Alfa Romeo’s Output Jumped 62% Last Year

Strong demand for Alfa Romeo’s Giulia sport sedan and Stelvio crossover vehicle sparked a 62% jump in production last year by the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV brand.

Output climbed to 150,700 units from 93,100 in 2016, according to Automotive News Europe, which cites labor union data. But results fell short of the 170,000-unit target announced last year by FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne.

Market researchers JATO Dynamics say Alfa’s worldwide sales last year rose to 125,000 units from 71,700 in 2016. Demand last year through November rose 33% to 80,000 units in Europe and multiplied 23-fold to 12,000 cars in the U.S.

Marchionne said three years ago that Alfa would expand to eight new models by 2018 and achieve annual sales of 400,000 units. FCA has since dropped that target and doesn’t expect to complete its new-model rollout until mid-2020.