Chrysler to produce electric Fiat 500 for US market

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Chrysler to produce electric Fiat 500 for US market

22.03.2010
US car manufacturer Chrysler has announced plans to engineer and produce an electric version of the Fiat 500.

Chrysler said that beginning in 2012 it will manufacture the Fiat 500EV for the US market.

The 500EV was shown by Chrysler earlier this year at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

“The Fiat 500 is a small, lightweight platform perfect for integrating electric-vehicle technology,” explained Scott Kunselman, senior vice-president engineering, Chrysler.

Pricing for the compact car will be announced closer to launch, Chrysler said, adding that it will be competitive with similar electric vehicles in the market.

At the same time as it announced the introduction of the Fiat 500EV, Chrysler said it is dropping its plans to develop a hybrid Dodge Ram pick-up truck.

The car maker said that after closely evaluating the response to hybrid pickups in the marketplace, it could not come up with an appropriate business case and has decided to cancel development work on the 2011 Ram HEV.

Article courtesy of Businessandleadership.com

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