EV battery prices to drop by over £4,000 from 2027, predicts Fiat CEO
Francois, who is also Chief Marketing Officer of the wider Stellantis Group, reckons we'll see a step change in battery prices as soon as 2027 with some batteries going down in price by as much as €5,000 (£4,185).
Speaking to The Independent at the launch of the new Fiat Grande Panda – which at £20,975 is one of the UK's cheapest electric cars – Francois said 'at some point we will have better costs on the batteries. It's supposed to come down drastically in 2027. It's not just for us, it's technology that is coming and that will help.'
'What is a pity is that the government incentives should have created a bridge until then. Now we have a bump – there are no government incentives and still the request to sell a lot of EVs because of CO2 targets.'
When pushed on how much cheaper batteries are likely to become in a few years' time, Francois said, 'If I had to guess, and it's my educated guess, it would probably be €5,000. And they will probably go down [in steps] rather than a curve. We want the steps to be as big as possible.'
Francois was speaking as the new version of the iconic 80s Panda, the Grande Panda, was being launched at Fiat's base in Turin. The Grande Panda will go on sale in April with first deliveries in June and will be available as a mild hybrid petrol car as well as an EV.
The electric Grande Panda at £20,975 undercuts the new Citroen e-C3, with which it shares its 44kWh battery and 199-mile range, by £1,195. New, cheaper batteries could bring those prices down considerably, removing what Francois says is still one of the biggest barriers to EV ownership: price.
Francois also revealed that Fiat is working on a replacement for the smaller Panda model that remains on sale for the time being. The new, cheaper baby Panda will follow the Grande Panda with both petrol and electric power. It'll be based on the platform used for the Fiat 500, which was originally launched as an electric car only but is being re-engineered for petrol hybrid power, too.
Before we see the new small Panda, an even larger model than the Fiat Grande Panda is expected to launch next year, again with electric and hybrid power, although it may not take the Panda name.
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Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Code red' recall for ANOTHER 10,000 cars in UK over worrying ‘explosion' fault – check if you're affected
HIT THE BRAKES 'Code red' recall for ANOTHER 10,000 cars in UK over worrying 'explosion' fault – check if you're affected Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THOUSANDS of UK motorists have been told to park up their cars immediately after Citroën and DS models were hit with a rare 'do not drive' safety order over potentially deadly airbags. The highest-level 'stop‑drive' recall affects well over 100,000 vehicles on British roads and has just been widened again, leaving around 10,000 owners unable to use their cars until repairs are completed. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 A fatal incident in France triggered the UK action. Credit: AFP Makers say they're moving fast, but many drivers have already been without their cars for weeks, and are facing cancelled bookings due to parts shortages. Stellantis says it proactively widened the stop‑drive action to C4, DS4, and DS5 in mid‑August, while DVSA continues to oversee recall compliance. Here's what's going on, the full list of affected cars, and exactly what to do now. Why the 'stop‑drive' order is so serious This isn't a routine recall. It's a code‑red instruction to stop using the car with immediate effect because there's a risk the driver's airbag can explode dangerously when it deploys. The issue involves Takata airbag inflators, which can degrade over time and, in rare cases, rupture and fire metal fragments into the cabin. A fatal incident in France triggered the UK action. With the stakes this high, the manufacturer and the DVSA expect owners to take the notice seriously. That means no school runs, no quick nip to the shops, and crucially, no driving the car to a dealership for a repair. If you're affected, you must arrange for recovery or an at‑home fix via the brand's network. Full list: Citroën and DS models under 'do not drive' Owners of the following cars have been told not to drive until the airbag is replaced. If you see your model and build years below, assume you're affected unless a dealer has already confirmed your car has had a new airbag fitted. Citroën C3 (2009–2019) DS 3 (first generation, including earlier Citroën‑badged DS3) – built 2009–2019 Citroën C4 – built 2010–2011 DS 4 – built 2010–2011 DS 5 – built 2010–2013 The most recent expansion added roughly 9,968 UK cars (C4, DS4, and DS5). In total, near-106,000 Citroën/DS vehicles in Britain are now covered by the stop‑drive action. All UK car dealerships will STOP selling 10,000s of iconic brand's used models impacted by lethal airbag flaw Can I still drive to the garage? No. The stop‑drive instruction means exactly that. Do not use the car on public roads until it's repaired. The maker has been clear that cars must be returned to the workshop or repaired at home. Driving an affected vehicle could carry legal consequences if you're involved in a collision, and insurers may refuse claims on the grounds that the car wasn't safe to be on the road. How to check if your car is on the list Look out for a red‑bordered stop‑drive letter or email from the manufacturer. These have been sent to registered keepers of affected vehicles. Check recall pages and confirm with your dealer using your VIN; Citroën/DS sites and dealers also offer VIN or registration lookups. Contact your nearest Citroën or DS dealer. The networks have VIN lookups to confirm status and book a repair. Already had an airbag replaced? Ask the dealer to confirm in writing that your VIN is now clear of the stop‑drive order. What happens next – and how long will it take? The maker says its focus is on replacing airbags 'as swiftly as possible,' with more than half of the initial wave of C3 and DS3 cars reportedly now fixed. 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Recovery to the dealer: You shouldn't be asked to drive the car in. The brand should arrange safe transport for the vehicle if an at‑home fix isn't available. You shouldn't be asked to drive the car in. The brand should arrange safe transport for the vehicle if an at‑home fix isn't available. Expenses: Keep every receipt for taxis, public transport, and other essential travel caused by the stop‑drive order. Ask the manufacturer to reimburse reasonable costs where a courtesy car hasn't been provided. Keep every receipt for taxis, public transport, and other essential travel caused by the stop‑drive order. Ask the manufacturer to reimburse reasonable costs where a courtesy car hasn't been provided. Clear communication: You're entitled to a straight answer on whether your car is affected, when parts are expected, and how you'll be kept mobile in the meantime. If you're being passed from pillar to post, escalate in writing to customer service and copy in the dealership principal. 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The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
