Multinational automaker Stellantis is on track to launch its first-ever electric vehicle offering in the US market through its Fiat brand. Impressively, the Fiat 500e is already receiving strong interest among local dealerships ahead of its launch.
Fiat 500e is already generating some buzz ahead of its US launch
The new Fiat 500e has started to draw in new dealers even before deliveries begin in the US owing to the “drops” strategy it adopted from the fashion industry, Automotive News reports, citing Fiat North America Chief Executive Aamir Ahmed.
It is worth noting that the Fiat 500e will be the sole offering of the brand in the US market as it has already killed the 500X subcompact crossover after the 2023 model year.
After dropping the Fiat500e in February 2024, the parent company proudly disclosed that the model sold out of its first dealer allocation in just almost a week. Now, more dealers are apparently trying to get a hold of the car.
“We’ve had multiple handfuls of dealers in California reach out to us looking to add lines of Fiat into their dealerships.”
Aamir Ahmed, Fiat North America Chief Executive
However, CEO Ahmed emphasized his plans to only add to the “right place at the right operators.” He further indicated that Fiat is not simply aiming to “grow just to grow. In addition, he asserted that dealers have witnessed sufficient demand to support the Fiat 500e’s comeback in the US market.
Stellantis drops two new Fiat 500e variants
Stellantis, through Fiat, dropped two new Fiat 500e variants at the prestigious Aspen Ideas: Climate event in Miami on Monday. These variants include the new rose gold “Inspired by Beauty” and the black “Inspired by Music.” Both variants cost $37,595 with shipping, due to hit the US dealerships in Q3 2024.
In hindsight, Fiat’s first drop was the $34,095 Red Edition. It features a 42 kWh battery pack that enables a driving range of up to 149 miles. As the name suggests, it sports red mirrors, LED headlamps, and front grille.
Fiat to improve buying experience with the new Fiat Live Store
Fiat aims to expand the reach of the Fiat 500e across the US with the launch of the new Fiat Live Store, which promises to deliver an improved digital buying experience.
Interested buyers can use an Apple-like Fiat “Genius” to get answers to their particular questions or concerns.
“If we can simplify the buying experience so that they don’t have to have cars sitting in the showrooms, they don’t have to have people just talking to a customer that wants to come in and kick the tires [but] isn’t necessarily ready to shop. We can have our Fiat concierge do that with them.”
Aamir Ahmed, Fiat North America Chief Executive
CEO Ahmed claims that this sales model will enable the brand to save overhead as they “want them to be as profitable as possible.” These new Fiat 500e variants will aid Stellantis in reaching its goal of having EVs account for 50% of its sales in the US by 2030.
