Storytelling. That’s what Fiat CEO Olivier Francois says separates Fiat from the wave of affordable new (mostly) Chinese EVs. He’s quite the raconteur himself, has an Instagram teeming with A-list contacts, and cheerfully admits that the new Grande Panda needs to be a blockbuster.
“Heritage is key,” he explains. “Our design is rooted in our heritage, and that’s not by chance. It’s a good way of reassuring our customers. There are new brands but, hey, they come and they go. We’ve been here for 125 years—and we’re here to stay.”
As with Renault’s rapturously received new 5, the Grande Panda pulses with a palpable confidence. With its