‘Code red' recall for ANOTHER 10,000 cars in UK over worrying ‘explosion' fault – check if you're affected
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Citroën C3 (2009–2019) DS 3 (first generation, including earlier Citroën‑badged DS3) – built 2009–2019 Citroën C4 – built 2010–2011 DS 4 – built 2010–2011 DS 5 – built 2010–2013 The most recent expansion added roughly 9,968 UK cars (C4, DS4, and DS5). In total, near-106,000 Citroën/DS vehicles in Britain are now covered by the stop‑drive action. Can I still drive to the garage? No. The stop‑drive instruction means exactly that. Do not use the car on public roads until it's repaired. The maker has been clear that cars must be returned to the workshop or repaired at home. Driving an affected vehicle could carry legal consequences if you're involved in a collision, and insurers may refuse claims on the grounds that the car wasn't safe to be on the road. How to check if your car is on the list Look out for a red‑bordered stop‑drive letter or email from the manufacturer. These have been sent to registered keepers of affected vehicles. Check recall pages and confirm with your dealer using your VIN; Citroën/DS sites and dealers also offer VIN or registration lookups. Contact your nearest Citroën or DS dealer. The networks have VIN lookups to confirm status and book a repair. Already had an airbag replaced? Ask the dealer to confirm in writing that your VIN is now clear of the stop‑drive order. What happens next – and how long will it take? The maker says its focus is on replacing airbags 'as swiftly as possible,' with more than half of the initial wave of C3 and DS3 cars reportedly now fixed. The expansion to C4, DS4, and DS5 means extra pressure on parts and workshop capacity, but the brand has brought in additional support, including authorising the Peugeot network for some repairs and offering mobile technicians for at‑home replacements where possible. Realistically, some owners will still face waits due to parts supply and booking backlogs. If you've been given a date weeks away - or had a slot cancelled at short notice - push for alternative options and mobility support (more on your rights below). What you're entitled to: your rights explained Courtesy car or mobility support: There's no automatic legal right, but Stellantis says it will support mobility (courtesy car, recovery, at‑home repair, or alternatives). Ask explicitly and keep receipts for reasonable costs. Recovery to the dealer: You shouldn't be asked to drive the car in. The brand should arrange safe transport for the vehicle if an at‑home fix isn't available. Expenses: Keep every receipt for taxis, public transport, and other essential travel caused by the stop‑drive order. Ask the manufacturer to reimburse reasonable costs where a courtesy car hasn't been provided. Clear communication: You're entitled to a straight answer on whether your car is affected, when parts are expected, and how you'll be kept mobile in the meantime. If you're being passed from pillar to post, escalate in writing to customer service and copy in the dealership principal. If you recently bought the car: Bought from a dealer and only just discovered it's under stop‑drive? Speak to the seller. Consumer protection laws may give you remedies if the car was not of satisfactory quality at the point of sale. Independent legal advice is sensible here. Insurance and legal consequences Ignoring a stop‑drive recall is a serious risk. If you crash and investigators find an outstanding stop‑drive order, insurers may reject the claim, and you could face prosecution. If you need to inform your insurer that your car is temporarily off the road due to the recall, do so and keep records of all communications. Practical steps to take today Stop driving immediately. Park the car safely and remove the keys. Confirm your status by using the recall checker and then call your dealer with your VIN. Book the repair. Push for the earliest available slot or at‑home fix. Ask for mobility support. If no courtesy car is offered, request it explicitly - and ask about alternative options if the waiting list is long. Keep records. Save emails, note call times, and keep receipts for any extra travel costs. Can I SORN the car and save on tax? If your vehicle will be off the road for a while, you can apply for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). That means you must not use or park the car on public roads, but you could get a refund for the full remaining months of vehicle tax. Only do this if you truly won't need to drive it until it's repaired; it can take admin time to reverse a SORN when your car is fixed. How the repair works The fix involves replacing the affected airbag module. In many cases, this is a straightforward job a technician can complete in a single visit, though the exact time varies by model. Some owners are being offered at‑home replacements to speed things up; others will need workshop slots. If you're offered an alternative airbag brand emblem (for example, a Citroën ‑branded wheel in a DS model) to get you back on the road faster, ask whether you can swap to the correct trim later without charge. Why some owners are still waiting This is one of the biggest safety actions the car industry has seen, and scaling up parts supply plus trained technicians takes time. That doesn't help if you're stranded now, but it explains the uneven experience across the country. If your booking is weeks away, consider being wait-listed for cancellations, checking nearby dealers for earlier slots, and requesting a mobile repair if available in your area.
Western Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Recall issued for 24 car models over engine fire risk
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