The Fiat Koala will launch in 2028. This electric cousin of the 2CV is expected to cost approximately 15,000 euros.
Fiat is developing a small electric car called Koala, which is set to hit the market in 2028 and will use the platform of the new Citroen 2CV. The Italian brand did not showcase the car at the Paris auto show, although according to its chief designer, the vehicle is already at a similar stage of development as the French concept car.
The new Citroen 2CV is 3.76 meters long, and the production version is expected to weigh around one ton and cost approximately 15,000 euros. Fiat aims to build its own model on the same architecture, but it will not be a 2CV under another brand.
We are developing a small car based on the 2CV, and it will be something that creates a wow factor,” said Arnaud Belloni, the new CEO of Fiat, Abarth, and Lancia, to magazine “Autocar.” Chief stylist François Leboine added that Fiat’s first car on the E-Car platform is “just as ready as the 2CV,” but Paris was not the right place to unveil it.
Koala instead of the electric Pandina
The name Koala is already owned by Fiat. Thus, the lineup of animal-themed names will include Panda, Grizzly, and Koala, although a zoologist would likely point out that a koala is a marsupial. Belloni also admitted that Fiat cannot use the name Kodiak, as Skoda uses a similar name for its large SUV.
Even toward the end of 2023, the new electric vehicle was associated with the name Pandina. In 2024, Fiat unveiled five concept studies of future models, including Mega-Panda, which eventually went into production as Grande Panda. The name Pandina was given to the old, gasoline-powered Panda sold in Europe for about 15 years.
Separating the names makes practical sense. The diesel-powered Panda remains the most popular car in Italy and will be produced in Pomigliano d’Arco at least until 2027. Fiat has promised to keep a cheap gasoline model, so the Koala will initially be offered alongside it rather than as its direct successor.
The brand’s European head, Gaetano Thorel, previously said he needed a “multi-powertrain solution” for Panda users. However, the E-Car platform does not include diesel engines. Stellantis is designing it solely for electric powertrains, with the choice being made through the parallel sale of two different cars.
Small battery, low weight, and unfinished regulations
The E-Car is being developed to meet the European M1E class, proposed by Stellantis and Renault in July 2025 and included by the European Commission in the automotive package of December 2025. Vehicles in this category would be manufactured in Europe, have a maximum length of 4.20 meters, and count as 1.3 vehicles when calculating fleet average emissions. However, the regulations are not yet final. They are inspired by Japanese kei cars, which account for about 40 percent of that market.
According to “Quattroruote,” the Koala will be shorter than four meters, weigh around one ton, and go into joint production with the 2CV in Pomigliano by 2028. Fiat and Citroen have not disclosed its specifications. Options under consideration include batteries of 25-35 kWh, a range of 200-300 km WLTP, LFP cells, and power outputs of 29-37 kW for urban versions or 44-66 kW for more versatile models. None of these figures have been confirmed by the manufacturer.
Belloni promises a style that avoids a neo-retro approach. One clue might be the boxy design of Ippo, chosen in a competition for Italian students. Fiat offered jobs to seven participants, four of whom are still working at the design studio.
In Paris, the brand showcased the Multiplay, a combination of a pickup, SUV, and van, as well as the Multipl.ina, which is nearing production. This four-seater L7e category vehicle is also set to go into production in 2028. The Koala will have to wait for a separate presentation, with Fiat yet to announce a date.
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