Fiat’s return to the U.S. market in recent years has not gone as expected. The leading Italian automaker has seen its sales decline year after year. At one time the Stellantis brand could count on a range of four vehicles in that country: the 500, 500X, 500L and the 124 Spider. Currently, however, the Turin-based manufacturer’s offerings have shrunk to just one car: the older 500X SUV. This has meant that few consumers consider Fiat in the United States today. However, things could change according to some thanks to new models and in particular the upcoming Fiat Panda SUV.
Fiat Panda SUV: will Fiat’s revival in the United States start with this model?
In that market many electric cars have starting prices of at least $40,000, which eliminates an entire segment of buyers. Stellantis could woo these underserved customers with small electric SUVs under the Jeep and Fiat brands. A modern, well-built electric SUV with attractive pricing should make Fiat more popular in the United States.
Perhaps backed by the former PSA group’s Compact Modular Platform (CMP), the electric Fiat Panda SUV could adopt styling cues inspired by the eye-catching and customizable concept of the Fiat Centoventi, the small SUV prototype shown by the Italian automaker at last years Geneva Motor Show. Balancing the range that Americans expect with a low price tag will be difficult, but Fiat Panda SUV will need a range of at least 400 km to be seriously considered by customers in the American auto market.
New Fiat Panda SUVNew Fiat Panda SUV: could this be the model with which the Italian manufacturer will begin its redemption in the United States after a very difficult period?
So we will see if indeed Fiat’s revival in the U.S. will start with this model, which, according to advances by Stellantis number one, CEO Carlos Tavares, could be presented by Fiat during the first quarter of 2023.
This by the way may not be the only novelty Fiat will offer in the US in the coming years. The future heir to the current Panda and a larger SUV that will take the place of the Fiat Tipo could also be considered suitable models to do well in the large U.S. auto market. This, of course, without forgetting the electric 500 whose return to the U.S. has long been hoped for by many even within the Stellantis group itself.
