Fiat is preparing a new compact electric car, which will become the electric equivalent of the Panda and will be made on the same platform as the revived Citroën 2CV, reports Autocar.
It could be called the Koala; the Italian automaker has already registered this name. Fiat boss Arnauld Belloni spoke about the preparation of the model at the Paris motor show. He noted that the company is working on the development of several cars based on the new Stellantis platform for small electric cars.
One of the future models will be closely related to the revived Citroën 2CV concept presented at the Paris motor show. The release of this serial French car is expected in 2028. Fiat design chief Francois Leboine said that the development of this Italian electric car has progressed about as far as the work on the 2CV, but the company has decided not to show the novelty for now, so as not to distract attention from the French brand during its launch.
The Koala will be part of Fiat's strategy to update its small and affordable car line. Currently, the basis of this segment is the Panda with an internal combustion engine, also known as the Pandina, and the Fiat 500. The company intends to maintain its offer of affordable cars with an internal combustion engine, while developing its electric direction.
The novelty is expected to use the recognizable lines of the Panda, but will not become a direct repetition of any of the previous versions of this model. Leboine emphasized that Fiat will choose a fundamentally different approach to design and will not create a retro-style car, following the example of the new Citroën 2CV.
The name Koala fits into Fiat's tradition of naming Panda models after bears. “Koala now belongs to Fiat,” Belloni said. “We have a Koala, a Panda and a Grizzly.” Indeed, he joked that the only bear name Fiat can't use is Kodiak, because Skoda uses this for its large SUV. One source of design ideas could be the Ippo concept, which won in Fiat's competition among Italian university students.
The angular hatchback is reminiscent of previous generations of the Panda. The company has also been interested in the Lumo Su Misura and Fizz projects. Seven participants in the competition received internships in Fiat's design studio, and four of them continue to work for the company. European regulations for a new class of affordable electric cars, on which the development is oriented, have not yet been adopted.
The initiative proposed in 2025 is designed to promote the release of cars shorter than 4.2 meters and reduce the cost of switching to electric transport.