Fiat to scrub all non-electric models in UK from July onwards

With the UK's proposed ban on petrol and diesel cars looming, automaker Fiat has announced it will be going all-electric and will work on removing all fully fossil-fuel-powered cars from its lineup in the country, set to come into effect from July 1.

As part of a modernisation stint in 2021, it electrified more than 60% of its lineup, it claims, meaning many models have at least one electrified variant on offer. But this year, the Italian firm is set to remove all non-electric models from its offering - becoming the first automaker in the UK to do so.

Read more: How close is the UK to its climate goals?

The firm's electrification drive started with the 500 Hybrid and Panda Hybrid in 2020, and continued with the fully-electric New 500, with the new 500X and Tipo Hybrid being its most recent hybrid models, revealed back in February.

Hybrids represent a good jumping on point for electrification and will still be offered for the time being, and the firm claims that outright removing non-electrified models will encourage drivers to make the switch - which should be done sooner rather than later.

Adoption of battery-electric and hybrid vehicles skyrocketed in 2021, seeing a roughly 88.3% increase in registrations, with hybrids seeing a 43% increase and mild hybrids seeing an 18% increase when compared to the year previous, according to data from the Uk's trade association, the SMMT.

The data suggests that demand for electric vehicles is growing significantly which may have spurred the automaker to make the switch.

“This step in Fiat’s history marks a pivotal point in our commitment to providing affordable and sustainable mobility solutions for all of our customers. The move lends itself to our vehicles which are suited to urban areas, spearheaded by the popularity of the New 500," said Greg Taylor, the managing director of Fiat UK.

Fiat claims the New 500 is the second-best-selling electric model in Europe, behind only Tesla - with it sweeping a lead in both France and its native Italy. It is the brand's first unique electric model, built from the ground up. It also contains "level 2" self-driving software.

Part of the lineup will be second-generation versions of the hybridised Fiat Panda and 500, which will both lose the option of a 1.2-litre petrol engine, to be replaced with a 1-litre unit.

The engine is a naturally aspirated three-cylinder that’s paired with a 12-volt belt-integrated starter generator and an 11Ah battery.

The 500X and Tipo Hybrids also saw a new exterior look for their launch earlier this year in a bid to give them a more "modern" look.

The UK has vowed to ban the sale of fully petrol or diesel-powered vehicles by 2030 as part of its wider plans to decarbonise the industry by 2050.

After this date, new fossil fuel vehicles will be illegal to sell, but those bought before the deadline will be permitted to live out the rest of their life cycles.

Read more: UK to ban all sales of diesel and petrol vehicles by 2030

Hybrid vehicles are not covered by this ban and will likely see continued use for at least a decade or so after the ban to allow for a transition.

The government is also looking to ban non-electric trucks by 2040 as part of these wider efforts.

Since 2021, Fiat has been a subsidiary of Stellantis, formed by the merger of PSA and Fiat Chrysler. Its parent company has faced some issues in Europe over diesel emissions but has also been on an electrification push since its inception.

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