Fiat Panda, bad news for Italians: owners are now shaking

Anyone who owns a Panda should start to worry, the news is not good. What is happening and why.

When Sergio Marchionne was in charge of what was called FCA, which is now Stellantis, he defined it as an important asset. The Panda should continue to be the focus of FIAT production as the favorite car of the common customer. Simple, useful, very spacious, it has always had the advantage of a competitive price, a little like modern Dacias. It is suitable for those who live in the city, or by the sea, and also for those who live in the mountains, compared to the 4X4 version, it has been and remains the most popular in Italy.

While the Group led by John Elkann is currently discussing the future of the production of some of its models, a blow has arrived for the owners of the popular small car in the country. News that some will take philosophically, praying for the best, while others, fearing to fall into a trap, will prefer a more difficult way.

Ride in danger, because we need to be careful

Statistics from LoJack, a device that allows you to capture the location of a stolen car and basic assistance to the police, we are told from 2013 to 2023, 1 million and 550 thousand were stolen from their rightful owners. two and four wheelers, of which 39% were found by good fortune. The most alarming news, however, concerns the 7% increase in thefts last year alone.

The most affected types are SUVs, affecting one in five. Keyless unlocking systems, which can be replaced with tools costing only a few euros, make the work of criminals easier. Due to the difficulty of finding spare parts, actions against special components are also growing, from tires to navigation systems, mufflers and LED lights.

The summary of these crimes is focused on five areas: Campania, which has recorded +9% in recent months, then Lazio, Puglia, Sicily and Lombardy. Campania and Lazio are also black shirts when it comes to innovation.

But let’s return to the main character of our articles. Despite what we’ve said, so criminal attention to Sports Utility Vehicles, the most stolen car cup in Italy is still the Panda, stolen 12,571 times in the last year. This is a very high number, if we consider that the second in the classic is the FIAT 500 with 5,889 subtractions, while closing the podium is the Punto with 4,604.