Stellantis is planning a new Panda-inspired EV with a lower starting price aimed squarely at halting the march gained by Dacia’s Spring EV. Additionally, the low-cost Panda EV will be brought to the U.S. as a second model to sit alongside the soon-to-be-launched-in-America 500e.
“There is a real need for more affordable EVs,” said Fiat CEO Oliver Francois, who spoke of the demand for accessible EVs traditionally priced above their ICE counterparts. Stellantis hopes to price the new Panda at under €25,000 (roughly $27,500 at current exchange rates).
Priced at around €17,300, the Spring EV from Renault-owned Dacia is one of Europe’s cheapest EVs. In addition to the likes of Dacia, Stellantis will also be going up against a new onslaught of Chinese automakers that are entering the European market. The new Panda will sit below the 500e, which is listed at a starting price of €25,450 in Italy. Meanwhile, the electric Renault 5 and upcoming VW ID.2 will be priced in the €25,000 and up range.
Related: 2024 Citroen E-C3 Teases Concept-Like Styling, Promises Sub €25k Price
While the new Panda may be Stellantis’ only cheap and cheerful EV offered stateside, in Europe, the group will also launch the new e-C3 from Citroen — not to be confused with the Indian and South American e-C3 of the same name. To keep costs down, the e-C3 will be manufactured in Slovakia.
Quoted by Automotive News Europe, Francois commented that there would very likely be “synergies” shared between the electric Citroen and Fiat’s new Panda line. That would suggest that the two cars may, at the very least, share platforms and other components such as batteries and motors.
The European e-C3 is rumored to be getting a single electric motor producing either 80 hp (60 kW / 82 PS) or 107 hp (80 kW / 109 hp). Energy will be sourced from 40 kWh or 50 kWh batteries from Chinese company Svolt, offering a claimed range of over 300 km (186 miles).
