How the flood of Chinese electric vehicles into Australia is pushing other brands out - as European car giant pulls the pin on two popular models

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 10:13, 20 July 2026 | Updated: 10:13, 20 July 2026 Italian car manufacturer Fiat will no longer import two of its most popular electric models into Australia. The Fiat 500e electric hatchback and Abarth 500e electric hot hatch will no longer be sold in Australia due to high competition from Chinese brands. The news paints a dire picture for the success of Fiat, part of the Stellantis Group, in Australia and follows a downward trend from its French sister company, Peugeot. Just last month, Peugeot ended its partnership for Australian distribution through Inchcape, also citing difficult market conditions created by competitive Chinese cars. A spokeswoman for Stellantis told said that Fiat was not ending its presence in Australia but would reassess market demand for different models.  'We remain focused on ensuring the vehicles we bring to Australia meet customers' expectations. Following Stellantis' recent confirmation of Fiat as one of its core global brands, we are excited by the opportunities the brand presents for the future,' she said. 'Fiat 500e and Abarth 500e stock in Australia has now largely been sold through and, at this stage, we are not planning additional orders while we evaluate future product opportunities for the local market. 'We continue to support our Fiat and Abarth customers and dealer network, and look forward to sharing more information about Fiat's and Abarth's future plans in Australia at the appropriate time.' Fiat announced it would no longer import two of its most popular electric models to Australia, citing competition from Chinese brands The Fiat 500e electric hatchback and Abarth 500e electric (above) will no longer be sold in Australia Aerial view of BYD Seal 06 electric vehicles waiting to be loaded onto ships for export at Yantai Port on July 19, 2026 in Yantai, Shandong Province of China Fiat has sold just 144 vehicles in Australia, including 13 last month. That figure is lower than high-end European manufacturers Ferrari and Lamborghini in 2025.  Fiat introduced its Abarth 500e electric hot hatch to Australia in 2024. It was initially priced around $64,000 drive-away but has been slashed to $45,000 as the manufacturer cleared its Australian stock.