Alfa Romeo is delayed in the US and hurts Fiat

The Mito and the Giulietta will not arrive in the US in the short term as stipulated in Sergio Marchionne’s original plans for Fiat, and this has brought damage to its image for the Fiat dealerships that are just starting out in the US.

The main draw for the North American Fiat dealerships was going to be Alfa Romeo, a brand that is better known than Fiat in North America. The current Fiat offering at these dealerships is limited to the versions of the Fiat 500 that arrived a few months ago. Within the group, the Dodge Journey, the American version of the Fiat Freemont, is also available, and it seems to be selling very well according to some comments.

It is said that the delay could last up to two years, until 2014, the date on which the Alfas would start arriving in the US. Another model, a saloon based on the Maserati Quattroporte, would be ready no earlier than the aforementioned 2014. Models like this saloon are the ones with the best chances for US sales.

Meanwhile, the 500 continues to stoically represent Fiat. Although, given the North American consumer’s limited familiarity with seeing a Fiat in person, it does not seem to be the most worthy representative of what Marchionne has envisioned for the group’s grand return to the US.