Stellantis Announces the Arrival of the Petite, All-Electric Fiat Topolino to the US Market
Stellantis made a significant announcement on December 8, revealing plans to introduce the all-electric Fiat Topolino to the United States market. This move is a noteworthy response to President Trump’s recent admiration for the compact “Kei” cars from Japan. The Topolino, affectionately known as the “little mouse” in Italian, is technically classified as an “all-electric quadricycle” rather than a conventional car. It boasts a top speed of approximately 28 mph and a driving range of up to 75 kilometers (less than 50 miles) on a single charge.
Currently, the vehicle is produced in Morocco and has already made its mark in European markets. Fiat CEO, Olivier François, confirmed plans to bring the vehicle to the U.S. market, though he remained tight-lipped about the specific timing, stating only that “more details to come next year”. This announcement follows Trump’s White House meeting with automotive executives where he expressed enthusiasm for small vehicles. However, Stellantis insists that this decision was not influenced by those comments and that they have been assessing customer interest at U.S. auto shows.
Stellantis is making this move amidst broader challenges, including a 17% drop in net revenues to $173.4 billion in 2024 and a 70% decline in net profits. The company recently announced plans to restart production at its shuttered Belvidere, Illinois plant and build the new Dodge Durango in Detroit rather than Mexico. This decision is part of its response to Trump administration policies favoring domestic manufacturing.
Source: CNBC