2012 Fiat 500 Sport on 2040-cars

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Fiat 500X coming in early 2015, 'specialty' product later that year

With its name freshly on the mailbox at the Chrysler Technical Center, Fiat took its turn on the stage for Fiat Chrysler's five-year plan. Unlike the other members of FCA, though, the maker of the mustachioed minicars didn't have a great deal to talk about.
The big (and most heartbreaking) news is the announcement that Fiat will begin selling a trucklet. There was no mention of specifics, although we are sad to report that it will be reserved for Latin America alone. Sigh.
For US Fiat consumers, you can look forward to the rumored 500X, which as we've reported before, will be quite closely related to the Jeep Renegade. We can expect the bigger, all-wheel-drivier 500 to hit showrooms in early 2015 after the 500X makes its debut in Paris.

UAW warns automakers: Restarting U.S. plants is 'too soon and too risky'

WASHINGTON/WARREN, Mich. — The head of the United Auto Workers union on Thursday said it was "too soon and too risky" to reopen auto plants and Michigan's economy in early May, citing insufficient scientific data and coronavirus testing to assure workplaces are safe. The warning from UAW President Rory Gamble on Thursday afternoon came as General Motors Co , Ford Motor Co and Toyota Motor Corp took new steps toward reopening North American vehicle manufacturing operations in an environment where consumer demand is uncertain and worker safety paramount. The union has said that 24 of its members have died from Covid-19, though it was unclear whether they might have become infected in the workplace. Unionized Detroit automakers and non-union German and Asian automakers have been preparing to restart U.S. vehicle making operations by early May. Companies have shifted reopening dates amid uncertainty about government stay-at-home orders. Gamble's statement appeared to derail plans by the Detroit Three to start bringing UAW workers back to vehicle manufacturing jobs on May 4. The longer the automakers cannot produce profitable U.S.-made trucks and sport utility vehicles, the longer they burn cash. The UAW leader's statement was also aimed at Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who has come under pressure from conservative groups and President Donald Trump to ease coronavirus stay-at-home restrictions. "At this point in time, the UAW does not believe the scientific data is conclusive that it is safe to have our members back in the workplace. We have not done enough testing to really understand the threat our members face," Gamble said. "We strongly suggest to our companies in all sectors that an early May date is too soon and too risky to our members, their families and their communities." Gamble said the union was "happy with the auto companiesÂ’ response and cooperation on working through the health and safety protocols we will need in the workplace when it is appropriate to restart." Earlier Thursday, GM began notifying front line managers to come back to work next week to get trained on new safety protocols designed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus as workers return to plants.

Fiat says all Abarth models to be electric from 2024

Fiat didn’t have the big, bold product announcements in Stellantis EV Day that Ram, Dodge and Jeep did, but the Italian company still gave us a little something to chew on.  For starters, Fiat says all future Abarth products will be electric from 2024 and onward. There are currently no Fiat Abarth products sold in the U.S., but the news could still be relevant to us as it concerns future Abarths. News that future Abarths will be electric by a certain time is essentially confirmation that such a vehicle or vehicles are on the way, so expect an electric Abarth sometime around 2024. Consider the 500 Abarth and 124 Abarth to be the last two gasoline-powered Abarth-branded vehicles to be sold in the U.S. Seeing the closeness of the 2024 cutoff, theyÂ’ll also likely be the last gasoline Abarth models sold globally, too. The EV promise extends further than just Abarth models, though. Fiat previously said it would become an EV-only brand by 2030, but the transition was laid out with greater specificity today. By 2024, every model line in FiatÂ’s lineup will have a full-BEV option. Fiat doesnÂ’t have a massive lineup, but it means the company will need to electrify models beyond the new 500 that is already electric. Lastly, Fiat promises that all of its commercial vehicles will offer an electric option starting in 2022, and the company is counting fuel cell vehicles as part of this lineup. The commitment to go all-EV by 2030 still stands, though Fiat now says it could get there any time between 2025-2030. Fiat says the switchover will be made whenever it can sell EVs for the same price as their combustion engine equivalents, as it wants to keep costs in a place where your typical Fiat owner can still buy its vehicles. Stellantis EV Day coverage: Dodge will launch the 'world's first electric muscle car' in 2024 Fully electric Ram 1500 will begin production in 2024 Jeep will have 4xe plug-in hybrid models across the lineup by 2025 Stellantis teases mystery electric Chrysler concept Stellantis previews 4 electric platforms: Here's how they'll be used Fiat says all Abarth models to be electric from 2024 Opel Manta E will be the electric revival of the classic German coupe Stellantis says its 2021 performance has been better than expected Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.