According to the Automotive News Europe website the Fiat decided to suspend production of the Diesel version of Panda. According to two sources to which the site had access, the production was suspended September 1st , on the same day that the WLTP protocol took effect.
The decision to stop producing the Panda Diesel (1.3 Multijet) fits into the new business plan that the Italian brand presented to June 1st of this year, where it announced that it intends to stop offering Diesel engines in all passenger models until 2021.
Although Fiat has not confirmed the end of Panda Diesel production, the possible disappearance of this version may be related to the entry into force of the WLTP, which raised the demand for homologation tests for consumption and emissions.
Diesel's sales decline also helped.
According to data from JATO Dynamics a Fiat sold about 111 000 units from Panda until August this year, however only 15% were equipped with the engine Diesel . Another Fiat model that is saying goodbye to diesel is the 500 , whose Diesel offer only represents 4% of the units sold until August 2018.
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The Panda and the 500 together represent about 47% of the brand's global sales, and were currently the last representatives of the A-segment to offer this type of engine. Instead of Diesel in the Panda range, Fiat is preparing to offer engines to Gasoline with option mild hybrid , like 500 to add one electric version.