Stellantis opens U.S. orders for Fiat Topolino at $13,995

Stellantis opened U.S. orders Tuesday for the Fiat Topolino, pricing the battery-powered quadricycle at $13,995 before a mandatory $990 destination charge, according to the automaker. The launch adds a low-speed electric model to a U.S. market where Fiat’s sales have fallen sharply, from 43,772 vehicles in 2012 to roughly 1,300 last year.

The Topolino is smaller and less capable than a conventional passenger car. Stellantis said the vehicle can reach 19 mph and has an electric range of up to 46 miles, placing it closer in function to a golf cart than to the Fiat 500, despite a similar city-car silhouette.

A company spokeswoman said the destination fee brings the customer price to $14,985. Stellantis also said a “Low Speed Vehicle” conversion kit can raise the Topolino’s maximum speed to 25 mph, allowing it to be street legal on roads with posted limits of 35 mph or less. The spokeswoman said there will be no charge for that kit.

The regulatory distinction is central to the vehicle’s U.S. role. Low-speed vehicles occupy a narrower category than passenger cars: they are designed for limited-road use and must meet specific rules tied to speed and permitted roadways. That structure allows automakers to offer small electric vehicles for short trips without positioning them as substitutes for full-size cars or highway-capable EVs.

Limited U.S. availability

Stellantis said the Topolino will be offered in limited numbers this year. Buyers will be able to choose between a hardtop model with doors and a “Dolce Vita” soft-top convertible version that uses a rope in place of doors, according to the company.

The vehicle’s name means “little mouse” in Italian, and Stellantis said the model is produced in Morocco. Fiat brand CEO Olivier Francois said in a company release that the Topolino marks “a new chapter for the brand in the U.S.” and is defined “not just by size, but by purpose.”

Stellantis, whose brands include Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge, confirmed late last year that it planned to bring the Topolino to the U.S. That announcement came less than a week after President Donald Trump praised Japan’s small “Kei” cars during a White House meeting with Stellantis Chief Executive Antonio Filosa and other auto executives.

At the December meeting, Trump described the Japanese vehicles as “very small” and “really cute,” according to CNBC. He also said he had asked how they might perform in the U.S. market and added that “everyone seems to think ‘good,’ but you’re not allowed to build them.”

Producing small cars in the United States is legal, but such vehicles must comply with U.S. safety standards, speed requirements and other regulations. A Stellantis spokeswoman said at the time that Fiat’s U.S. Topolino plans were not connected to Trump’s remarks and that the company had been measuring customer interest at U.S. events, including auto shows.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.