Fiat 500 Hybrid, pragmatism signals the end of electric cars

When Fiat does not relaunch the electric 500, but frames it with a gasoline engine, it is the admission of the failure of fully electric vehicles.

One can take the most beautiful photos in the world, organize an emotional staging within the historic walls of Mirafiori, and talk about “victory,” “magic,” or “commitment.” One can also justifiably explain that the Fiat 500 Hybrid meets market expectations. However, through this thermal resurrection, there must also be an acknowledgment of giving up.

In fact, there is nothing to criticize. The new 500 Hybrid appears technically coherent. Equipped with the small 1.0 FireFly mild-hybrid engine, a six-speed manual transmission, and all modern driving aids, it ticks all the boxes of a contemporary urban vehicle. Three body styles, a connected trim with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a style that is still very appealing… The specifications are met.

But this regression carries significant meaning. Fiat had made the electric 500 the standard-bearer of a greener future, banking on its allure to convert Europe to zero-emission mobility. Unfortunately. Sales have stagnated, costs have risen, and public subsidies have dwindled. As a result, the electric version has been relegated to the background, while the good old combustion engine is being revived, hybrid yes, but more to escape penalties than out of conviction.

Fiat claims it wants to make the 500 more accessible. In reality, it is mainly proof that electric vehicles are not. The targeted entry price will be €17,000 in Europe, compared to €28,900 (excluding bonuses) currently in France for the entry-level electric model. And while the relocation to Mirafiori is excellent news for the Italian industry, it masks a deeper strategic shift. The dream of a 100% electric future, represented by the little plugged-in 500, gives way to economic realism. To stay in the race, one must sell affordable, simple, familiar cars, even if it means returning to gasoline.

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