Stellantis, the parent company of brands like Fiat, Opel, and Citroen, is preparing to launch a new series of low-cost, all-electric vehicles to revitalize the shrinking entry-level car market in Europe. The company announced that production of its new compact electric model family, named “E-Car”, will begin in 2028 at its Pomigliano d’Arco factory in Italy.
Starting from 15,000 Euros
According to sources close to the company, the starting price for the new models will be approximately 15,000 euros. With this, Stellantis aims to re-enter the affordable city car segment, which has been increasingly abandoned in recent years due to rising production costs and tightening safety regulations.
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa stated that they want to evaluate the demand for “small and stylish vehicles” to be produced in Europe for the European market. Filosa emphasized that the E-Car platform will form the basis for new models across multiple brands.
Japanese Kei Car Model to be Adapted for Europe
The company highlighted that the new E-Car concept is inspired by Japan's “kei car” class. These city vehicles, with their low size and engine limitations, are very popular in Japan due to tax and insurance advantages.
In recent years, European automakers have not adequately invested in low-budget small cars due to electrification costs and stringent safety regulations. Companies shifted their focus to medium and large segment vehicles, aiming for higher profit margins. However, at the end of last year, the EU announced a new urban E-Car class exempt from strict safety requirements, paving the way for manufacturers to invest in this area.
The new E-Car project is also expected to solve Stellantis's low capacity utilization problem in Europe. It is stated that the Pomigliano factory will operate more efficiently thanks to high production volumes, and Italian unions welcomed the announcement. Unions announced that the new production program will contribute to full employment at the facility in the long term. Currently, the Fiat Panda is produced at the Pomigliano factory.
Stellantis is also utilizing partnership models to reduce costs and accelerate the development process. In this regard, the company continues to expand its collaborations with its Chinese partner, Leapmotor. The two companies recently announced an agreement for the joint production of two models in Spain. Stellantis also signaled that its production collaborations with Dongfeng Motor could be extended outside of China in the future.
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