Fiat Electric Vehicles
Fiat is a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) brand and follows the broader strategy of the Group. FCA brands include Maserati, Jeep, Fiat, RAM, and Dodge. FCA’s CEO Sergio
Marchionne has publicly stated that he does not believe electric
vehicles is a threat to the old way of business, and the company
strategy does not include going down that road. FCA is pursuing
partnerships rather than going it alone, in part due to financial
challenges experienced by the Group which does not allow for huge
investments in R&D programs. |
Fiat Concept EV Models
Fiat Electric Car Strategy in the news
2017 Week 33 FCA joins yet another self-driving alliance
As the race for electric vehicles hots up so it does for autonomous vehicles as car makers try and regain the edge it lost in the EV sector to tech start-ups. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), dead-last in the EV race, this week joined the BMW
Intel self-driving car alliance as the company gears-up to produce
self-driving cars by 2021. The BMW led alliance also includes Intel’s recently acquired Israeli tech company, Mobileye, Delphi Automotive,
and Continental. Together the alliance will have 140 self-driving test
vehicles on the roads by the end of 2017. Interestingly enough FCA is
also a partner with Google’s Waymo where it developed and deployed autonomous Chrysler Pacifica minivans.
2017 Week 30 Sergio Marchionne unveils new EV strategy
In related news, FIAT Chrysler and (former) EV naysayer, Sergio Marchionne, this week announced during an Investor event that all cars of its luxury marque Maserati would be electrified post-2019. Mr. Marchionne went further stating that half of Fiat Chrysler’s lineup, including Alfa Romeo,
will be electric from 2022. The strategy will be formulated over the
next year as the company enters its 3rd five-year plan in 2019.
2017 Week 13 Sergio Marchionne is warming to electric vehicles
With the run-up to the Formula E to be held in Mexico City today, Ferrari came out in support of the event. FIA’s Auto magazine quoted the CEO of FIAT Chrysler, one of the auto industries biggest naysayers of EV’s, Sergio Marchionne as follows in an interview:
“The first is that we need to be involved in Formula E because electrification via hybridization is going to be part of our future.”
“We have already developed a hybrid supercar, La Ferrari,” he said, “and
on future Ferrari models we will leverage new technologies as well as
electrification.”
And this from a man that came out vehemently against the technology, saying it will never catch on. No mention was made of plans for the electrification of Alpha Romeo.
2017 Week 7 Forecast for EV sales adjusted significantly upwards, Fiat Chrysler strategy not geared
The respected Economist Magazine this
week commented on forecast adjustments by various investment houses for
the penetration of electric vehicles. Up till last year, the consensus
was that only 4% of new vehicles would be electric by 2025. BNP Paribas
now forecast 11% penetration by 2025, while Morgan Stanley see’s a 7%
penetration. In 2016 international EV sales increased with nearly
750,000 units (42%) in spite of a low fuel price environment. One
factor driving the change of heart are aggressive regulations to support
environmental targets. In Norway electric vehicles now makes up 37% of new vehicle fleet amid government support while in China
the Government aims to have EV’s make up 8% of new vehicles by 2018.
Technology has also moved much faster than anticipated and battery cost,
a long time stumbling block is coming down faster than anticipated,
with some mega factories coming online within the next two years. Our
hearts go out to the automakers that failed to notice the trend, RIP Fiat, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and the list goes on, not to mention Big Oil.
2017 Week 3 Fiat Chrysler branded for just doing enough to comply on regulations
A report just released by the Californian Air Resouces Board indicated that advancement in electric vehicle technology is happening at a much faster pace than anticipated five years back. The report highlights the efforts by Tesla and Chevrolet
to bring affordable and long-range vehicles to the market. The report
found expanding charging networks, advancements in battery performance,
decreasing cell costs, and the number of models available to the
consumer as factors for the improved results. On the other hand, the
Board states that not all automakers attack the challenges with the same
vigor, with Honda and Fiat Chrysler
named as company’s that just do the bare minimum to comply with
regulations. We predict this will reflect in the various companies share
prices five years from now when the next report takes the pulse of the
sector.
2017 Week 2 Fiat Chrysler on notice for cheating on its emmission tests.
Another one bites the dust as the Environmental Protection Agency this week put Fiat Chrysler on notice for cheating on its emission tests. Diesel Gate might be the best own inflicted wound by big auto fighting electric vehicles, forcing big brands such as Volkswagen and Mitsubishi to change strategy from pushing back to embracing the technology. Now Fiat’s CEO, Sergio Marchionne, who has been a fervent EV hater might be forced out or to change his stance. In our books, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer person?
2016 Week 51 Fiat hits rock bottom in consumer survey
Tesla voted the consumers darling in the Consumer Reports Annual Owner Satisfaction Survey with 91% Tesla owners responded with a “Definitely yes” when asked if they will buy the brand again. Second with only 84% was Porsche. The bottom quartile included brands such as Jeep, Nissan, Fiat, and Volkswagen, which dropped eight places. The survey included over 300,000 vehicles. Can the States who is refusing Tesla’s direct selling model, naysayers, and auto dealers refusing to get behind electric vehicles please respond to this?
Top 5 EV News Week 29 2020
Top 5 EV News Week 29 2020: Two worlds – Chinese EV investor hardship vs USA EV Investor frenzy. Nissan Ariya, Workhorse C1000 and Buick Velite 7.
Top 5 EV News Week 28 2020
Top 5 EV News Week 28 2020: It has been a busy week in the EV market. I look at nine new models from this week.
Top 5 EV News Week 27 2020
In this week’s Top 5 EV news | BYD launch Tang in Europe | Volta Electric Truck pilot | Byton bites the dust