Latest news with #FiatChrysler
TimesLIVE
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Stellantis bets on €17,000 Fiat 500 hybrid to revive ailing Italian output
Fiat aims to manufacture more than 100,000 units per year of its new hybrid 500 small car, a model parent Stellantis bets on to revive its ailing production in Italy, the brand's head Olivier Francois said on Friday. Stellantis, created in 2021 from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA-Peugeot, last year manufactured 475,000 vehicles in Italy, from more than 751,000 in 2023, with car production down 46% to its lowest since 1956. That was due to a mix of factors including low market demand, in particular for electric vehicles (EV), growing competition from Asian manufacturers and plants reworking for new model launches. "That's the 500 for real people, the pragmatic 500," Francois said during a media preview of the car, when some prototypes were shown to press. The new hybrid 500, to be manufactured from November in the Mirafiori complex in Turin, Italy, along its existing fully electric version, will cost €17,000 (R354,623), Francois said. It will feature a 12-volt lithium battery. The automaker plans to produce 5,000 units this year, he said. Production of the 500 EV, which costs almost €30,000 (R625,996), amounted to only 25,000 units last year, with Mirafiori suffering several stoppages due to low demand and workers put on furloughs. The Fiat CEO said the brand has plans to introduce an upgraded and more affordable version of the 500 EV in 2027, with a targeted selling price of "€20,000 or even less", mainly thanks to batteries that will be made in-house. Stellantis is also working on the new generation of the 500, expected around 2030, to be produced in Mirafiori. "We're designing it. It will be electric and also hybrid depending on regulation and market response in coming years," Francois said.
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Exact date iconic hatchback will make UK comeback with bold new look – and will be even cheaper than expected
AN Italian car maker has announced the exact date that its iconic hatchback will be available to motorists. The new hybrid version of the iconic motor will be coming to UK roads this year boasting a new look and at a much lower price point than expected. 4 The new hybrid will use a 12V battery Credit: Stellantis 4 Production is set to begin later this year Credit: Stellantis Fiat announced that their new Fiat 500 hybrid will be put into production in November this year with a target of 5,00 units by the end of the year. The fresh take on the classic hatchback will be produced at the firm's Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy. The motor will boast the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder mild-hybrid Firefly engine that powers the old 500 and Fiat Panda. Almost identical to the 500e the new Fiat 500 hybrid has been given a reworked front grill to feed more air to the petrol engine. Fiat aims to manufacture over 100,000 units per year of its new hybrid 500 small car. Parent Stellantis is betting on the model reviving its ailing production in Italy, the brand's head Olivier Francois said on Friday. Stellantis was created in 2021 from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA-Peugeot. Last year the firm manufactured 475,000 vehicles in Italy, from over 751,000 in 2023. Francois said during a media preview of the car, when some prototypes of it were shown to press, "That's the 500 for real people, the pragmatic 500." The new hybrid 500, to be manufactured from November in the Mirafiori complex in Turin, Italy, along its existing fully electric (EV) version, will cost a surprisingly low 17,000 euros ($20,000), Francois said. Fiat 500e production paused Production of the 500 EV, which costs almost 30,000 euros, amounted to just 25,000 units last year. The firms Mirafiori plant suffered several stoppages due to low demand and workers put on furloughs. The Fiat CEO said the brand has plans to introduce an upgraded and more affordable version of the 500 EV in 2027, with a targeted selling price of "20,000 euros or even less", mainly thanks to batteries that will be made in-house. Stellantis is also working on the new generation of the 500, expected around 2030, to be produced in Mirafiori. 4 The cars will be made at the firm's Mirafiori plant Credit: Stellantis 4 The firm aims to produce 100,000 units a year Credit: Stellantis "We're designing it now, it will be electric and also hybrid depending on regulation and market response in coming years," Francois said. Pre-series models have reportedly already rolled off the production line. The model will be available in the UK in two configurations: the classic Hatchback and the Cabrio, the only convertible in its segment. A 12v lithium battery will boost the little hybrid's performance and enhance fuel efficiency. A modern interior will offer a digital display complete with a customisable 10.25 inch touchscreen. Full wireless compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allows for safe smartphone integration.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Stellantis banks on €17,000 hybrid Fiat 500 to revive struggling Italian production
Fiat aims to manufacture over 100,000 units per year of its new hybrid 500 small car, a model parent Stellantis bets on to revive its ailing production in Italy, the brand's head Olivier Francois said on Friday. Stellantis, which was created in 2021 from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA-Peugeot, last year manufactured 475,000 vehicles in Italy, from over 751,000 in 2023, with car production in particular down 46% to its lowest since 1956. That was due to a mix of factors including low market demand, in particular for electric vehicles (EV), growing competition from Asian manufacturers and plants reworking for new model launches. "That's the 500 for real people, the pragmatic 500," Francois said during a media preview of the car, when some prototypes of it were shown to press. The new hybrid 500, to be manufactured from November in the Mirafiori complex in Turin, Italy, along its existing fully electric (EV) version, will cost 17,000€ ($20,000), Francois said. It will feature a 12-volt lithium battery. The automaker plans to produce 5,000 units this year, he added. Production of the 500 EV, which costs almost 30,000€, amounted to just 25,000 units last year, with Mirafiori suffering several stoppages due to low demand and workers put on furloughs. The Fiat CEO said the brand has plans to introduce an upgraded and more affordable version of the 500 EV in 2027, with a targeted selling price of "20,000€ or even less", mainly thanks to batteries that will be made in-house. Stellantis is also working on the new generation of the 500, expected around 2030, to be produced in Mirafiori.
