Stellantis not giving up on Alfa Romeo and Lancia

Stellantis has further assured the futures of Alfa Romeo and Lancia by confirming significant investments in both marques over the next few years.

Soon after completing the merger between PSA Group and Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to create the now fourth biggest automaker in the world, the marque announced that Alfa Romeo and Lancia would be integrated into its premium division along with DS in order to rival the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The Ypsilon is currently Lancia’s only model with sales taking place only in Italy.

According to a report by Automotive News Europe last month, the trio would be responsible for joint vehicle development with the first slated to arrive in 2024.

“We are working with our Italian colleagues on specific premium modules, powertrains and features to differentiate the premium brands from the mainstream brands,” DS’ product director Marion David was quoted by the online publication as saying at the time.

QV versions of the facelift Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Giulia.

As well as keeping Chrysler, whose future in the United States remained in limbo before the merger, Stellantis and FCA chair John Elkann said the merger with PSA had unlocked the opportunity for more to be allocated to Alfa Romeo and Lancia, who have struggled in recent years to attract significant market share.

At present, the former is represented by the Giulia and Stelvio, while Lancia’s line-up is restricted to the aging Ypsilon based on the previous generation Fiat 500, which is marketed only in Italy where sales last year totalled 43 109 units versus Alfa’s European tally of 36 526.

DS 9 Sedan

“We have seen it clearly with some brands like Alfa Romeo and Lancia, on which we could not invest or give resources as much as we wanted in recent years. In this new group there will be much greater opportunities than in the past for these two brands,” Automotive News Europe quoted Elkann as saying.

Aside from the mentioned co-developed models, of which little is known at present, Alfa Romeo will bolster its line-up to three reportedly by September this year with the long awaited reveal of the Tonale, followed in 2023 by an even smaller SUV reported to be called Brennero that will ride on a PSA developed platform.

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