Fiat Chrysler Automobiles boss Sergio Marchionne wants Alfa Romeo to become a standalone company within the group, much like Ferrari and Maserari, as part of his grand scheme to revive the brand.
According to unnamed sources cited by Autonews Europe, Alfa Romeo will have a publicly disclosed profit and loss statement. “To make this new relaunch attempt into a credible business proposition, Marchionne needs to make Alfa’s P&L clearly visible,” said one of the sources.
Marchionne is said to announce Alfa Romeo’s new status on May 6 when the company unveils its five-year product and business plan in Detroit.
Marchionne wants Fiat’s European automotive operations to return to profitability by mid-decade, and turning Alfa Romeo into a global brand is an essential part of the plan. The brand will re-launch with a new line of rear-wheel-drive vehicles, including an SUV, in order to compete with premium carmakers such as BMW. The first RWD Alfa Romeos will launch in 2016, with high-end versions to get Ferrari-developed V6 gasoline engines.
The same sources said Alfa Romeo will launch six models. A compact SUV and a mid-sized sedan will be assembled at Fiat’s Cassino plant, a large sedan and a large SUV will be built at the Mirafiori facility, while a large coupe and two-seat roadster will be produced in Italy.
Alfa Romeo sales fell 56 percent to 74,000 units last year, the lowest level since the 1960s.
By Dan Mihalascu
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