Chrysler to develop new Fiat 500 electric vehicle for U.S.

Chrysler announced today that it will build an all-electric vehicle using the Fiat 500 platform. For those who don’t know the Fiat 500EV made its debut back in January at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show and the manufacturer promises that the vehicle will demonstrate the immediate benefits of the alliance between Chrysler Group and the Fiat Group.

The US edition will undergo further development at Chrysler hq in Auburn Hills, Michigan. "The alliance with Fiat presented new opportunities to merge Chrysler Group engineering knowledge with new platforms and the Fiat 500EV is an outstanding example of our efforts," said Chrysler engineering executive Scott Kunselman.

“The Fiat 500 is a small, lightweight platform perfect for integrating electric-vehicle technology.” added the same Kunselman.

Pricing for the Fiat 500EV will be “competitive with similar electric vehicles in the market.” Most automakers have all-electric vehicles planned over the next few years.





Press Release

Chrysler Group LLC to Develop New Fiat 500 Electric Vehicle for the
United States

• New Fiat 500EV demonstrates benefits of Chrysler Group and Fiat
  Group alliance
• Zero-emission Fiat 500EV provides an environmentally friendly,
  clean, quiet driving experience freeing customers from escalating fuel
  costs and costly oil changes
• Department of Energy provides up to $48 million grant toward test
  fleet of 140 Ram Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
• PHEV technology to improve fuel economy up to 65 percent with up to
  20 mile electric-only driving range

Chrysler Group LLC today announced its plans to engineer and produce a
pure electric vehicle using the Fiat 500 platform. Shown earlier this year
at the 2010 North American International Auto Show, the Fiat 500EV
demonstrates the immediate benefits of the alliance between Chrysler Group
and the Fiat Group as well as the speed at which the two companies can work
together on advanced vehicle programs.

"The alliance with Fiat presented new opportunities to merge Chrysler
Group engineering knowledge with new platforms and the Fiat 500EV is an
outstanding example of our efforts," said Scott Kunselman, Senior Vice
President Engineering-Chrysler Group LLC. "The Fiat 500 is a small,
lightweight platform perfect for integrating electric-vehicle technology."

The Fiat 500EV powertrain is comprised of three main systems; high power
electric powertrain module, advance lithium ion battery, and an EV control
unit to manage power flows. Beginning in 2012, Chrysler Group will
manufacture the Fiat 500EV for the United States market. All powertrain
engineering and vehicle development will take place at Chrysler Group
headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich. Pricing will be announced closer to
launch, but will be competitive with similar electric vehicles in the
market.

Chrysler Group is the vehicle electrification center of competence for
both Chrysler Group and Fiat Group. The company is exploring ways to promote
zero-emission transportation and the development of an electric-vehicle
charging infrastructure through partnerships to be announced in the future.

Last year Chrysler Group announced the company's intention to build the
Fiat 500 with a combustion engine for North America. The vehicle will debut
in late 2010.

Ram Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

Chrysler Group has been selected for a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant
of up to $48 million as part of a $2.4 billion American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act DOE Vehicle Electrification program. Chrysler Group is
planning to build a total of 140 Ram PHEVs for a three-year demonstration
project that includes various geographic and climatic locations across the
United States.

"This initiative represents how government, automotive industry,
suppliers and key partners are reaching common goals and demonstrates how
rapidly this type of advanced technology can be brought to market," said
Paolo Ferrero, Senior Vice President-Powertrain, Chrysler Group LLC.
"DOE-support for domestic advanced technology is an important enabler for
Chrysler Group and its key suppliers in order to understand and test
customer acceptance and the capability of PHEV systems in a variety of
real-world conditions."

The Ram PHEV features Chrysler Group's 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with a two mode
hybrid transmission and a 12KwHr lithium ion battery. The vehicle is capable
of up to 20 miles of zero-emission, pure-electric range without the need for
gasoline. An overall fuel economy improvement more than 65 percent is
expected for average drive cycles. Chrysler Group has partnered with
Electrovaya Inc. to supply the advanced lithium Ion batteries for the Ram
PHEV test fleet.

The DOE grant will expedite the development of vehicle-electrification
technology. More than 21 Chrysler Group partners across the U.S., including
utility companies, government agencies and Universities will independently
test the Ram PHEV and provide valuable data for the advancement of the
technology.

In 2008, Chrysler Group announced the company's intention to bring a Ram
Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) to market. After closely evaluating the
response to hybrid pickups in the marketplace, the company could not
formulate an appropriate business case and has decided to cancel development
work on the 2011 Ram HEV.

Chrysler Group's alliance with Fiat Group brings new platforms and
technologies that allow the company to create an improved long-term product
strategy with greater fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Chrysler
Group's five-year plan has an uncompromising product schedule, including a
progressive vehicle electrification strategy.