Grande Panda Fiat’s first world-car in 8 years

STELLANTIS parented Fiat is set to go global with its Grande Panda hatch in a move that will see it become the brand’s first world-car since the Palio was discontinued in 2017.

And while any return of the Fiat brand to Australian shores is highly unlikely (the model being left-hand drive only for now), CEO Olivier Francois said the Grande Panda has the potential to be a common denominator in Fiat’s success, believing the model can become an international best-seller.

Speaking with Automotive News Europe this week, Mr Francois said the Grande Panda will extend the reach of Fiat product outside those regions it is currently sold, saying it is the “right product for a return to the podium in the small car segment”.

While he did not quote a list of markets, nor a projected sales forecast, he said the Grande Panda will offer a great deal of appeal to a wide range of buyers, with battery electric variants to account for between 15 and 20 per cent of projected sales.

Unfortunately, ICE powered four-wheel drive versions of the Grande Panda may not return to the road, Mr Francois saying CO2 emissions restrictions will mean any all-paw Panda variants will likely be electrically powered moving forward.

And while he admits the move toward electrification “did not happen as quickly as expected” – resulting in slower uptake across other Fiat model ranges, like the 500e – he said the addition of hybridised petrol powertrains will improve the fortunes of Fiat’s languishing models, including the beloved cinquecento.

Looking at the 500 portfolio, Mr Francois said it was possible 80,000 units of the mild-hybrid version could be sold in its first full year of production (2026) – well up from the 24,000 BEV versions sold globally last year.

Away from his leadership of the Fiat brand, and as a top executive of Stellantis Europe, Automotive News Europe asked Mr Francois how he planned to avoid cannibalisation of sales between Stellantis brands, given most are sold side-by-side in those markets in which Fiat competes.

“This is part of a deep analysis I am conducting with my team right now,” he said.

“In general, people look a lot at the price positioning, saying that if brand A and brand B are offering a product in the same segment and at a similar price, they are going to cannibalise each other.

“While there is some truth to this, the entire positioning issue is more complex. It’s a matter of leveraging the best synergies.

“When you plan a new model, it is best to offer something that the other brands do not have or something that you can sell to a different customer or in a different market or region.”

And it is those synergies Mr Francois says he hopes will bolster the Grande Panda’s fortunes against related competition from Citroen, Jeep, and Opel, irrespective of the region in which it is sold.

“Each brand needs a strong ethos (or distinguishing character),” he added.

“If you are able to apply a strong ethos to a common project, you can create a strong product such as the Grande Panda despite that its shares its windshield, pillars, and underbody with other models.”

More detail on the next-generation Fiat Grande Panda is available in the links below.

With Automotive News Europe