Alpine was relaunched in 2017 with a new A110 … and its future is already uncertain. During the presentation of Renault’s cost reduction plan, Jean-Dominique Senard, president of the group, was not reassuring. He did not seek to guarantee the sustainability of the label.
The historic site of Dieppe is already clearly threatened. The Losange indicates that a reflection is open on the reconversion of the factory at the end of the production of the A110, which probably has at least three years of career ahead of it. In an interview with the Parisian, Jean-Dominique Senard is quite direct: “a factory like Dieppe which releases seven cars a day, no responsible manager can let it continue like this”.
The manufacturing of cars in Dieppe therefore seems to be at an end. For the fate reserved for the brand, it is vague. Asked about this during the presentation of the savings plan, the president said: “It is a magnificent brand and we have to look very seriously at the future of this brand to understand how it can bring all its added value to the group”.
A reflection is already underway, but the president awaits the arrival of the new general manager Luca de Meo to carry it out, “to understand in terms of vision how this brand fits into the group, how we can give it its full value”. Nothing specific yet.
Rumors therefore continue to spread. The latest in vogue is the fact that Alpine could become a 100% electric manufacturer. One of the sources in the English magazine Autocar indicates that the idea is under study. Alpine could thus become a kind of French Tesla, a firm that combines sport, luxury and ecology. We can also think of Polestar, the new Volvo brand specializing in powerful electrified models.
Such a transformation would have several advantages. Alpine is already evacuating all the standards problems which threaten sportswomen. Goodbye the fear of the penalty. Above all, the next models would switch to the Alliance’s new electric car platform, the CMF-EV. The engines would also be shared with other cars, just like the factory, since the CMF-EV will be set up in Douai. Enough to make big economies of scale and make Alpine more viable.
The modularity of the technical elements can make it possible to envisage different silhouettes, why not a next electric A110 therefore! Porsche is thinking of offering a new electric Cayman.
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