Major car brand to remove popular model from UK roads as it moves towards electric vehicles

The Panda was one of the brand's smallest and most popular models, with a price point of less than £15,000 helping it sell thousands of models.

Since the car was first introduced in 1980, Fiat has produced around eight million models worldwide, making it one of the most popular for the Italian brand.

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A spokesperson for Fiat said: "In readiness for the launch of [the] new Grande Panda, which will arrive in showrooms early in the new year, orders for [the] current Panda in the UK will now be satisfied from existing stock.

“As announced earlier in the year, Panda will continue in the rest of Europe as Fiat Pandina special series and still be produced at the Italian plant of Pomigliano d’Arco at least until 2027," they told PA.

There are estimated to be around 5,000 Panda models left in showrooms and on forecourts across the UK, while 561 models are available to buy second-hand on Auto Trader.

The Fiat Grande Panda was inspired by the design of the 1980s Panda and is the first of many in the brand's "multi-energy platform" to support its ambition to go global.

While few details have been given about the Panda Grande, it will feature a 44kWh battery pack that is capable of a range of up to 198 miles, although there is yet to be an official WLTP rating.

Some have suggested that the urban commuting vehicle will have a top speed of around 84mph and go from 0-62mph in 11 seconds.

The Grande Panda has also been praised for its bold, colourful look and celebration of Fiat's illustrious 125-year history.

It is also expected to be one of the UK's cheapest options when it finally lands in December, with suggestions that it could fall under the £22,000 price point.

This would make it one of the cheapest electric cars in the UK and help Fiat gain a major edge for drivers looking to switch to electric.

Motorists will be able to get their hands on the Grande Panda as a plug-in hybrid model or as a fully electric model.

Olivier Francois, CEO of Fiat and global CMO of Stellantis, said: "The best way to celebrate Fiat's 125 years is to start writing the first pages of our future, starting with the new Grande Panda.

"With the Grande Panda, Fiat now begins its transition to global common platforms that cover all regions of the world, passing on the resulting benefits to its customers worldwide."

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So far this year, more than 8,800 Fiat vehicles have been sold in the UK, representing a market share of 0.76 per cent, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

This is, however, a significant drop compared to the same time last year when Fiat sold more than 10,000 vehicles, showing a large 13 per cent drop.