Fiat Confirms Ending 124 Spider Production For Europe, U.S. Model To Continue For 2020MY

Update: We confirmed the news with a spokesperson from Fiat’s European arm. See details below

Earlier this year we learned that the Fiat 124 Spider will not get a replacement, and now we hear that production of the Mazda MX-5’s Italian twin has come to an end in Japan.

According to several reports from Italian media, production of the 124 Spider and its Abarth performance version for European markets has ended only three years after their launch. Al Volante writes that while sales have been decent for a niche car, they weren’t strong enough to justify the renewal of the manufacturing contract with Mazda.

Adding insult to injury was the high cost for upgrading the 1.4-liter MultiAir turbocharged four-cylinder unit to meet the Euro 6d-Temp and Euro 6d emission standards. The fact that the 124 Spider and Abarth 595 hot hatch are the last remaining FCA products to use this engine obviously did not help that much… According to another report from Italy’s Motori, local dealers stopped accepted new orders a few weeks ago.

Related: Fiat 124 Spider Unexpectedly Pulled From UK Market

We’ve reached out to the carmaker’s North American and European divisions for comments. At the time this article was originally posted, we only received a reply from the former. “For North America, production continues for our Italian-designed, fun-to-drive 2020 Fiat 124 Spider,” Bryan Zvibleman, Head of Fiat Brand Communications at FCA North America told us.

While this is good news for U.S. enthusiasts, the model’s fate beyond the 2020 model year in North America too is uncertain. For 2020, the only updates the 124 Spider received were the “Scorpion Sting” decals for the Abarth model (pictured). FCA’s decision not to invest in the roadster at a time when many expected a mid-cycle refresh speaks volumes about the manufacturer’s plans.

Stay tuned as we’ll update this story once we get a response from FCA EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) as well. In the meantime, it would probably be a good idea to start looking for discounts on the nimble roadster, both in Europe and North America.

Update 12/6/2019: We heard back from FCA EMEA as well, more specifically from Danilo Coglianese, Head of Communication Fiat & Abarth, who reminded us that the Fiat 124 Spider remains a sales leader in Italy, Spain and Switzerland, as well as the second best-selling model in Europe in its segment.

“But its segment is declining quickly in Europe: by the end of 2019 we expect it will count round 25,000 units – less than one third if compared to 2013 – while other segments – on the contrary – are growing fast,” Coglianese told us in an emailed statement.

“In the end, given the change in the European automotive landscape, Fiat and Abarth will focus their strengths in their own core business. By the way, 124 production will continue for NAFTA and APAC regions,” the representative added. He didn’t say for how long the Fiat 124 Spider will be built for North America and Asia Pacific, though.