Fiat has paused production of the 500e, its electric hatchback, due to low demand in the European market.
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The suspension of production at the Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy, will last for four weeks, starting September 13.
This is not the first production hiatus for the model in 2024. There have been previous pauses from February to March and from April to August. In the United States, where the model was launched earlier this year, sales have also been weak, with only 204 units sold so far, in a market where larger vehicles like the Ford F-150 are more popular.
To address the slow sales, Stellantis, Fiat’s parent company, is developing a hybrid version of the 500e, expected to hit the European market between 2025 and 2026. The automaker is investing $110 million in the Mirafiori plant for the introduction of a higher-performance battery.
Currently, the 500e is equipped with a 117-hp electric motor and a battery of approximately 37 kWh, providing a range of about 227 km, though tests have shown the actual range may be lower.
Source: Car and Driver | Photos: Instagram (@fiatusa) | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team