Stellantis is experiencing a tough time in Australia, with several of its brands delivering very low sales. The situation escalated when Fiat paused new imports of the 500e and Abarth 500e models amid weak demand.
Fiat Suspends New Orders Amid Falling Sales
Fiat’s Australian operations have entered a review phase, stopping new orders for its electric city cars. While dealers will keep selling existing stock, no new deliveries of the 500e or Abarth 500e are expected soon. Fiat’s passenger car sales fell 30.4% in the first half of 2026, with just 144 units registered.
Other Stellantis Brands Struggle to Gain Ground
Several other Stellantis brands have also recorded disappointing sales. Peugeot managed only 54 vehicle sales in June, Alfa Romeo 35, and Jeep 28. Peugeot is facing transition challenges after ending its import ties with Inchcape. The brand is expected to stay, but a new local partner and timeline have yet to be confirmed. Peugeot sales dipped around 35% over five months in 2026 compared to a year earlier, continuing a sharp long-term decline from over 8,800 units in 2007 to just a few hundred now.
Citroën quit new-car sales in Australia in late 2024, though servicing remains available. Meanwhile, Fiat Professional trucks like the Scudo and Ducato show better performance with 139 units sold in June alone, almost matching Fiat’s entire passenger car sales for the half-year.
Sales Challenges Spark Satirical Backlash
The poor sales and Fiat’s import halt have drawn attention from the Australian satire site The Betoota Advocate. Its article mocked Stellantis, calling it “the maker of the world’s worst cars” and describing the situation as a full withdrawal from Australia. This portrayal exaggerates the facts, as Stellantis has not announced a total market exit and continues selling remaining stock.
The satire also mentioned outdated and unrelated models and brands, including Chrysler Neon, Grand Voyager, and Lancia, some of which never had a strong Australian presence. Several sales figures cited were either misleading or inaccurate.
What’s Next for Stellantis in Australia?
While the satire highlights real difficulties, Stellantis faces a genuine commercial challenge maintaining a wide brand portfolio in a highly competitive Australian market. More updates on Peugeot’s distribution and potential Fiat relaunch plans are expected later. For now, the group is focused on managing inventory and adjusting its local strategy amid weak demand.
Source: clubalfa.it