At the end of 2023, Fiat announced that it was temporarily suspending production of its all-electric model 500e at the Mirafiori plant due to low demand, and the problems continued in 2024. Now, it seems that Stellantis has finally found a solution, and it could be a hybrid version of this model.
The analysis showed that the biggest reason for the drop in demand for the 500e is the price, so production at the Mirafiori factory is not economically profitable. Back in May, it was announced that the Fiat 500e would undergo its first reverse transition, which is necessary in the hope of saving the model and its production. Also, it should be pointed out that the high price of cars was also influenced by the sudden abolition of incentives in Italy and Germany.
It was decided to try to significantly reduce costs by developing a hybrid version and technical evolution of the current 500e, with a new battery and a new battery management system, in order to make the price of the car affordable to a larger number of customers.
The plan is the annual production of up to 100,000 units of the hybrid version, and whether this will have an effect remains to be seen, because the arrival of this version is announced in two years.
Earlier this year, Fiat announced that it intends to increase Panda production by about 20 percent in order to meet demand, as data showed that this car is the leader on the Italian market, but also the leader of the A segment on the old continent. However, a few days ago Stellantis announced that it was temporarily suspending production at the Pomigliano d’Arco, Termoli and Pratola Serra plants.
Stellantis’ decision may come as a surprise to those who know that in July this model was the best-selling vehicle in Italy with 63,500 units sold, which is a 21 percent increase compared to 2023. However, those who know what’s going on at the company know that Stellantis recently did something similar at the Mirafiori plant, where the Fiat 500e and Maserati GranTurismo are made.
One of the world’s largest car manufacturers will stop production from November 11, and the reason is tough market conditions. The suspension of production will last for several days.
It seems that Stellantis is in a more difficult situation than it seems, and that difficult decisions are ahead of this group.
In the early 1980s, a new cargo van, the Fiat Ducato, arrived on the European market. It is a light commercial vehicle that was jointly developed by FCA Italy and PSA Group (currently Stellantis), and now a new generation of the brand’s most successful model and the leading delivery vehicle in Europe is coming to the market.
The new Ducato is available in two lengths: L1 (4.4 m) and L2 (4.75 m). It offers 8 cargo volume options, including up to 17 m³, load capacity up to 2.2 tons (depending on version and accessories), cargo length up to 4.07 m, steering with loading floor, connectivity on the road with the most modern infotainment systems , advanced safety systems to assist the driver and the possibility of additional conversions. The optimal performance-to-weight ratio ensures excellent dynamic driving and comfort. The version with a longer body CrewCab has a unique system of modularity between the seat and the cargo area, which is made possible by an innovatively designed sliding partition.
It is equipped with advanced level 2 ADAS systems that provide greater traffic safety and enable stress-free driving, intelligent cruise control system, driver fatigue detection system, automatic emergency braking system with pedestrian detection, improved electronic stability control system, trailer stability control system, lane departure warning system, rear camera.
The front part of the vehicle is slightly different compared to the previous model with a new radiator grill, and a redesigned engine housing and chassis protection. The headlights with Full LED technology are divided into three parts – the lower ones with positional LED lights, the central lights have a very sporty look and provide 30% more illumination than conventional halogen headlights, and the upper part is dedicated to the indicators, which have been refreshed with LED lights with sliders – an attractive effect that is increasingly common in passenger cars, but is now also available in delivery vehicles.
The interior of the vehicle offers more space and comfort, and seats with new upholstery. There is also an electric power steering, which is more precise and manageable in all driving conditions and under all loads. A smaller steering wheel with a smaller turning circle redefines the concept of comfort in the redesigned cabin, which improves ergonomics and reduces stress for the driver and passengers with increasingly demanding work duties. The fully digital 7-inch instrument panel provides a clear display of information and warnings – from satellite navigation to driver assistance systems – and offers customizable settings and connectivity to the Uconnect infotainment system. There are also new Uconnect system interfaces with a screen of up to 10 inches, a premium fully satellite navigation system that includes 3D TomTom maps and wireless connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™ systems.
When it comes to powertrains, the new Ducato comes with 88 kW (120 hp), 103 kW (140 hp) and 132 kW (180 hp) engines and a 6-speed manual transmission – available on all power variants – and an 8-speed automatic transmission, which is available in versions with 103 kW (140 hp) and 132 kW (180 hp). For heavy-duty work there are three engines with the highest power and manual and automatic transmissions, which have the same torque as the light models – 450 Nm for the most powerful engine, the largest in its class.
The electric version is equipped with a new 110 kWh battery that enables a range of up to 420 km in the WLTP cycle. The battery is charged from 0-80% in less than an hour, thanks to a fast charger of up to 150 kW, which makes it the most powerful E-Ducat in its category.
