Fiat Topolino Electric Quadricycle Eyes US Roads

Fiat plans to sell its pint-sized Topolino EV in the US after strong reactions at auto shows like the LA Auto Show. CEO Olivier Francois made the call last week at Miami Art Week, saying the “small, joyful, colorful car” now popular in Europe has generated “tremendous excitement” here. More details come next year, per Detroit Free Press.

Meet the Little Mouse

Topolino means “little mouse” in Italian. This Stellantis product, built in Morocco, measures just 99 to 99.6 inches long—shorter than many golf carts. It packs an 8-hp electric motor (Car and Driver), hits 28 mph top speed, and offers 47 miles of range from a 5.5-kWh battery (or 46 miles WLTP per some tests with a 5.4-kWh pack). Charge it fully in four hours on 240V. In Europe, it sells from €9,820, around $11,500.

Length: 99-99.6 inches (Electrek)
Power: 8 hp
Top speed: 28 mph
Range: Up to 47-50 miles
Battery: 5.4-5.5 kWh

It’s a quadricycle, not a full car—no Euro NCAP crash tests needed, and in places like Germany, 15-year-olds can drive it.

US Rules and Real-World Use

Expect Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV) status here, capped at 25-30 mph for streets in neighborhoods, resorts, campuses, or retirement spots—think golf cart zones. Some states treat similar rigs like UTVs for road use without heavy safety rules. S&P Global Mobility’s Stephanie Brinley calls it a “runabout for hotels,” a tiny niche unlikely to dent Fiat sales stats since LSVs don’t count as cars.

MotorTrend pegs arrival at 2026 (Road & Track). Fiat US sales? Just 1,528 last year, down from 43,772 in 2012 (CNBC).

Trump’s Timing, Fiat’s Plans

The news hit days after President Trump praised Japan’s “cute” kei cars at a meeting with auto CEOs, directing Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to greenlight tiny vehicles and ease rules. Fiat insists this was in motion before, based on US show buzz—not politics. A custom “Brittolino” art version debuted in Miami too.

Brinley sees sales potential: “Adorable and cute” could snag buyers for specific spots, even if overall a market footnote.