MILAN, July 7 (Reuters) – Fiat launched sales in the United States of Topolino, its two-seat, fully electric compact car, with a price starting from $13,995 and a range of up to 46 miles (74 km), the Stellantis brand said on Tuesday.
Weighing just over 1,000 pounds and with a length of about 8 feet, the vehicle will initially be for use in private communities, resorts and golf courses, with a top speed of 19 mph.
Fiat however said that from late summer owners will be able to install a kit upgrading their Topolinos to federally regulated Low-Speed Vehicles (LSVs), allowing a speed of up to 25 mph and access to certain public roads.
“Fiat continues to stand apart by embracing its legacy in small cars,” the brand’s CEO Olivier Francois said.
The Topolino EV was launched in Europe in 2023, reviving the name of Fiat’s popular 1930s model. Topolino – Italian for Mickey Mouse – was one of Fiat’s most historic cars, nicknamed after Walt Disney’s famous cartoon character.
It expands Fiat’s North American range beyond the electric 500e city car already on sale in the region.
The Topolino features a 5.4-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery with full charge in about five hours, Fiat said.
(Reporting by Giulio PiovaccariEditing by Keith Weir)
