Fiat cuts its prices and relaunches its old models (Tipo, Panda)

No more cheap old Fiats? Room for upgrading to improve margins? That was the announced virtual plan. But weary. Hit by a plunge in sales, the Turin brand of the Stellantis group is backtracking. The old thermal mini-Panda from 2012 remains in the catalog in France in a version called City (70 horsepower) at 15,900 euros. This vehicle was initially supposed to give way to a brand new car, the Grande Panda, presented last July. But this will be much too expensive, at least initially, in an electric version at 24,400 euros. Too big a jump for regular Fiat customers.

Last February, Olivier François, director of the brand, announced that production of the 2012 Panda would be in fine extended until at least 2027. Two months later, Stellantis general manager Carlos Tavares went even further, planning manufacturing until… 2030! To make this Panda last, however, it became necessary to refresh it. With a more chic version called Pandina at 17,900 euros. But this still turns out to be too expensive. Hence the maintenance as is of the Panda itself, which celebrated its twelve years. Even though it has increased significantly in recent years, the Panda is one of the cheapest models in current production alongside the basic Dacia Sandero (12,490 euros) and Citroën C3 (14,990 euros).

The 2007 Fiat 500 petrol was also slated for retirement. However, it still appears on the internet configurator at 18,700 euros in France. Logic: here too we had to keep a 500 affordable. The electric 500e, much more recent, appeared in 2020, starts at 30,400 euros. A high price, which is the cause of the brand’s poor sales on this model.

Fiat is even stronger. It is reintroducing the Tipo compact sedan (made in Turkey) from 2015 in France. The Piedmontese firm even has the luxury of returning to this market segment with an unbeatable price of 16,900 euros. In a 130 horsepower diesel version removed two years ago. This is undoubtedly the best deal at the moment. Very well equipped, it measures… 4.53 meters long, more than a Peugeot 308 (4.37 meters).