- Alfa-Romeo is one of the Premium subsidiaries (with Lancia and Chrysler) of the Fiat-Chrysler group (FCA). In Europe, the group is struggling to keep both the Alfa Romeo and Lancia brands, because of their similar positioning. The management of FCA has recently announced that the Lancia brand would soon disappear, except in Italy. This strategy will be accompanied at the same time by the re-boosting of the Alfa-Romeo brand. The group has announced a major product launch plan with the goal of achieving 500 000 sales in 2020 (against less than 100 000 in 2013).

- FCA will present seven new Alfa Romeo models between 2014 and 2018: a Spider based on the Mazda MX5 roadster will be launched by 2016, a sedan and an estate Giulia (segment D) in 2017, a sedan and an estate Alfetta (segment E) in 2018.

- In addition two SUVs based on a Giulietta will be launched, a compact car in 2017 and an elongated version in 2018. Alfa-Romeo will take over the Maserati platform for these models that will all be made in Italy (probably in Mirafiori).

- Furthermore, Fiat doesn't plan to replace the Mito and Giulietta, although these models could help reach global targets, by accounting for up to 100 000 units per year. It is quite surprising when one compares the Alfa strategy to the Audi, BMW and Mercedes ones who have also developed their range on these segments.

- It will be very difficult for Alfa to achieve such high goals, because of the strong competition of Premium German manufacturers who have monopolized the market for decades.

  

- The Rate of diesel vehicles (share of diesel cars in total sales) in Europe continued to decline in 2013 and 2012. Indeed,  since 2012 sales of diesel cars have started to decline in Europe, brining the market share of these vehicles down (compared to petrol, hybrid engines and the electric cars).

- The share of sales of diesel cars in European sales as a whole hadn't stopped increasing since the 90s, except in 2009, when the rate fell to 47.5% due to scrappage schemes that promoted throughout Europe the sales of petrol cars from segments A and B.

- The rate of diesel vehicles in Europe has risen from 22.3% in 1996 to 55.7% in 2011 and fell back to 55.2% in 2012 and to 53.3% in 2013. All countries saw the rates of diesel cars decline in 2012 and 2013, except for Portugal, Italy and Greece.

- The decline in the share of diesel cars in most European countries is due to several factors: the decrease in kilometres travelled by drivers, the reduced gap between the price of petrol and diesel fuels, the decision made by carmakers to gradually abandon diesel engines on cars from segment A, the introduction of tougher pollution standards leading to a rise in the price of diesel cars compared to petrol cars and finally the technological advances that have improved the yields of petrol engines.