The Fiat 500X will be a one-and-done affair in the United States as the little crossover won’t be updated for a second generation. Talk with Motor Trend at the Los Angeles Auto Show, company CEO Olivier Francois announced the planned discontinuation of the subcompact model: “When it dies, it dies. We’re not going to replace it.” The head honcho went on to say that “Fiat isn’t here to be everything to everyone everywhere.”
The Italian brand plans to focus solely on the 500 city car, which will go on sale in the US in early 2024. Customers will be able to place orders six months in advance, but it’s unclear whether hatchback and convertible body models will be coming. or just ex. Hopefully, the Abarth 500e that was introduced earlier this week in Europe will have a presence on this side of the pond. That could happen because Olivier admits that he “would love to offer it in the US.”
Although Fiat USA stopped production of the previous generation petrol-fuelled 500 at the end of 2019, the model is still being sold in the Old Continent. Not only that, Abarth also updated its performance derivative for 2023MY. However, Fiat has no intention of bringing back the ICE-powered model as it plans to only sell the latest generation electric model. The 500L minivan didn’t return either.
There’s no word on how much the 2024 500e will cost in the US, but Olivier warns us that it “will be expensive”. Additionally, limited run special editions can carry an “unbelievably high” price tag. Fiat’s CEO realized a pint-sized EV would not be a big commercial hit in North America and deemed sales of just 10,000 cars per year acceptable. Electric hatches will not be offered nationwide but their availability will extend beyond states with ZEV programs.
Fiat intends to show its US-bound 2024 500e at next year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. It’s expected to look pretty much the same as its European counterpart, barring changes needed to comply with regulations. It will be offered with two larger batteries, a 42-kWh package, and in only one trim level.
