The Italian automaker has been part of many revival plans under Fiat and FCA.
Alfa’s new CEO wants to find a way for the brand to grow.
Alfa Romeo will remain a priority within the newly-formed Stellantis, the result of the merger between FCA and PSA Group. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has appointed Jean-Philippe Imparato, ex-Peugeot boss, to lead Alfa Romeo to growth and profitability.
Under both Fiat and FCA, Alfa Romeo was to be part of growth plans with new models including supercars at one point or another. Weak sales and strong competition from other luxury brands, namely Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, have thwarted these efforts. In fact, not only has the addition of new models been canceled but recently, the Giulietta, a compact hatchback, has seen its production halted.
All that remains today are the Giulia sedan and the Stelvio SUV. The formation of Stellantis will bring production efficiencies and savings on purchasing and development, according to Automotive News (subscription required). This way, developing and launching new models will be less costly.
Tavares said: “Our intention is to study how to support the profitable growth of those brands and we believe we are going to find a way to make them progress.” The first steps are already in place as production of the anticipated Tonale SUV is set to begin in the second half of 2021. It will be followed by another smaller crossover in 2023.