Fiat Puts The Brakes On Alfa Romeo's Return To The US

The broadening global financial crisis has forced Fiat Group Automobiles to postpone two targets it had set two years ago for 2010: returning the Alfa Romeo brand to the United States, and selling 300,000 units a year in China.

Alfa's return to the United States will be delayed by a year to 2011, Fiat Group and Fiat Group Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne said Thursday. The new 2010 goal for Fiat sales in China is now 50,000.

Alfa's U.S. return was originally planned by Marchionne for the final quarter of 2009, then later delayed to the 2010. In pushing that back another year, Marchionne told analysts, because "it would be simply crazy investing for returning Alfa in such a depressed U.S. market."



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david999 - 10/27/2008 1:50:47 PM

+1 Boost

I am sad to hear this news. Alfa Romeo in North America would have been great. Hopefully they will stick to the 2011 target date.

BimmerFan - 10/27/2008 2:37:49 PM

+1 Boost

yes, sad news. I cant wait for their return!

nybimmer - 10/27/2008 4:08:09 PM

+2 Boost

Smart move - it would've been an uphill battle.

If Alfa was serious about investigating the US market, they'd pass out a few Armani-chic Alfa's in a test fleet to celebrities and motoring press around the US so the car gets exposure and a real test in our drivign environment.

If Alfa hopes to dispell the fact/myth that Italian cars fall apart on our roads and are unreliable - what better way then to put a test fleet out there for a year?