Alfa Romeo is slowly moving away from the bottom of the sales pit, showing a respectable increase in European markets, at least in the first half of 2023. The brand sold 100% more vehicles in Europe compared to the same period last year, with a global increase of 57%.
The European markets with the best results year-to-year were Italy (+131%), France (+123%), and Germany (+116%). While those percentages sound impressive, we must note that according to Car Sales Base, Alfa Romeo sold only 13,095 cars in the first half of 2022, which is a pretty low bar to clear.
The automaker didn’t provide detailed sales figures for its three-model range which currently comprises the new and electrified Tonale, alongside the recently facelifted Giulia and Stelvio. It’s no surprise that the introduction of the Tonale boosted the sales figures of the Italian brand, as the popularity of the compact SUV segment in Europe is at an all-time high.
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Another region with a significant difference compared to last year was the Middle East and Africa, where the Italian brand increased its sales by 173% in the first half of 2023. The main drivers for that were Turkey (over 1000%), Israel (+40%), and United Arab Emirates (+37%). On the other hand, Asian markets remained stable, with the exception of China which recorded an increase of 94% compared to last year, with the Giulia up 35% and a recent debut in Hong Kong.
Alfa Romeo intentionally avoided mentioning its sales figures in the US, stating that the Tonale “has just come on sale” and reverting the conversation in JD Power’s latest study about initial quality where it occupied the top spot among premium brands and third spot overall. Still, US sales are probably not looking good, following the 27% drop recorded in the first quarter of 2023.
Jean-Philippe Imparato, Alfa Romeo CEO, said that their goal for the 2023 results is to become “even better” than the “extremely positive” first half of the year. The company has already confirmed the debut of a fully electric SUV in 2024, following the reveal of a flagship supercar which is scheduled for August 30 this year.
