Uncle Topolino: Fiat 500e to North America in 2024

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

If you’re in the market for a pint-sized electric car with a dose of Italian flair, Fiat – yes, you remember them – will have an option for you a couple of years from now.

After using the New York Auto Show to display a brace of 500e models which were crafted in partnership with Italian design houses, Fiat took an opportunity at this week’s Auto Show in Los Angeles to announce the 500e is officially coming to our shores. It won’t be here until 2024, with the North American spec car appearing at next year’s show in L.A. Product planning in a global economy is a heckuva thing.


Nevertheless, the little all-electric scamp is apparently indeed on its way across the pond. The 500e has been zipping around Europe for some time already where it is offered with one of two different battery packs, neither of which seems big enough for North American tastes. The larger option packs just 42 kWh and is apparently good for a hair under 200 miles of all-electric range, though it is worth noting that figure is based on the endlessly optimistic WLTP test procedures.


Power checks in at 118 ponies and 162 lb.-ft of twist, plenty for a machine of this size and mission. Like the car’s battery size and driving range, Fiat has yet to confirm if the Euro-spec drivetrain will be carted to North America from Bel Paese. We’re still a year away from the thing even showing up on an auto show turntable in the U.S., let alone in dealer showrooms.


All the same, this 12+ month lead time tells us that suits at Stellantis must be planning to keep the Fiat brand around – at least for the foreseeable future. While last year was certainly a strange one in terms of car sales, it needs to be said that the Fiat brand sold just 2,374 units during the entire annum, down 45 percent from its numbers in an equally weird 2020 and worlds away from the 15,521 it sold in all of 2018 or the 43,772 during 2012 which was its first full year back in America.


[Images: Fiat]


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Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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  • RHD RHD on Nov 19, 2022

    The power numbers for the engine are less than the Hyper 9 motor used for electric car conversions. Hmmm... I'd rather have the electric Honda retro-Civic. It has more personality.

  • Tassos Tassos on Dec 05, 2022

    Yes, I would be interested in a pint-sized BEV


    IF it came with a Pint-sized PRICE as well,


    AND did not bear the logo commonly thought to mean

    "FixItAgainTony"!!!!


  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
  • EBFlex The best gift would have been a huge bonfire of all the fak mustangs in inventory and shutting down the factory that makes them.Heck, nobody would even have to risk life and limb starting the fire, just park em close together and wait for the super environmentally friendly EV fire to commence.
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