One thing that remains constant in the automotive industry is change, and there has been a lot of that in recent years. Tariffs, Chinese electric vehicles and government regulations have complicated long-term planning, causing many automakers to immediately change their plans. But not every company is so easily deterred. Of all brands, Alpine could still launch in the United States.
The French performance brand first hinted a few years ago that it would sell its cars in the US. Alpine wants to expand its range to seven models and expand its reach into new markets such as America, which is still on the table, said Alpine CEO Philippe Krief.
That said, Krief did admit that the brand needed more than just its A110 on showroom floors. He told it Auto Express:
‘We have to take the A110 to the US because this is the heart of Alpine. But in the US, it may not be enough for dealers and our partners to sell. And maybe we should have something more. The thought we had a year ago was a large SUV. Now we are back in the phase of thinking about what we need for the American market.’
Photo by: Alpine
Krief added that Alpine needs a high-volume model to sell alongside its sports car, but the company doesn’t want to “make the mistake of going to the U.S. with a big car that is outside the brand’s DNA.”
Part of the brand’s expanded lineup includes a larger model for the D/E segment, with the company’s Alpine Performance Platform architecture underpinning the range. The D/E segment model will likely serve as a rival to the Porsche Cayenne, which is likely the vehicle Alpine will bring here.
Americans love their crossovers and SUVs, so it makes sense that Alpine would consider selling an SUV here as well. A small sports car like the A110 can excite enthusiasts like us, but they are not profitable enough to supply a car manufacturer; they have to appeal to the masses, and that means offering an SUV.
Alpine didn’t provide a timeline on when we might see the brand selling cars in the US. It originally planned to begin its global expansion in 2027, but we don’t expect that to happen until closer to the end of the decade.
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