Fiat is preparing to launch a new small electric car based on the same platform as Citroën’s upcoming 2CV EV. The model, tentatively called the Koala, aims to be an electric alternative to the long-running Panda city car. It will arrive as part of a new wave of compact EVs designed to meet upcoming European regulations.
Shared Platform and New Segment Rules
The Koala will use Stellantis’s dedicated electric platform for small cars, which was first shown with Citroën’s 2CV concept during the Paris motor show. This platform is designed for vehicles under 4.2 metres long and is set to benefit from new EU regulations targeting affordable electric cars in this size category. These rules, inspired by Japan’s kei car standards, are still in draft form but have already spurred development from several manufacturers.
Fiat’s Strategy for Small EVs
Fiat’s new electric city car will replace the combustion engine Panda, a nameplate that has been popular in Europe for 15 years. Despite the shift to electric, Fiat plans to keep an affordable petrol-powered Panda available for some time, serving customers not yet ready to go electric.
Fiat’s new CEO, Arnauld Belloni, revealed that the company has trademarked the name Koala for this EV, continuing Fiat’s recent naming pattern of using bear-themed names such as Panda and Grizzly. This will help give the model its own identity, distinct from the gasoline Panda, sometimes nicknamed Pandina.
Design Direction and Development
Fiat’s design chief François Leboine explained that the Koala will take a modern approach rather than reviving the retro look of older models. Although it will share some styling cues with the Panda family, it won’t imitate the original Panda or use a neo-retro design like the 2CV concept. Instead, Fiat is aiming for something fresh and contemporary.
Earlier this year, Fiat ran a design competition with Italian university students to generate ideas for future electric city cars. The winning design, called Ippo, shows a blocky, practical hatchback reminiscent of past Panda models. Fiat found several of the student concepts interesting and has even hired some of the participants into its design studio, where their ideas have influenced upcoming projects.
Upcoming Models and Market Focus
Fiat has indicated this Koala will be the first of several new small electric cars based on this platform. The company is focusing on rejuvenating its lower range of city cars in Europe, following recent launches of larger models like the Grande Panda and the Grizzly SUV.
The exact launch date for the Koala has not been announced. However, it is expected to arrive around the same time as Citroën’s 2CV EV, which is scheduled for 2028. Fiat has chosen to keep the new model under wraps for now, likely to avoid overshadowing the 2CV’s reveal at the Paris show.
Overall, the Koala represents Fiat’s push into practical, affordable electric cars that fit tightly into urban environments, supported by emerging European regulations aimed at accelerating the EV transition.
Source: autocar.co.uk