FIAT Is Bringing The 500e To The Western Hemisphere On August 3rd:

Brazil Will Launch The Model First...

Robert S. Miller July 29, 2021

As the FIAT brand continues to set the Brazilian market on fire, the Italian brand is adding one of its most iconic vehicles to the Brazilian lineup. We first learned about the addition of the new electrified 2022 Fiat 500e city car, from our friends at Autos Segredos. It will mark the first time that the new battery-electric vehicle (BEV) city car will be offer west of the Atlantic Ocean.

Coming off a successful launch in Israel, the FIAT brand is now ready to take the 500e to various markets around the globe.

According to Autos Segredos, the 500e will only be offered in its Icon trim level for the Brazilian market. The 500e Icon has an 87 kW electric motor producing 118 horsepower and has a range of 320 kilometers (204 miles) in mixed driving. Those who use the 500e purely in an urban setting can reach a range of up to 460 kilometers (286 miles).

FIAT Brazil released a teaser video of the new 500e (which you can see above), and we really like the way they are marketing the vehicle compared to the Italian marketing team. Instead of marketing the vehicle to help conserve the planet, the Brazilian team is making the introduction about the future of electrified vehicles and technology and aiming the vehicle at a much younger market.

The brand has even started an online campaign leading up to the 500e official debut in Brazil on August 3rd, with a social media request to share various pictures of lightning or any form of electricity. Those images are being shared on the Fiat 500e Brazil launch page.

We will be broadcasting the official unveiling of the Brazilian-spec Fiat 500e LIVE on August 3rd at 6:00 pm EST here on MoparInsiders.com.

Despite having the very first all-electric Fiat 500e offered exclusively in the United States, FIAT USA has stated that it is evaluating its potential for the North American market.

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patfromigh Jul 30, 2021 #1

The Fiat brand dominates the market in Brazil. Their marketing team obviously knows what works in that country. I sincerely hope we get the new 500 in the US, but with a total rethinking on how to market Fiats here. I would like to see the lower line trims sold here as well as the high line trims. Fiat has built a lot of goodwill among EV enthusiasts with just a handful of 500e compliance cars. The brand needs to build on that reputation and walk away from being a boutique brand.

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bill burke Jul 30, 2021 #2

Fiat, the brand, can have a profitable presence in North America, but there is much to be done to make that happen. One step would be to offer the electric 500. It may not be a huge sales leader, but it has much more of an appeal factor than the original 500 as an urban car. The problem is product, more and diverse. It exists, it is successful elsewhere, but not sold here. If you don’t try, how can you succeed? Time to reinvent Fiat and the place to begin is in their own global portfolio. Fiat is on life support here, what do they have to lose?

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patfromigh Jul 30, 2021 #3

Look at what the old Chrysler Corp did with Mitsubishi. Some models were badge engineered as Dodge and Plymouth models. In the 1980s they were sold as "imported for Chrysler". There was never a separate showroom. Some Mitsubishi engines were used in Chrysler products and rear drive Mitsubishi vehicles used a Chrysler built Torqueflite transmissions during the 1970s.

Many urban dealers would be happy to sell the electric Fiat. Adding too many Fiat models could become problematic, because it would then compete against other Stellantis brands. If there is a production Centoventi model it should definitely be sold here.

Right now, the electric Mini is gaining traction in North America. This is due to a number of reasons. First, it has a low price (for an EV). Next, It comes across as a real car and not as a college lab experiment. Finally, battery electric drive makes a lot of sense in a city car. I hope someone at Stellantis is paying attention to this. Fiat messed up by following Mini as a boutique brand. Opening up Fiat to all CDJR dealers will allow Fiat to pass Mini. The new 500e is the better vehicle.

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A AlexB Jul 30, 2021 #4

I think FIAT brand in the U.S. could copy the ideas PSA was planning with Peugeot U.S. relaunch but all EV.
I can see the Compass becoming the smallest Jeep in the U.S. allowing for a FIAT CUV to take its place.

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