The Fiat 500 returns to Mirafiori. Stellantis officially announced the return of the iconic model to the historic Turin factory, where it all began but this time in a new hybrid guiseThe announcement came last July 4th, a date that is anything but random. On that very day, in 1957, the small car designed by Dante Giacosa debuted, destined to become the symbol of the Italian economic boom. Fifty years later, in 2007, again on July 4, the modern version was presented that would relaunch the Fiat brand in the world. And today, once again on July 4, Stellantis wanted it this way write a new chapter in the history of the 500, bringing her home, to where it all began.
Starting from November, the Turin assembly lines will return to producing the 500, this time with mild hybrid engine, And the first 5 thousand units will leave the factory by the end of the year. The Deliveries will start as early as December.
But it is not just a celebratory choice. The return of the 500 to Mirafiori is a strategic move with which Stellantis aims to bring back Turin at the heart of Fiat's manufacturing identity, after years marked by uncertainty and redundancy payments. The ambition, once fully operational, is reach 100 thousand units produced each year, reactivate a second work shift and give full life to one of the historic hubs of the Italian automotive industry.
Fiat puts Mirafiori back at the centre with the hybrid 500
The choice of bring production back to Italy, moving it from Poland to Turin, has a precise meaning. Stellantis aims to relaunch a historic garrison of the Italian automotive industry, involving a national supply chain composed of 145 suppliers. The project is one of the pillars of the Italian Plan, presented by the group to the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy last December.
Olivier Francois, CEO of Fiat and head of global marketing for Stellantis, spoke of a “promise kept” and a “victory resulting from a team that chose to bet on the customer and the future. This factory is not just a place of production, it is the home of Fiat, the beating heart of a story that began in 1957 with Dante Giacosa, and today the nerve center of Stellantis innovation in Europe. Precisely for this reason, he explains François “our industrial plan for Italy puts Mirafiori and the 500 at the center of the relaunch”.
The 500 Hybrid: A Classic That Looks Forward
The hybrid from Fiat It born as evolution of the electric version already on the market, but with the aim of making it more accessible to the general public. The design remains faithful to tradition, recognizable and loved, but under the bodywork it beats a new heart: A FireFly 1.0 three-cylinder mild-hybrid engine, flanked by a six-speed manual gearbox and a 12-volt electrical system. It is a proven technical solution, already adopted on other models of the group, which guarantees low consumption, smooth driving and reduced running costs. It is not designed to amaze with performance, but to offer a perfect balance between efficiency and practicality.
Three le Expected configurations, designed to respond to different lifestyles: the classic sedan, compact and ideal for everyday use in the city; the 3+1, with a small additional door on the passenger side for easier access to the rear seats; and the Convertible, for those seeking the pleasure of open-air driving.
even the price is positioned competitively: prices start at 17 euros, a figure that places the hybrid 500 among the most interesting alternatives on the market, especially at a time when the electric transition is still held back by high costs and incomplete infrastructure.
Technology and Security: Accessible but Advanced
While maintaining its popular soul, the new 500 hybrid does not give up on technology. On board is the infotainment system Connect 5, with a 10,25-inch high-resolution, fully customizable touch screen. The display is flanked by a 7-inch digital instrumentation and offers wireless compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making the driving experience more intuitive, safe and connected.
On the safety front, the equipment includes a series of advanced driving assistance systems, such as automatic emergency braking, active lane keeping and road sign recognition. All designed to make the 500 an ideal companion in city traffic.
A bond with Turin that is renewed
To celebrate the return home, Fiat to launch “500 Torino” special series in autumn, which will officially debut during the Torino Film Festival. It will be an opportunity to reaffirm the bond between the brand and the city, already strengthened last June with the sponsorship of the patronal festival of San Giovanni.
The goal is not only commercial, but also cultural and symbolic, that is, to return to the city a piece of its industrial history, in a new guise, updated but still strongly identifying.
The return of the 500 to Mirafiori is just the beginning. Stellantis has already announced that in 2027, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the model, one will arrive new generation fully electric, with high efficiency batteries and a more competitive price, around the euro 20.000. It will be produced with components made internally by the group, including batteries made in Stellantis, and will represent a significant technological leap, accessible to a wider audience of motorists.
But the gaze is already set further ahead. The next generation of the 500 is being designed at the Fiat Style Centre, right in Turin. “It will be the most beautiful 500 ever,” he promises François, outlining a clear roadmap for the decade leading to the complete electric transition.
Traffic unions: “Now we need a second model”
The enthusiasm for the return of the 500 has not died down the attention of the unions. The main acronyms – Fiom, Fim, Uilm, Fismic, Uglm and Aqcfr – they welcomed the announcement, but they ask that it not remain an isolated episode. To ensure a solid future in Mirafiori, they explain, it is necessary to assign a second model of large-scale diffusion, capable of ensuring continuity of production and employment.
Another central question it concerns the cost of energy, which continues to represent an obstacle to the country's industrial competitiveness. Without a structural intervention in this area, the risk is that even ambitious projects such as the hybrid 500 will prove insufficient to guarantee the full rebirth of the Turin hub.
