Alexandre
We can't say that the new 500 de Fiat is not a success. Beautifully designed, engaging, fun to drive and made in Italy. What more could you ask for? Perhaps a lower price? In any case, Fiat has just announced 2023 sales figures for its electric 500 in Europe, and it will have done no better than 2022.
After a good start with double-digit growth since 2020, the year 2023 marks a halt with, according to the brand's press release, almost 65,000 units.
| Fiat 500 (ICE+BEV) | Fiat 500 BEV | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | NC | 65000 |
| 2022 | 180400 | 66732 |
| 2021 | 175950 | 44000 |
| 2020 | 141313 | 10000 |
This doesn't really come as a surprise: 5 months ago, we were already reporting that, on a European level, we'd be able to offer our customers a new range of products, the electric 500 had a hard time holding its own against combustion enginesthen, 4 months ago, the Mirafiori plant was already shut down in the face of falling demand and finally, 2 months ago, Fiat offered a super sales operation for the electric 500.
In the end, out of 65,000 units, at least 45,000 came from France and Germany. This leaves around 20,000 units to be distributed to other countries, including almost 5,000 in Italy.
| Registrations 500 BEV | France | Germany | Italy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 23635 | 23180 | 4749 |
You can't really see how this model could do better in France and Germany. The brand will have to rely on price cuts or purchase subsidies from other countries to increase sales in other countries. And let's not forget that the 500 is also back in the USABut it's very difficult to project figures for this market. Olivier François had indicated that 10,000 sales a year would be great.
The arrival of a new 500 on STLA Small in 2027 could be the solution to lower the model's price and thus reach more customers.
Nobody in EVs except MG Tesla does it better!
Fiat wants its customers to buy a car in countries where there aren't enough charging stations.
The first question a customer asks when thinking of buying an electric car is whether I'll be able to recharge it easily, not far from my home, or in my parking lot, and whether I'll be able to make journeys without having to stop all the time.
If we can't answer these questions in the affirmative, we can't buy an electric car, so we buy a combustion one.
Sales are also stagnating because first-time buyers who love Fiat have already bought the 500e, and convincing newcomers means first and foremost answering practical questions. The 500e is great, but the problem is being able to recharge it.