Overview
- The suspension, announced Tuesday, stops new imports of the Fiat 500e and Abarth 500e and leaves only Fiat Professional vans such as the Scudo and Ducato available.
- Fiat’s passenger‑car volumes have plunged about 30 percent year to date to 144 units, with just 13 sold in June, leaving local sales lower than niche luxury marques.
- Both 500e models were launched at relatively high prices and later received discounts exceeding AU$20,000 without materially lifting demand.
- Industry experts say the move reflects mounting pressure from rapidly expanding Chinese EV brands like BYD that offer lower prices, newer features and faster delivery, squeezing smaller European nameplates.
- Stellantis says it will support dealers and customers while it evaluates future product plans, and the pause raises the prospect of further brand rationalisation that could affect local dealer jobs, aftersales support and model choice.