Fiat 500 EV spotted

Chrysler has been showing off electrified cars for years at car shows, starting shortly after the Daimler purchased GEM, the makers of little electric cars. In May 2010, Chrysler announced that the Fiat 500 would be its first pure electric vehicle. Manufacturing was to begin in 2012, with all engineering and development taking place in Auburn Hills.

In September 2010, Sergio Marchionne reiterated that the electric Fiat 500 was due in 2012, and said it would be sold in Canada and Mexico as well as the United States.

While the Fiat 500 EV might still appear by the end of 2012, it has more likely been postponed for a calendar-year 2013 launch.

Allpar reader Ricky Ryan snapped these photos around Rochester, Michigan, showing that Chrysler is not only testing the Fiat 500 EV on city streets, but doesn’t seem to care who knows it — as long as they don’t see details of the front and rear fascias.

[Keep track of further developments on our Fiat 500 EV page.]