Fiat has stopped importing its electric vehicles into Australia, dropping two versions of its popular 500e model, as the market is increasingly dominated by cheaper Chinese-made electric cars. The move reflects wider pressure on established European and other legacy manufacturers, who are struggling to compete on price and range with the wave of Chinese EV brands entering Australia, prompting some to scale back or exit segments of the local market.

Fiat's decision means Australian buyers will no longer be able to purchase new 500e electric models from the brand, though the company may continue offering petrol variants. The shift highlights how quickly Chinese manufacturers have gained ground in Australia's EV sector, undercutting rivals on cost and squeezing out smaller-volume electric offerings from traditional carmakers.