Alfa Romeo’s 8C Competizione sports car is poised to become the first Alfa available in the U.S. since 1995 when it finally rolls into Maserati dealerships over the next few weeks, but that Italian automaker’s full-blown return to the U.S. has reportedly been delayed.
According to Italiaspeed.com, Alfa Romeo has delayed its long-rumored return to the U.S. market. Alfa Romeo was originally penciled in for a 2010 U.S. re-launch, but that date has now been pushed back at least a year.
Not surprisingly, Alfa’s decision to delay its United States re-launch is directly related to the weak economy. Alfa needs to produce vehicles in North America in order to turn a profit on U.S.-sold cars, but the current economic conditions are less than ideal for nailing down a production infrastructure. However, Fiat-owned Alfa Romeo has reportedly compiled a short list of possible locations, with sites in the U.S. and Mexico making the list.
North American Alfa production wasn’t actually expected to begin until 2013, so it’s possible that the Italian automaker will be able to stick to that timeframe — even with the delayed re-launch. Whatever the case, we hope Alfa doesn’t completely abandon its U.S. plans as the brand arguable makes some of the most beautiful cars on the road.
10/26, 8:57 PM
posted by:
maxcar
that’s the first bit of bad news all year.
10/26, 9:10 PM
posted by:
A4
uh oh spaghettios
10/26, 10:10 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
I’ll take a fully loaded 135i with $185,000 in cash instead.
10/26, 10:27 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I’m so distraught by this announcement I’m going to stop shaving my pits.
10/26, 10:55 PM
posted by:
Jordan
i didn’t think you canadians did that anyway.
10/26, 11:14 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
True, but in winter I like to save my wax for the snowmobile.
10/27, 12:36 AM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Well, I guess I won’t be getting that MiTo after all.
10/27, 12:37 AM
posted by:
beatusmongous
And Jordan, in Canada, the men shave their pits while the women don’t.
10/27, 10:35 AM
posted by:
shaver
They were going to import 40-50 units a year, total.
Why is there a story on this every month in every auto rag.
The Mi-To is not designed to meet US std, will never be cosidered for US market (would be $30K base if it was).
I am jonesing for the snow, just tuned up the sled and bought new snowoard pants.
10/27, 2:21 PM
posted by:
gtv6
Alfa has a deal with mini dealers to sell the MiTo, so that will probably come over. No big surprise, Alfa has been rumored to be coming back for the last 10 years, there’s always some delay. The website at one point said they’d be back in 2007.
10/27, 5:11 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
As much as I hate to say this, AR made the right decision. They need to bring in a certain number to make the move profitable, and right now the market for this kind of auto isn’t there. We’ll wait (impatiently…)
10/27, 6:22 PM
posted by:
Tosta Mista
What is the big deal with the MiTo? It’s just a re-badged Fiat Punto, with a nice face, just like an A3 in relation to the Golf. You guys aren’t missing THAT much….
10/27, 8:54 PM
posted by:
VWgrouP
I say, mark it as a Maserati, and bring it in.
10/27, 10:56 PM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
gtv6, I visited the largest-volume mini dealer in Arizona over the weekend, they knew nothing about bringing the MiTo over. I think that was just an AutoWeek rumor. I call BS on this entire story, however. The “economic downturn” in the US is real, but it is also less than 8 months old. You don’t make policy changes as huge as shifting your manufacturing base to another country off month-over-month data, you look a decade or more ahead for something like that.