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5,600 Fiat 500e EVs recalled for buggy software

Fiat will be recalling some 5,600 of its all-electric 500e hatchbacks, all of which hail from model years 2013, 2014 and 2015. Weirdly, this recall is being caused by a March 2015 software update. According to The Detroit News, last month's update addressed the software in the Electric Vehicle Control Unit and Battery Pack Control Module "to implement improvements in charging system robustness, diagnostic capability and range estimation over life. In addition to the primary reasons for the software update, Limp Home Mode was included as part of battery pack software continuous improvement," FCA explained. "It was because of this software update that the software incompatibility occurred where the EVCU did not recognize the Limp Home Mode." Should your car go into limp mode, "incompatible software between Electric Vehicle Control Unit (EVCU) and Battery Pack Control Module (BPCM) may cause the electric propulsion system to fully shut down," according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration bulletin. So yes, the March software update can cause your EV to stall. Vehicles built between March 27, 2012 and November 1, 2014, which sounds like basically all 500es, are affected by the recall. Chrysler will begin notifying owners with recall operations to begin in the middle of next month. Scroll down for the official NHTSA bulletin. Related Video: Report Receipt Date: MAR 27, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V179000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) SUMMARY: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Fiat 500 EV vehicles manufactured March 27, 2012, to November 1, 2014. If the vehicle goes in to limp home mode, incompatible software between Electric Vehicle Control Unit (EVCU) and Battery Pack Control Module (BPCM) may cause the electric propulsion system to fully shut down. CONSEQUENCE: An electric propulsion system shut down will cause a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software to ensure compatability between components, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R15. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Fiat preparing to say 'ciao' to the 500X in the United States

Fiat's 500X crossover will enter the pantheon of automotive history without a successor. Ending years of rumors and speculation, the company confirmed that the soft-roader will not be replaced in the United States once production of the current-generation model ends.  As we reported from the L.A. Auto Show, the 500X will be discontinued after it reaches the end of its lifecycle. "When it dies, it dies. We will not replace it," Fiat boss Olivier Francois confirmed to Motor Trend.  With the Mazda MX-5 Miata-based 124 Spider and the 500L people-mover out of the picture, the 500X is the last Fiat standing in the United States. Its demise hardly comes as a surprise: Fiat sold merely 1,181 units in 2021, an 18% drop compared to 2020. Given those anemic numbers and the fact it debuted at the Paris Auto Show of 2014, the end of its lifecycle might not be that far off — 2023 might be its final model year. Francois' comments douse cold water on rumors claiming Fiat planned to merge the 500X and the 500L into one model tentatively called 500XL. When it does sail off into the history book, the Jeep Renegade's Italian cousin will pass the torch to the electric 500e, which has been on sale in Europe since 2020 but won't land in the United States until early 2024. Market-specific details will be announced in 2023. Fiat seems content with offering a one-model range in the United States. "We have a clear plan not to do anything besides the 500. It's the one model people like," Francois candidly admitted. "Fiat is not here to be everything to everyone everywhere," he added. And, the company knows a tiny EV with a range rating of under 200 miles will be a tough sell. Francois predicted American sales will be "a rounding error." European motorists see more of the Fiat iceberg. The Turin-based company notably still sells the last-generation 500 and its Abarth-tuned derivatives, which both left American showrooms in 2019. Its range also includes the massively popular Panda city car and the Tipo.     

France tries to dodge blame for blowing up FCA-Renault merger deal

PARIS — France sought to fend off a hail of criticism on Thursday after it was blamed for scuppering a $35 billion-plus merger between carmakers Fiat-Chrysler and Renault only 10 days after it was officially announced. Shares in Italian-American FCA and France's Renault fell sharply in early trading after FCA pulled out of talks, saying "the political conditions in France do not currently exist for such a combination to proceed successfully." French finance minister Bruno Le Maire said the government, which has a 15% stake in Renault, had engaged constructively, but had not been prepared to back a deal without the endorsement of Renault's current alliance partner Nissan. Nissan had said it would abstain at a Renault board meeting to vote on the merger proposal. However, a source close to FCA played down the significance of Nissan's stance in the discussions, believing French President Emmanuel Macron was looking for a way out of the deal after coming under pressure at home. Context The FCA-Renault talks were conducted against the backdrop of a French public outcry over 1,044 layoffs at a General Electric factory. The U.S. company had promised to safeguard jobs there when it acquired France's Alstom in 2015. The collapse of the deal, which would have created the world's third-biggest carmaker behind Japan's Toyota and Germany's Volkswagen, revives questions about how both FCA and Renault will meet the challenges of costly investments in electric and self-driving cars on their own. The merger had aimed to achieve 5 billion euros ($5.6 billion) in annual synergies, with FCA gaining access to Renault's and Nissan's superior electric drive technology and the French firm getting a share of FCA's lucrative Jeep and Ram brands. FCA has long been looking for a merger partner, and some analysts say its search for a deal is becoming more urgent as it is ill-prepared for tougher new regulations on emissions. It previously held unsuccessful talks with Peugeot maker PSA Group, in which the French state also owns a stake. French budget minister Gerald Darmanin said the door should not be closed on the possibility of a deal with Renault, adding Paris would be happy to re-examine any new proposal from FCA. "Talks could resume at some time in the future," he told FranceInfo radio.