The end of this era paves the way for the launch of the new 500 Ibrida in early 2025. This new model will combine the electric Fiat 500e's body with the 1.0-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine from the outgoing model.
Fiat CEO Olivier François explained the company's decision to adapt to market realities:
"It's very important for us to fit every expectation wherever we go."
The shift comes as electric vehicle adoption has been slower than expected. The COVID-19 pandemic, shortages of raw materials, and Europe's hesitation towards sustainable solutions have all played a part in this trend.
Fiat will produce the new 500 Ibrida at its Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy, on the same production line as the 500e. This move underlines Fiat's commitment to the Italian car industry, with François stating that Italy remains "our driving force and our future."
The CEO also admitted that the company had misjudged the pace of the electric transition:
"We obviously, like everyone else, thought that the world would go electric faster and the cost of electrification would go down faster. But we couldn't imagine that Covid would happen, shortage of raw materials would happen [and] the European society – not all, not the youngest part – would turn their backs on the sustainable solutions. But this is the reality. We have to face those realities."
While the new 500 Ibrida gets ready for its debut, the current 500 Hybrid will continue to roll off the production line in Tychy, Poland, until early 2025.
Source: Autocar
