Alfa Romeo backtracks, not going all electric

By automotive-mag.com 3 Min Read

Alfa Romeo is walking back a plan to go all-electric by 2027, keeping internal-combustion models in the mix for now amid slumping North American sales, reports Automotive News.

Speaking at the recent National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) show in New Orleans, Alfa Romeo North America boss Chris Feuell said the switch was made last month, according to the report.

“The biggest thing in our product and technology road map is transitioning from what was a BEV-only strategy for Alfa to one that is multi-energy,” Feuell said in an interview with Automotive News. “We’ve got 110 dealers… in our U.S. network, and it would be very challenging for them to survive with a BEV-only portfolio.”

2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale Intensa (European spec)

It’s already proving challenging for Alfa Romeo’s U.S. dealerships to survive with a product line of gasoline and plug-in hybrid models. U.S. sales declined 38% in the fourth quarter and 19% overall in 2024, according to Automotive News, which notes that 2024 was the brand’s fourth consecutive year of sales decreases. And despite being well into the 2025 model year, Feuell told the industry trade journal that 2024 models still account for half of Alfa’s U.S. inventory.

Alfa Romeo’s U.S. lineup currently consists of the aging Giulia sedan and Stelvio crossover and the newer Tonale crossover. A twin of the Dodge Hornet, the Tonale was introduced for the 2024 model year as a plug-in hybrid, but adds a gasoline-only powertrain option for 2025.

Feuell also reportedly asked dealers if Alfa Romeo should bring the smaller Junior crossover to the U.S. The Junior is sold in Europe with all-electric and mild-hybrid powertrains, and was not originally planned for the U.S. A 2024 reported indicated Alfa was considering bringing the all-electric version here for sale in California and Florida, and potentially other states that follow California’s stricter emissions rules.

2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Tributo Italiano

2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Tributo Italiano

The brand’s North American brass could bring the mild-hybrid version of the Junior here instead, but that still doesn’t leave many options for new internal-combustion or hybrid models. The replacements for the Giulia and Stelvio are both expected to be EVs as Alfa moves ahead with plans to go all-electric in other markets.

Alfa Romeo is not the only luxury brand to backtrack on EV goals. Last year Genesis confirmed that it was reversing course on launching only EVs after 2025 and would add hybrid versions of upcoming models on a global basis. General Motors is also reportedly less committed to a goal of making Cadillac all-electric by 2030. But it’s unclear if Alfa Romeo’s shift is specific to North America or whether it applies to other markets as well.

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