The news gets better and better for Australian electric car shoppers, with the Fiat 500e the latest to be given a price drop.
The Fiat 500e battery-electric city car has been given a temporary price drop as the cost of new electric cars in Australia continues to fall, with a number of car makers’ limited-time discounted prices becoming permanent.
The 500e – previously $52,500 plus-on-road costs – is now $49,990 drive-away nationwide until 30 September 2024.
The discount only applies to the regular Fiat 500e La Prima and not the more powerful Abarth-branded sports version, the Abarth 500e Scorpionissima, which remains listed at $60,500 before on-road costs, which using Sydney’s 2000 postcode make it $65,922 drive away.
The promotional offer could have been made in preparation for a yet-to-be-confirmed lower-priced version of the 500e to sit below the La Prima – currently the only trim level offered – in the Australian line-up.
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Fiat Australia could make no official comment when approached by Drive.
The 500e was launched in Australia in 2023 – although Fiat continues to offer petrol-powered previous-generation 500s as well – with its classic Cinquecento design hosting an 87kW/220Nm electric motor fed by a 42kWh battery offering up to 311km range.
A Giorgio Armani version of the 500e has been confirmed for Australian showrooms in 2025, although pricing has not yet been announced, meaning the 500e line-up could include four models in 2025.
The 500e is the latest after a raft of price cuts for electric cars in Australia during the last 12 months as the appetite for battery-electric cars begins to grow – with both increased competition and tougher economic conditions making car makers work harder for sales.
Ahead of the 30 June 2024 end of financial year, Nissan Leaf electric hatch prices were slashed by up to $18,000 – bringing it as low as $39,990 drive-away – after sales fell 44 per cent in the first four months of the year.
The Leaf remains at $39,990 drive-away with sales having recovered somewhat to be 19.5 per cent down year-on-year at the end of July, with the next generation Leaf due in Australia in 2025.
The Renault Megane E-Tech small electric car was also given a similar temporary reduction of $10,000 in May 2024 – to $54,990 before on-road costs – the lower price made permanent two months later.
Same for the Peugeot e-2008, which had the biggest single cut after $25,000 was lopped off its $59,990 plus on-road costs RRP to make it $39,990 drive-away – almost 40 per cent cheaper.
The GWM Ora and BYD Dolphin city cars have battled it out as the cheapest new electric car in Australian showrooms, with the Ora currently cheaper starting at $35,990 drive-away.
Chinese brand Leapmotor plans to go on sale in Australia in 2024, with a city car – the T03 hatch – cheaper than the Ora overseas, although Australian prices are yet to be confirmed.
The price war is not limited only to small cars, with Ford Australia discounted its Mustang Mach-E electric large SUV by as much as $7000 in December 2023 with a further $8000 cut in May 2024, alongside discounts for its electric E-Transit commercial van.
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