Thankfully, Alfa Romeo Has Come To Its Senses

Alfa Romeo has decided to move away from an EV-only future to adopt a “multi-energy” approach that includes real engines.

This change comes amid an identity crisis as the Italian automaker drowns in declining sales in North America and mounting pressure from its dealer network to do something.

Chris Feuell, head of Alfa Romeo North America, confirmed the decision during the recent National Automotive Dealers Association show. “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,” Feuell stated.

Initially, Alfa Romeo had set an ambitious goal of transitioning to an all-electric lineup by 2027, with the recently introduced Tonale slated to be the brand’s final gas-powered vehicle.

According to a report from Automotive News, upcoming next-generation models, including the Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV, will now feature ICE and hybrid options alongside planned BEV variants. These models will be built on Stellantis’ STLA Large platform, which also underpins the powertrain-agnostic Dodge Charger.

The decision to pivot comes as Alfa Romeo faces continued struggles in North America. Sales fell 19 percent in 2024 to just 8,865 units, marking the fourth consecutive year of decline. The fourth quarter was especially grim, with a 38 percent drop compared to the same period in 2023.

Feuell acknowledged the growing frustration among dealers. “If we replicate what happened in 2024, we’ll lose a lot of dealers, and we need to rebuild the network rather than deplete it,” she warned. Alfa Romeo’s U.S. dealer count has already dwindled from 150 to 110 in recent years.

“The top priority is getting sales back on track and improving some of the quality issues that we’ve had, so dealers can shift from a high mix of warranty repairs to customer-pay maintenance and light repair work,” she explained. Additionally, Alfa Romeo will offer significant incentives to clear out leftover 2024 models, which currently account for half of its inventory.

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