1982 Fiat Spider 2000 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

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.     

Fiat trademarks '124', '124 Spider'

On December 18 Fiat submitted two trademark applications to the US Patent Trade Office, one for "Fiat 124," the other for "Fiat 124 Spider." AutoGuide suspects these are the names that will be applied to the Fiat version of the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. The new Miata was at one time going to provide a new roadster platform for Alfa Romeo. Then Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said that Alfas had to be built in Italy, which, in terms of production ease, put the kibosh on using the Mazda platform. That led to the expectation that the vehicle would move to another brand in the Fiat stable, and recently Alfa Romeo CEO Harald Wester told Car that "The Far East import will probably find a new home with Fiat-Abarth." This would be a redux of the 124 name, last used from 1966 to 1974 on a dowdy but much praised sedan, and from 1966 to 1985 on a convertible known as the 124 Sport Spider (pictured). Having trademarked both names - assuming the company uses them - hardtop and convertible versions of a new 124 are expected, but we're unsure about a variant with four doors.

Fiat Chrysler execs, salaried employees taking pay cuts during coronavirus pandemic

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' top executives and salaried workers around the globe will take pay cuts in an act of "shared sacrifice" brought on by the coronavirus pandemic that has shuttered the automaker's plants in Europe and North America, according to a company memo seen by Reuters. Chief Executive Officer Mike Manley said in the memo he will take a 50 percent pay cut for three months starting April 1, while Chairman John Elkann and FCA's board of directors will forego the remainder of their 2020 compensation. FCA said most global salaried employees will be asked to take a temporary 20 percent pay cut. "Protecting the financial health of the company is everyone’s responsibility and naturally starts with myself and the leadership of FCA," Manley wrote. Members of the automaker's group executive council will also take a 30 percent pay cut, according to the memo. Last week, No. 1 U.S. automaker General Motors said it planned to keep its plants closed indefinitely and was reducing the pay of salaried employees and executives and suspending some future product programs to conserve cash. GM's chief executive and chief financial officer issued a stark warning to company employees in an internal video, saying that "significant austerity measures" were needed to preserve the companyÂ’s long-term viability. Ford also said it was temporarily cutting top executivesÂ’ salaries.