Reading an interesting / sad article over on Alfa BB charting Alfa & BMW histories since the mid seventies
http://www.automotivespace.it/eng/alfa-romeo-vs-bmw/
Great photo at the bottom of the page " Money doesn't grow on Trees "
CLASSIC COMPARISON PHOTO OF BEEMA FACTORY IN MUNICH AND ARESE milano alfa factory,visited the museo last year at arese and saw this same scene in real life, almost brought me to tears, the dilapidated alfa sign really brought home how one awesome history breaking pioneering firm has gone downhill, sorry to say but i cant see the marque ever coming back to the fore, this globalisation and the greed for quick profits kills anything with substance, thanks for posting the revealing article.
40 years ago in 1974, I believe that Alfa Romeo would have outsold BMW in Australia. I doubt that Alfa Romeo Australia (ARA) sold more than 400 - 500 cars that year, but BMW only had the 2002. 3.0 Litre sedan and coupe sold through different state distributors.
With the 105 series selling strongly, plus the introduction of the Alfasud and Alfetta and the prestige of the Montreal, ARA had the product, but we all know that the factory dropped the ball big time on product development, durability and reliability. The marque has been playing catch-up trying to match the German brands they believe are their true competitors ever since
I understand that Alfa Romeo sales in this country peaked in 1985 at 2,500 sales, a figure that a more competitive Alfa Romeo have only come close to beating in 2013 with 2,373 sales.
If you look at the last three years, the comparison between Alfa Romeo and BMW in this country makes interesting reading.
Alfa Romeo
2011 - 1,091
2012 - 907
2013 - 2,373
BMW
2011 - 17,508
2012 - 18,473
2013 - 20,522
The above makes pretty depressing reading. :-[
The only "Italian owned" Italian marques that have increased their production over the past 40 years would be the aspirational brands Maserati and Ferrari. You really have to wonder what the long term future is for Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo.
Paul,
Thanks for the a more up to date current local perspective. What I fine really amazing is the local affection the brand still has , probably even global affection . Just imagine if someone like VW took it over and what they would bring to the table as opposed to 40 years of over promising and under delivering from those nuff nuffs at Fiat
The figures just show how much more exclusive it is to own an Alfa, unlike those common-as-muck beemers! We are clearly a much more discerning lot.