Previously reported to little surprise, it is now confirmed that Alfa Romeo’s business plan will take two years longer than planned to complete. An ambitious-sounding volume target has also been dropped, Automotive News Europe reports.
According to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ revised plan for Alfa Romeo, the Italian brand will still launch eight new models including the Giulia, but instead of now till 2018, the time frame has been extended to 2020. So it’s eight new models from now until 2020.
The original plan was for global Alfa Romeo sales to reach 400,000 units by 2018, but FCA’s new plan has no volume indications for Alfa and Fiat Chrysler as a whole. In a presentation on FCA’s website, the company said that its commitment to Alfa’s overall brand and product strategy “remains in place.” Alfa’s 2015 global sales are expected to be 65,000.
In line with the current economic climate, the revised Alfa plan will focus mainly on Europe and the booming US market, with reduced expectations for China where the premium car market is slowing down along with the general economy.
The original forecast had annual Alfa sales in North America and Europe at 150,000 units each by 2018. China was expected to contribute 80,000 to the total despite Alfa not having any history in the Middle Kingdom.
What’s going on with the Giulia, you ask. Alfa has delayed the launch of the BMW 3 Series-rival due to technical problems. The high-performance Giulia Quadrifoglio, unveiled to much fanfare in June 2015, was due to launch in Europe by the end of last year to kickstart things, but the muscular sedan is now expected to reach European showrooms in June.
The standard Giulia tasked to bring in the numbers is set to make an appearance in Geneva in March, but it is not yet clear when it will arrive in dealerships. FCA boss Sergio Marchionne has gone on record to say that Giulia production will begin in this quarter.
FCA’s latest business plan also touches on the other planned models. Alfa’s first crossover, which will be based on the Giulia, will launch in Europe by late 2016 or early 2017. US launches for the Giulia and “Giulia SUV” will follow the European debuts by three to six months.
Other cars in the plan are not so high on the priority list and will not appear until between 2017 and 2020, according to the new plan. They are a full-size sedan, two crossovers/SUVs, two “specialty vehicles” and a hatchback. No mentions of Formula 1, thankfully.
Will this new plan hold firm? Alfa fans and well-wishers would by now have learned to not raise expectations. As for me, I’ll believe it when I see it in showrooms.
GALLERY: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
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