drop to 40.000, which would have negative consequences for employees. With the introduction of another engine, which the market appreciates, production could increase by more than 100.000 in total 175.000 units per year. Converting an electric car to a car with an internal combustion engine? This would be a first in the automotive industry. Of course they exist jeep avenger, Fiat 600 ali Opel Mokka with both options. But that was the plan from the beginning.
Especially because it is Fiat 500 already available on the market as mild hybrid. The old model with a gasoline engine in Europe from July 2024 it will no longer be possible to register. Also, no complete shutdown is planned of the BEV model. The classic 500 model is not expected to receive a facelift at all. This has already happened with the model Fiat Panda, which she replaced Pandaa. In short: the old man can no longer do his job due to limitations. Therefore, a new one is needed that meets these requirements. The basis for this will be Fiat 500 electric. Even if the 500, which has been phased out in Europe, will continue to be offered in other markets and will therefore be produced in Algeria.
Fiat 500 Hybrid and Fiat 500e - interior
With the introduction new motorisations prices would drop significantly again after the final European cut: Fiat 500 Electric is available from 29.490 euros (although a discount of 5.000 euros is added), hybrid but from 17.490 euros - for now. By switching from an all-electric to a hybrid drive, the price tag could at least be reduced to approx 20.000 euros. This is more expensive than the current model, but on par with the competition. Transition from BEV to hybrid will naturally require research and development costs, which, however, will quickly amortize due to the price tags and larger volume of production. But how is that possible hybrid engine to build into electric platform Fiat 500e model?
Olivier Francois, CEO of Companies Fiat and Abarth, he answered already in 2020 at the presentation of the model 500e: "Technically, the platform allows for this, but we want to focus on the electric drive for now.Other drive systems were therefore already taken into account designing a small car. Model 500th, which was developed before birth Stellantis, is not based on the common modular platforms (CMP), rather it is a derivative of the classic 500 model. The big changes will be mainly under the front engine cover, where it will have to Fiat to redesign various components to make room for an electrified internal combustion engine. He would probably be the most suitable and likely option from the family Stellantis 1,2 liter engine from new Lancia Ypsilon. Could be considered 6-speed automatic transmission with a dual clutch that would drive the front wheels. If only so that the center console would not have to be laboriously converted into a manual transmission.
fiat 500e
Tavares he did not specify a timetable. However, the new ones should Fiat 500Hybrid appeared on the market already in 2025.