FIAT 500 Hybrid to arrive in November as new Panda confirmed

FIAT’s presence at the Brussels Motor Show brought more news than the Grande Panda displayed on its stand. One of the biggest announcements, revealed by Jean-Philippe Imparato in comments to Autocar, is that the FIAT 500 Hybrid is expected to arrive later this year, in November.

Originally scheduled for 2026, the model is the Italian brand’s response to falling demand for fully electric cars, which has particularly affected the FIAT 500e.

Production of the small electric city car at Mirafiori in Turin has been paused since November last year. Manufacturing is only expected to resume at the end of this month.

Introducing the mild-hybrid version should enable FIAT 500 production to rise to 200,000 units a year, with 125,000 of those expected to be combustion-engined models. The 500 Hybrid’s arrival should be followed by an updated version of the electric 500.

New FIAT 500 and Panda before 2030

The return of the combustion-engined 500 is not FIAT’s only news: Imparato also confirmed successors for both the 500 and the Panda.

“The 500e will be followed by a hybrid version in November this year. The next-generation 500 is then due to arrive at Mirafiori in 2029.”

Jean-Philippe Imparato, Stellantis European CEO

Imparato also said that the current FIAT Panda, which regained its position as Italy’s best-selling model in 2024, will remain in production until 2030: “The Panda will continue to be built in Pomigliano d’Arco, Italy, until 2030, and after that we will have a new Panda”.

FIAT Grande Panda launches first

There is, however, a third FIAT model set to arrive well before either of those cars.

Due to be launched in a few weeks’ time, the FIAT Grande Panda has already been shown to the public at the Brussels Motor Show. Sales are scheduled to begin in “March 2025, with electric and hybrid versions”.

“We will have the new 500, the new Panda and the Grande Panda in the range, covering the A to B segments.”

Jean-Philippe Imparato, Stellantis European chief executive

The announcement of these new models may indicate that FIAT remains committed to its city-car line-up, a category that represents a significant part of the Italian marque’s history.

Several brands have already withdrawn from this segment in favour of more profitable models.

Source: Autocar