Auto Blog
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Feds Step In As Dodge Dart Safety Issue Returns
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Dodgy transmission still causing headaches for Dart owners While Japanese and even Korean brands have been able to weather the crossover storm and continue seeing demand for small sedans, American automakers have not. Models like the Ford Focus and Dodge Dart have vanished from local showrooms without replacements, but one of these is getting attention again. Discontinued in 2016, the Dodge Dart is the subject of an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a potentially dangerous transmission issue. Even worse, this problem was supposed to be remedied by Dodge years ago, but a fresh batch of complaints has forced the NHTSA to open a new investigation. 0:00 / 0:09 When will Toyota build an EV with its simulated manual transmission? Watch More Parked Darts At Risk Of Rolling Away 2016 Dodge Dart Limited 2016 Dodge Dart Limited 2016 Dodge Dart Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now Stellantis) previously issued a recall in 2019 for Dodge Darts produced between the 2013 and 2016 model years. Only affecting models with the six-speed automatic transmission, this recall was for shifter cable bushings that could deteriorate and detach. Not only can this prevent the car from shifting into gear at any time, but it can appear as though the car is in Park when it's not. As a result, the driver could exit the vehicle and it could roll away or crash. The recall remedy (number 19V-293) was meant to remedy this issue, but the NHTSA has received 44 new complaints of worn, misadjusted shifter cables since then, along with more shifter cable detachments. It's now over to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) to review whether the original recall was effective and identify the root cause of these shifter cables failing. An estimated 299,000 models are potentially implicated in this investigation. No Injuries Or Fatalities, But Owners Should Be Cautious 2016 Dodge Dart — Source: Stellantis For now, the NHTSA lists no injuries or fatalities related to the transmission issue, but it's easy to see how dangerous it can be if a Dodge Dart rolls away. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The latest investigation doesn't do much to bolster the rather poor reliability reputation of the Dart. Its most recent J.D. Power rating for quality and reliability is just 67 out of 100, nowhere close to the Toyota Corolla of the period (88/100). Over at Car Complaints, there are a host of transmission complaints, especially for the 2013 model. Based on owner feedback, the typical repair cost is $3,420 and issues are encountered at an overage mileage of under 44,000 miles. 2016 Dodge Dart — Source: Stellantis 'I have had nothing but trouble since I bought this car,' said one Dart owner from Kansas. 'It's now on its 4th transmission and I've only had it for a year and a half.' The same owner had only clocked 45,000 miles at the time of submitting this complaint, so transmission failure does seem to occur quickly in automatic Darts. For now, we'll have to wait to see the outcome of the NHTSA's latest investigation. At the end of the Dart's life, FCA said it and the Chrysler 200 were terrible investments. Now, nine years since the Dart went out of production, Dodge is still dealing with issues related to the underwhelming small sedan. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Iconic carmaker recalls over a MILLION ‘faulty' motors across Europe amid fears engine could fail while driving
AN ICONIC carmaker has recalled over a million 'faulty' motors across Europe amid fears that the engine could fail while driving. The automaker has offered an extended warranty and will refund previous repairs as a good will gesture. 1 The company Automaker Stellantis was formed in early 2021 through the merger of France's PSA and Italian-American group Fiat Chrysler. Stellantis is now recalling some diesel cars in Europe that were produced between October 2017 and January 2023. It said almost 930,000 vehicles in France were affected, but did not provide an overall figure for all of Europe. An additional 117,000 cars were affected in Belgium, the company said. The manufacturer will be contacting affected owners. The issue Reuters reports that the company has said the issue is due to potential camshaft chain issues. Owners of those vehicles have expressed concern at weird engine sounds which could lead to broken valves or actual engine failure. Stellantis said in a statement: "Some 2017-2023 Peugeot, Citroen, Opel/Vauxhall, DS and Fiat vehicles equipped with the 1.5 BlueHDi diesel engine. "May face a premature wear of the camshaft chain, leading to abnormal noise and in the worst-case scenario to a breakage of the chain. The company added that it was unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue. Warranty Extender Stellantis said: "The rework consists of a software update and the change of the oil, if needed. "In addition, a special repairer application has been developed which can detect a possible problem with the chain by analysing the noise of the engine." "Under this enhanced policy, Stellantis will cover 100% of parts and labour costs for up to 10 years or 240,000 kilometres, subject to specific conditions, "This additional policy applies to eligible repairs carried out between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2025, provided that the vehicle's maintenance and diagnosis meet the guidelines recommended by the relevant brand." The 1.5 BlueHDi diesel engine prompting the recall was developed before the merger by PSA, the maker of Peugeot, Citroen, Opel and DS brands. Stellantis added that Fiat cars were also affected by the recall.
