Latest news with #Topolino
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- RTÉ News
Stellantis boss urges adoption of smaller, cheaper, Japanese-style 'kei' cars
Europe needs to develop smaller and cheaper vehicles in the style of Japan's so-called "kei cars", Stellantis Chairman John Elkann has said, as high prices, which he blamed on regulation in the region, weigh on consumer demand. Kei cars are urban vehicles traditionally sold in Japan with size and engine restrictions, enjoying lower tax and insurance costs. Elkann said the European equivalent could be called the "e car". "There's no reason why if Japan has a kei car, which is 40% of the market, Europe should not have an e car," he said at an Automotive News Europe conference in the Italian city of Turin, the home of Fiat, now part of Stellantis. Elkann and Renault CEO Luca de Meo last month urged the European Union to lighten the regulatory burden for smaller cars by introducing different rules for models of varying sizes. For example, some safety features such as sensors detecting whether a driver is falling asleep or an SOS button are required on cars from the smallest ones up to larger SUVs, with a disproportionate impact on the cost of vehicles used mainly for short city journeys. Elkann noted that in 2019 there were 49 models sold in Europe for less than €15,000 versus just one now. In 2019 a million cars were sold below that price level compared to fewer than 100,000 now, he added. "If you actually look at the cost increase... that has primarily been driven by regulation," Elkann said. "If you actually look at our engineers, more than 25% just work on compliance. So no value added," he added. Fiat has a tradition of making small, affordable cars, from the "Topolino" of pre-war years to the famous "600" and "500" of the 1950s and 1960s, which helped Italians to take to the roads and turned Fiat into a European giant. Elkann is still steering Stellantis, as newly-appointed CEO Antonio Filosa formally takes the job later this month. Filosa, an Italian national, led Fiat Chrysler and Stellantis' operations in South America, before being appointed head of the automaker's North American market last year. Elkann said Filosa was the right choice in an automotive industry that is shifting from global to "multi-regional". "The experience that Antonio had running Argentina, running Brazil, running South America, and recently running North America is very much in phase with how the world is going between regulations, tariffs, and how you ultimately navigate that constructively with political forces," he said.
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
John Elkann says Europe needs small, affordable cars like Japan's 'kei cars'
Europe needs small and affordable cars such as Japan's 'kei cars', Stellantis chair John Elkann said on Thursday, as high prices, which he blamed on regulation in the region, weigh on consumer demand. Kei cars are urban vehicles traditionally sold in Japan with size and engine restrictions, enjoying lower tax and insurance costs. Elkann said the European equivalent could be called the 'e-car'. 'There's no reason, if Japan has a kei car, which is 40% of the market, Europe should not have an e car,' he said at an Automotive News Europe conference in Turin, Italy, the home of Fiat, now part of Stellantis. Fiat has a tradition of making small, affordable cars, from the 'Topolino' of pre-war years to the famous '600" and '500" of the 1950s and 1960s, which helped Italians take to the roads and turned Fiat into a European giant. Elkann noted that in 2019 there were 49 models sold in Europe for less than €15,000 (R266,622), vs just one now. In 2019 a million cars were sold at that price level compared with fewer than 100,000 now, he added.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Europe needs small, affordable cars like Japan's 'kei cars', Stellantis chairman says
TURIN, Italy, June 12 (Reuters) - Europe needs small and affordable cars like Japan's so-called 'kei cars', Stellantis ( opens new tab Chairman John Elkann said on Thursday, as high prices, which he blamed on regulation in the region, weigh on consumer demand. Kei cars are urban vehicles traditionally sold in Japan with size and engine restrictions, enjoying lower tax and insurance costs. Elkann said the European equivalent could be called the "e car". "There's no reason why if Japan has a kei car, which is 40% of the market, Europe should not have an e car," he said at an Automotive News Europe conference in the Italian city of Turin, the home of Fiat, now part of Stellantis. Fiat has a tradition of making small, affordable cars, from the "Topolino" of pre-war years to the famous "600" and "500" of the 1950s and 1960s, which helped Italians to take to the roads and turned Fiat into a European giant. Elkann noted that in 2019 there were 49 models sold in Europe for less than 15,000 euros ($17,400), versus just one now. In 2019 a million cars were sold at that price level compared to fewer than 100,000 now, he added. "If you actually look at the (cars') cost increase... that has primarily been driven by regulation," Elkann said. Elkann is still steering Stellantis, as newly-appointed CEO Antonio Filosa formally takes the job later this month. Filosa, an Italian national, led Fiat Chrysler and Stellantis' operations in South America, before being appointed head of the automaker's key North American market last year. Elkann said Filosa was the right choice in an automotive industry that was shifting from being global to being "multi-regional". "The experience that Antonio had running Argentina, running Brazil, running South America, and recently running North America is very much in phase with how the world is going between regulations, tariffs, and how you ultimately navigate that constructively with political forces," he said. ($1 = 0.8625 euros)
India Today
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
Italy's adorable ‘Mickey Mouse' is back: Meet the new Fiat Topolino
The 2025 New York International Auto Show welcomed a charming surprise this year: the Fiat Topolino, a small electric quadricycle. This retro-inspired vehicle, a modern nod to the iconic Fiat 500 "Topolino" of the 1930s, brought a dose of Italian flair to the show."Topolino" is an Italian word that means "little mouse." In the context of cars, Fiat Topolino was the nickname for a tiny, economical car produced by Fiat from 1936 to 1955. It became famous for its compact design and affordability, making it one of the smallest cars in the world at the time. "Topolino" is also the Italian name for Mickey Fiat Topolino is a badge-engineered cousin of the Citroen Ami and Opel Rocks-e, designed for urban mobility in European markets like Italy, France, and Germany. Measuring just 2.53 meters long, it boasts a 5.5kWh battery, an 8bhp electric motor, and a top speed of 45kmph. Its 75km range and compact size position it as a stylish alternative to scooters or golf carts, with a canvas roof and optional open-door design evoking the carefree takes four hours to charge the Topolino from 0-100 per the show, the Topolino's mint-green exterior, round headlights, and retro hubcaps showcased its nostalgic Fiat Topolino comes in two variants: the standard 'closed' version and the more playful 'open' Dolce Vita edition. The Dolce Vita skips traditional doors in favour of rope barriers and features a large canvas roof for a breezy, open-air feel. In contrast, the closed version includes full doors and a fixed roof as Topolino stood out as the smallest car on display at the 2025 New York International Auto Show. For more details about the New York Auto Show, stay tuned to Auto to Auto Today Magazine
