Alpine Will Target Porsche Macan EV And Cayenne Coupe In US Market

Jan. 20, 2023 5:31 PM ET byJay Traugott Industry News /5 Comments

The first Alpine EV could go on sale in 2027 or 2028.

Renault brand CEO Laurent Rossi has confirmed the US market plays a crucial role in the French automaker's revenue and sales ambitions. To clarify, this does not mean the US will receive Renault models but rather those from the performance division, Alpine. The goal is to sell two Alpine EVs beginning in 2027 or 2028. Expect a midsize and a larger crossover to go on sale. We first learned aboutAlpine coming to the US marketin November, and more details have now emerged.

Alpine's first EV will hit the European market in the second half of 2024. That EV is expected to be a production version of the Renault 5 concept, hopefully inspired by the insaneRenault 5 Turbo 3E(pictured below). Expect that to be a hot hatch version called the Renault 5 Alpine. Unfortunately, Alpine doesn't have plans to sell it here.

Crossovers, not hatchbacks, are what Americans want. Rossi confirmed, viaAutomotive News, that "The US is the main destination for these cars," in reference to the crossovers.

Renault

The Alpine performance brand was restarted under former Renault CEO (and now fugitive)Carlos Ghosnin 2017 after being absent from the auto scene since the mid-1990s. Its first and so far only model since the brand's re-launch is the A110 sports coupe. Once again, not coming to our shores.

But the good news is that A110 sales increased by 33% last year, which is a positive sign for Alpine's long-term strength. Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo, currently negotiating a restructured alliance with longtime partner Nissan, has set a goal of about $8.6 billion in revenue for Alpine by 2030. Annual sales are expected to reach over 150,000 examples by then.

To compare, just 3,546 A110s were sold in 2022. De Meo's faith in Alpine is significant, and he's convinced it has unrealized potential. He already made his first move when he ditched Renault and went with the Alpine F1 Team instead. This has already resulted in additional exposure in North America, well before the pair of EVs is scheduled to launch.

Alpine

Alpine's dealership network will also increase, but we have yet to determine whether there will be standalone stores in the US. Like many other brands, Alpine will be going all-electric, including the A110's successor that's beingjointly developed with Lotus. Most EV brands want to adopt the direct sales model, so Alpine would only have to set up service centers.

As for the US-bound Alpine EV crossovers, expect them to be aimed directly at the upcomingPorsche Macan EVand Cayenne Coupe. Which platform they'll utilize remains unknown. Collaborations with other automakers are also being considered, but Rossi declined to provide specifics.