Electric Fiat Topolino Draws Unexpected Demand in the US
Most of the first 300 Fiat Topolino electric microcars shipped to US dealers have already been sold. The Italian carmaker is not planning mass sales yet and wants to see whether the interest lasts.
The small electric Fiat Topolino, a two-seat microcar from the Italian carmaker Fiat, has found unexpected popularity in the United States. A first trial batch of 300 cars was delivered to American dealers, and most of them have already been sold. Fiat does not currently plan mass sales of the model in the US, as it first wants to find out how lasting the interest is.
The open version leads
Demand has been strongest for the open-top Dolce Vita variant, which has no doors and a fold-down fabric roof. It is reported that around 60% of buyers chose this version.
Price and specifications
In the US, the Topolino starts at about $14,985 (roughly €13,400), while in Europe it costs around €9,490. The car has a 6 kW (8.2 hp) electric motor and a 5.4 kWh battery, giving a range of about 75 kilometres. The top speed of the US version is 40 km/h, compared with 45 km/h in Europe.
Charging the battery from a standard US 110 V outlet takes roughly 4–5 hours.
Built for slow driving
The US model falls into the low-speed vehicle (LSV) category. It is therefore intended mainly for local roads, resorts, gated residential communities and city neighbourhoods rather than high-speed highways.
What comes next
Fiat wants to test whether the initial success is merely a coincidence of circumstances or a sign of more serious interest. The company wants to see whether Americans will regard the small electric car as a practical vehicle for everyday and leisure travel.
