Stellantis plans cut-price Fiat BEV for Europe

STELLANTIS looks set to take on the budget end of Europe’s battery electric vehicle market with Fiat brand CEO, Olivier Francois, telling Bloomberg this week that a no-frills, sub €25,000 ($A42,125) offering will soon be made available.

Inspired by the Fiat Panda, and a rival to the likes of the Dacia Spring, Renault 5 and twin-under-the-skin Citroen e-C3, the model is likely to draw styling inspiration from the 2019 Fiat Centroventi concept (pictured).

Mr Francois told Bloomberg that the entry-level model will likely be unveiled in mid-2024 saying “there is a real need for more affordable EVs” in the European market.

While specifications and dimensions have not yet been discussed, it is expected the Fiat-branded light hatch will share underpinnings with the Stellantis stable Citroen e-C3, with Mr Francois admitting “it is very likely that there will be synergies” between the pair.

Using the Citroen e-C3 as a datum, the forthcoming Fiat could offer buyers a potential driving range of up to 320km. That model features a single, front-mounted electric motor outputting 43kW and 143Nm drawing power from a 29.2kWh battery pack.

The models’ most obvious rival, the Chinese-made Dacia Spring, is available in Europe from €20,800 ($A35,055) and offers a 26.8kWh battery pack and 33kW and 125Nm electric motor, again driving the front wheels.

The Dacia Spring will essentially replace the Renault Twingo, which will cease production from mid-2024.

Locally, cut-price electric vehicles are increasing in popularity, though there is nothing yet available to take on the likes of Europe’s cheapest EVs.

Chinese manufacturers are far and away leading the push toward cheaper electric vehicles in the Australian market with the BYD Dolphin (from $38,890), MG 4 (from $38,990) and GWM’s Ora city-car (from $39,990) fronting the queue.

The BYD e6 ($39,999) also slots in beneath $40K.

From there, a modest price gap begins to open before the MG ZS EV arrives at $44,990 and the BYD Atto 3 from $48,011.

Past the $50K threshold is the commercial-oriented Kangoo ZE is next from $50,390 and Nissan Leaf from $50,990 ahead of the Tesla Model 3 from $57,400. At $59,990 we find the Cupra Born and Volvo EX30, as well as another commercial offering, the Peugeot e-Partner.

Australia’s Top 12 most affordable EVs (August 2023):