The Alfa Romeo Junior has been a much-needed hit in Europe, where the company received over 50,000 orders by mid-September. However, elsewhere, things were far more bleak as the brand has an aging lineup. In the United States, the company only offers three models: Giulia, Stelvio, and Tonale, which generated a combined 5,652 sales for the entire year.
This figure represents a drop of 36 percent compared to the previous year. The decline is particularly noticeable when compared to BMW's sales of X4 crossovers, which outsold the entire Alfa Romeo lineup in the US market. Unfortunately, things won't get better anytime soon as Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili has revealed that the company needs to 'change everything' about the next-generation Giulia and Stelvio.
The shift is necessary due to the changing landscape of the automotive industry, with a growing emphasis on electric vehicles. Ficili stated that Alfa Romeo will need to adapt by introducing models with multiple powertrains, including non-electric options. This change in strategy is a significant departure from the company's initial plan, which envisioned an all-electric lineup.
The delay for the next-generation Giulia and Stelvio has been attributed to the US elimination of the clean vehicle tax credit last year and the European Union's revised stance on the 2035 zero-emission mandate. As a result, Alfa Romeo is opting for a radical rethink of its models, which will ride on the STLA Large platform. The company is also exploring options for electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains, although range-extended EVs are also an option.
While details remain to be seen, it's clear that Alfa Romeo is taking a bold approach to revamp its lineup. The redesigned models are expected to arrive in 2028, marking a significant delay from the original launch date. In the meantime, the current Giulia and Stelvio will continue to be sold until the end of 2027.
This shift in strategy is a reflection of the rapidly changing automotive landscape, where companies must adapt to meet evolving consumer demands and regulatory requirements. Alfa Romeo's decision to introduce models with multiple powertrains demonstrates its commitment to staying competitive in the market.
