Abarth Confirms No Longer Launching ICE Cars In The Future, Here's The Reason

JAKARTA - Abarth, the Italian auto brand, confirmed that it will not produce purely fueled cars (ICE) and shift its focus on selling electric cars (EVs).

Head of Fiat and Abarth Europe, Gaetano Thorel said this was based on the increasingly strict emission regulations and his party considered the cost too expensive for producers and consumers.

If you make an ICE sports car that emits 180g/km emissions and is in Italy, you have to pay a highway tax of between 1,000 euros and 2,000 euros annually," Thorel said as quoted by Autocar, Tuesday, November 19.

He also added that it would be unfair for electric car buyers if his party provided ICE cars that had similar prices and performances like EVs.

"Is it fair if I give customers a similar-behaved EV sports car, have the same level of pleasure, equal performance, and all at the same price as ICE? I think it's better to offer an electric car," added Thorel.

In addition, he also added that his party was neglecting to bring cars with hybrid powertrains and still offering models like the latest 500 with mild-hybrid technology.

We must remain loyal to brand DNA, and existing machines in the new 500 are millid-hybrid machines that don't allow you to extract power to make original Abarth. So, that (the fully hybrid car) probably won't happen, "said Thorel.

This iconic auto brand launched its first EV called 500e last year, which was later expanded by presenting 600e. Meanwhile, Abarth has pulled several ICE models from the market such as 595 and 695 last August.

However, the manufacturer's journey in the pure electrification market did not run purely. Some time ago, the 500e model had to be temporarily stopped production due to low demand.

The parent company of this brand, Stellantis said that the decline in sales of electric vehicles was not only experienced by its manufacturers, but also all automotive manufacturers in Europe.