Fiat launches tiny EV in US with shockingly low price tag – and one major catch

Fiat is bringing its tiny electric Topolino to the U.S., offering American buyers a two-seat neighborhood EV that costs less than many used cars but tops out at just 19 mph.

The Stellantis-owned brand announced Tuesday that the Topolino is available to order through select U.S. dealers. It starts at $13,995, or $14,985 after destination fees.

The low sticker price comes as vehicles remain historically expensive. Three-year-old used vehicles averaged $31,548 in the first quarter of 2026, the second-highest first-quarter price on record behind 2022's first-quarter peak of $32,164, according to Edmunds.

But the bargain price comes with limits. The vehicle is designed for use "beyond crowded streets," including private neighborhoods, resorts, coastal areas and golf-cart-friendly communities, according to Fiat.

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The EV is about 8 feet long, weighs 1,073 pounds and gets up to 46 miles of range from a 5.4-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. Fiat said it can fully charge in about five hours using a 2.3-kilowatt AC charger.

By the end of the summer, owners will be able to add a free conversion kit that turns the Topolino into a federally regulated low-speed vehicle, or LSV. 

The upgrade would raise the Topolino's top speed to 25 mph and allow it on public roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less.

"An LSV is a federally regulated street-legal motor vehicle capable of speeds between 20 and 25 mph. Unlike standard golf carts restricted to the golf course, LSVs are legal on public roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less," the company said in the announcement.

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The vehicle will be offered in two body styles, the Topolino and the Topolino Dolcevita.

Features include a Verde Vita exterior color, 14-inch wheels with vintage covers, LED lamps, hinged opening windows, a digital cluster, phone holder, bag hook and luggage space.

The standard Topolino comes with a panoramic sunroof, while the Topolino Dolcevita adds a roll-back soft top and rope-style doors.

"Topolino represents a new chapter for the brand in the U.S. – defined not just by size, but by purpose," Olivier Francois, brand CEO at Fiat, said in a statement. "With Topolino, we bring a feeling, a lifestyle, a reminder that mobility can be joyful, expressive and beautifully simple."

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The U.S. launch gives Fiat another electric model beyond the 500e as the brand looks to grow its American customer base, according to Reuters.

The Topolino first launched in Europe in 2023. Its name, Italian for Mickey Mouse, comes from one of Fiat’s best-known cars from the 1930s.