No, the cancellation of options, in this case, appears to be because of a perceived cost savings initiative, though the only folks who really know work for Alfa. You're guessing at the possible sales effect, but what would it hurt to give it a try since the tooling already exists? What makes no sense to me is a wholesale cutting back on customer choices. It's a move suggesting you're going out of business.
Look at cars like the Corvette C8, where they've followed the Porsche example and offer many more options and combinations than on the C7.You can do that with enthusiast cars and Alfas also fit that description.
Since they are unable to increase sales, they need to increase their margins. That is either done by raising ASP or lowing costs. Simplifying the ordering process allows them to better control costs, which we have seen, has increased profits.
"
We started by making the brand profitable. By the end of the first half of 2021, Alfa Romeo was already proudly making a positive contribution to the Stellantis balance sheet. This target was achieved through efficient management of pricing power and cost efficiency, a first milestone on the way to building for the future in a credible way" (Imparato).
I am not against an array of exciting colors, but I understand their reasoning. If I had a Verde Montreal exterior, I would want a tan interior.
Corvette's are sold out and sell for a huge profit. They have a built in customer base since the 60s. My Father has owned 3 in his life, currently a '10 Grand Sport 6MT. He's been to the factory numerous times, attends racing events and is active in their community. It's a different animal compared to Alfa in terms of sales/volume/size of customer base.
No one on this forum discounts the importance of vehicle reliability perception or poor dealer access to Alfa, but it's almost like the company is giving up on the market. When times are tough and/or you're converting to an entirely different powertrain technology and can't afford to do that and keep upgrading current product you need to do something to keep sales alive. OBTW, Giulia/Stelvio interior space is consistent with the competitive set.
Alfa USA is not spending $ on the STLA-EV project. That is Stellantis with some inputs from Alfa Italy. Alfa USA, in the current climate + their lackluster past decade, need to retreat, regroup, increase margins and better explain to JP and Tavares why they should still be here. They can't just go for broke and offer everything a few enthusiasts want and then go bankrupt. The masses want black interior with black, white or silver exterior. That is why dealers order it...it sells, quickly (relative to AR's average days on the lot).
You're positioning this as an either/or. Either customers are staying away because of limited colour/trim options OR they're staying away because of perceived reliability, dealer network, less interior space. However I think ALL those things are true - it doesn't have to be an either/or.
Though I guess the real question is whether the savings from reduced complexity are worth the sales they lose as a result (or vice versa: would the cost and complexity of increased choice be worth the marginal sales uptick). I do think that a marque which is predicated on being characterful and unique does not particularly benefit from a restrictive set of choices - especially when some of the historic options (eg a tan leather interior) are really classic Alfa options.
In my case, I'm buying the car as an indulgence, and to my eyes it's just much more beautiful and characterful in options other than the anonymous black leather interior. No point shelling out for an indulgence which you're always wistfully going to look at and think 'if only'. That sort of emotive decision making is exactly what Alfa positions itself as catering to, so when the beancounters really strip choice down to a minimum then they're placing jarring reality checks in the way of that emotional connection - which is not smart IMHO.
They are not really losing sales (besides a lack of production/2022 stuff). They sell basically the same number of cars each year (see below).
Dealers order bland combinations. Most sales are not custom orders. What they are doing is reducing costs, simplifying the manufacturing process AND, most importantly, increasing the buyer's chance that a car is actually available on the lot to be purchased. Too much customization means it is nearly impossible to find the features you want.
When you can't find it easily, and BMW has it on their lot down the road...you buy the BMW.
As of March 2022:
Alfa Romeo Sales Figures – US Market
