Produced from 2028 in Italy, the urban model aims for the 20 thousand euros range and should inherit joint technologies from the Chinese Leapmotor
Stellantis has confirmed the development of a new entry-level compact electric car fully focused on the European market. The model, which will begin production in 2028 at the Pomigliano d’Arco plant in southern Italy, is born with a very clear market objective: to stop the aggressive advance of Chinese brands in the urban vehicle segment.
Although the automotive conglomerate still keeps the technical details confidential, the backstage of the industry points out that the project should take advantage of the technical knowledge of the Chinese Leapmotor. The Asian manufacturer, in which Stellantis recently acquired a significant stake, has become a key strategic partner in the development of more affordable technologies for battery-powered vehicles.
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To make the operation financially viable, the company will bet on a platform developed exclusively for small electric cars. The engineering of the project foresees the adoption of smaller batteries, which substantially decreases the total weight of the vehicle. This choice improves energy efficiency in urban traffic and helps keep the list price at highly competitive levels.
The proposal is to deliver a vehicle designed strictly for daily commuting in large metropolises. With a more contained autonomy, but fully sufficient for the routine in the city, the strategy cuts production costs where they weigh most, making the model accessible to the masses. The Pomigliano d’Arco plant, which today assembles the traditional Fiat Grande Panda combustion, will undergo adjustments to house the new line.
The commercial goal is aggressive: to position the car in the range of 20 thousand euros (about R$ 110 thousand in direct conversion). The value is strategically below the recently launched electric Fiat Grande Panda, currently priced at 23.9 thousand euros before government incentives. Depending on the ecological bonuses of each European country, the new model may reach the final consumer for values close to 17 thousand euros.
Initially, the launch is mapped only for Europe, directly targeting rivals such as the BYD Dolphin Mini. Stellantis has not yet nailed under which emblem the model will be marketed, but brands with strong popular appeal in the group, such as Fiat, Citroën, Peugeot and Opel, emerge as the most likely candidates.
