Alfa Romeo has become the latest automaker to pump the brakes on its EV-only ambitions, opting for a new “multi-energy” strategy instead. This shift comes as the brand struggles to revive its North American dealer network, which has been severely impacted by sluggish sales.

Chris Feuell, the recently appointed head of Alfa Romeo North America, confirmed the pivot, noting that the change was made within the past month. “The biggest thing in our product and technology roadmap is transitioning from what was a BEV-only strategy for Alfa to one that is multi-energy,” Feuell explained.

The Italian marque, part of the Stellantis group, had previously aimed for an all-electric lineup by 2027, with the 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale slated as the last gas-powered model. However, plans for the next-generation Stelvio SUV and Giulia sedan, originally intended as EVs, are now being revised to include hybrid and internal combustion engine variants. Both models will be built on Stellantis’ STLA Large platform, the same architecture underpinning the Dodge Charger.

US Dealers Are Concerned

After meeting with Alfa Romeo dealers at the NADA Show on January 26, Feuell acknowledged the challenges of maintaining a BEV-only lineup. “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 admitted that the biggest concern among U.S. dealers is the viability of the Alfa Romeo network, with sales dropping 19 percent in 2024 to 8,865 units, marking the fourth consecutive year of decline. The situation was even worse in the fourth quarter of 2024, when the Italian brand saw a 38 percent drop compared to the same period in 2023.

As a result, the US boss revealed that 2024 models currently make up half of Alfa Romeo’s U.S. inventory. To clear out the remaining stock by the end of Q1 2025, the company is offering substantial incentives to attract prospective buyers.

Feuell stated that she was “very transparent” with dealers regarding the operational and financial performance of the network. She warned, “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. We’re down to 110 dealers from where we were at 150.”

Another topic raised during the dealer meeting was whether Alfa Romeo should introduce the subcompact Junior to the U.S. market. While Feuell sought dealer input, she declined to share the outcome of those discussions. Interestingly, Jeep is also contemplating whether to bring the Junior’s Avenger cousin to North America as well.