Stellantis will pause production of the 500e line at its Turin facility for four weeks. The internal combustion engine (ICE) model has already been discontinued, and the hybrid version is still 18 months from launch
Fiat is halting production of its 500e due to struggling with low demand for the stylish electric city car. Stellantis has announced that the 500e production line at its Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy, will be idle for four weeks starting September 13. This will mark the first time since 2007 that no new 500s of any type will be produced in Europe.
Stellantis stated to Reuters, “This measure is necessary due to the current lack of orders and the significant challenges faced by all producers in the European electric vehicle market, especially European ones.”
The previous combustion-powered 500, built in Poland and using a distinct Panda-based platform from the EV version, ceased production last summer due to its failure to meet new cybersecurity regulations. Fiat chose not to invest in updates. Although production of the ICE 500 hasn’t been entirely halted, as it continues in North Africa, those models are not approved for sale in Europe.
Instead of updating the aging ICE 500 to keep it on sale, Fiat has decided to develop a new hybrid model by adapting the electric 500e to accommodate a small combustion engine and electric motor. This new hybrid, the 500 Ibrida, won’t be available until late 2025 or, more likely, 2026, leaving Fiat dealers with noticeably empty showrooms for the next 18 months.
The hybrid will be produced alongside the EV at the historic Mirafiori plant, which is undergoing a €100 million ($110 million) renovation to prepare for Fiat’s revised electrification strategy.
Fiat isn’t alone in adjusting its approach due to lower-than-expected demand for EVs. Automakers like Toyota, GM, Ford, and even luxury brands such as Aston Martin and Mercedes are either extending the life of their existing combustion models or investing more in developing new ones.
