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Please bring 500 e back to US!

One of the major blunders of the Fiat reintroduction to our shores was not marketing any Panda themed vehicles. The last minute substitution of the 500 face on what became the Fiat 500L was a sales disaster. The drive train certainly didn't help matters either. The rumored B-segment sized crossover with Panda inspiration would be a good companion for the 500e. If the Qubo is replaced with an EV that could be the next "Bohemian Box". It could be sold as a Ram or a Fiat, but I think Ram would be a better fit.

My big fear is soon after I buy a 500e, the Abarth version is introduced.:eek:
 
I think their priority initially is to first re-launch Fiat in Europe. I think that if Brazil and the US had a FTA you guys would get the latin-american Fiats. Their range of products is great.
As it is, I'm not optimistic about Fiat's future in the US.
 
Again, there is NO trade route between Brazil and the USA. If we get the 500e it will come for Europe.

Critical to Fiat reintroduction is the embrace of the STLA sub-brand model and include that at all CDJR dealerships in good standing. The emphasis on Fiat could be reduced and the 500 treated as a sub-brand.
 
I will be first in line to buy one when it is offered. I love my 2015 500e - still going strong with no battery degradation after 7 years. I've had zero maintenance issues. While I can't use if for road trips, it is perfectly suited for the day to day driving. Best of all, love being both the cutest and the zippiest car on the road.
 
We're already receiving the 500X from Europe. I would expect a potential 500e to follow the same path. The 500L came from Serbia, so the EV from there wouldn't be out of the question. If the future product from Serbia is the same size as the present Fiat Panda, don't expect it to be sold stateside. It must be B-segment to be acceptable for America. While the new Fiat 500e is A-segment sized, it has a narrower focus and usually isn't seen as a primary vehicle.
 
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TripleT said:
Again, there is NO trade route between Brazil and the USA. If we get the 500e it will come for Europe.

Critical to Fiat reintroduction is the embrace of the STLA sub-brand model and include that at all CDJR dealerships in good standing. The emphasis on Fiat could be reduced and the 500 treated as a sub-brand.
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I know, that's why I said "if the US and Brazil had a FTA".
There might be a case for selling european Fiats in the US starting with the 500e. But the future Fiat range will only go up to the compact segment. For the US, that won't guarantee a lot of sales since your market highest volume segments are the midsize and full size segments.
I wouldn't waste space in CDJR dealers with yeat another brand when Chrysler and Dodge will start receiving new models (Hornet, Airflow, new Challenger/Charger/300) and the Jeep range is enormous right now.

But the fact they're parading the 500e by american auto shows is a sign they might be seeing if there's interest for it in the US market. They might introduce it.

It's weird that I'm here defending that they should just put Fiat out of its misery in the US, and you Mopar dudes supporting that it remains in the US. :ROFLMAO:
 
I have never said that, we all acknowledge the error in following the Boutique model. But what is gain popularity is the online sale. The online model which could be supported through the CDJR network the reality is the 500 and Panda would not cannibalize a single car from the current CDJR lineup, the gapping hole in the A segment city car market. Hell the smallest sold is the B+ Renegade.
 
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The original California compliance 500e was expensive for Fiat, but ironically shows a way forward to market the brand. Back in the 1970s and 80s the sales for the Mitsubishi cars were never huge, but many dealers gladly accommodated them. As I said before, Stellantis should put the new Fiat 500e in their Free2Move fleet here in North America, so that people will see it on the street. Let people order Fiats online and through dealers who have signed up for service and sales.

I posted this on another thread. It starts off a little preachy, but I believe the virtues of simplicity and affordability as expressed in this video are still attractive to a number of American consumers. This is why I think the Fiat brand is still viable in North America.
 
JaneS said:
I will be first in line to buy one when it is offered. I love my 2015 500e - still going strong with no battery degradation after 7 years. I've had zero maintenance issues. While I can't use if for road trips, it is perfectly suited for the day to day driving. Best of all, love being both the cutest and the zippiest car on the road.
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I have had two 500e's and just love them. I've even contemplated going to Italy, buying it there and figuring out a way to ship it back to California.
 
I've had my 2013 model for a few years now. Just under 90k miles on the odometer. I'd like parts to be a little easier to track down (currently waiting on an OBCM that is on backorder), but I love this car like I have never loved another car. If they bring the longer range model to the U.S. then I would choose it over any other EV in this market. I love the size, style, and having that added range would make it justifiable as a new purchase for me. The 3rd door model is icing on the cake. That looks amazing!!
 
I know someone here from the forum that got one recently.
Would love to know what Kris thinks of it.
 
Thankfully 500 can be brought which can't be said to PSA based abominations.
 
That's more than obvious when PSA abominations don't have a dealer network to be distributed on.
 
Deckard Cain said:
That's more than obvious when PSA abominations don't have a dealer network to be distributed on.
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The PSA model is not hurdle to distribution in the USA. They can simply a pair of winds on a Peugeot or Opel, bigger issue is that would not be complient to USA rules for safety, but could do Mexico and Canada.
 
Range is the main barrier for 500 e in the USA. For the Euro-spec car, the top battery gets 199 miles WLTP from 37.5 kWh (total cell provision is 42 kWh). The EPA rating is hard to predict, but comparing other vehicles that are on sale in Europe and the USA, it would be between 160 and 190 miles EPA.
My real-world use varies from 150 miles for predominantly highway driving (50mph average, 80 mph peak), to well over 250 for urban stop-start (average < 30 MPH).

150 miles might be too short-range for US buyers, but there is an Abarth 500 e in development, and that may feature a larger battery pack. I'm guessing that this, larger, battery would become the standard "500 electric" for the USA, with the Abarth version sacrificing range for higher performance.
 
it is not bad for a City car, remember a 500 really isnt a long trip King as it is.
 
The problem is that americans like big numbers. Any EV (even if city car) that doesn't have at least 200 miles EPA rating will be criticized by your auto-journalists unanimously and that will scare people away because of range anxiety.
 
Deckard Cain said:
The problem is that americans like big numbers. Any EV (even if city car) that doesn't have at least 200 miles EPA rating will be criticized by your auto-journalists unanimously and that will scare people away because of range anxiety.
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No one here is used to be numbers on EVs yet, they will get that it is a small car.
 
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