Last week, Tesla released details on the Cybertruck and the ultimate Cyberbeast. After all this talk of oversized trucks, the North American launch of the Fiat 500e buggy hits like a frozen mug of ice water.
Fiat owner Stelantis said he would bring the popular li’l EV in North America next year (debuts in Europe in 2020). Today, we learned more about the 2024 500e for North America, including its starting price and initial availability.
Stellantis made no mention of subscriptions or car-sharing in its announcement Tuesday, despite the brand reportedly exploring “alternative business models” for the U.S. Instead, Stellantis said the 500e will hit showrooms North American venues in the first quarter of 2024, starting with Product Red model, in collaboration with the AIDS group co-founded by U2’s Bono.
The 500e contrasts with the Cyberbeast in almost every way. It’s a little espresso taken after Elon Musk’s groggy coding Cybertruck event. Fiat said the Red version of the 3,000-pound 500e has a range of 149 miles and a starting price of $32,500. Meanwhile, the 6,843-pound Tesla pickup has an estimated range of 320 miles and a price tag of $99,990. There’s no reason these two vehicles have much in common, except that they’re electric. However, the contrast between the automakers’ back-to-back announcements is stark.
The 500e’s small stature and range may not seem like a plus, especially in the maximalist North American car market. However, there are some serious climate benefits. Smaller cars are generally better for the climate, since they require less energy and less materials In total.
Fiat is also focusing on serving densely populated cities with the 500e. Instead, the Cybertruck and other large pickups would likely choke the tight roads of the Fiat-built 500 in Europe.
Beyond the Red version, Fiat said it plans to “drop” other 500e versions gradually to “keep the vehicle fresh and interesting.” Fiat did not say when other variants will debut in North America, but the automaker added that each variant will arrive “in limited quantity.”
