While theAlfa Romeo Junior was unveiled with a central license plate, a detail many enthusiasts saw as a (bad) break with the brand's tradition. In fact, the latest Giulia, Stelvio, Giulietta and 159 models all proudly displayed their number plates offset to the side, a visual signature in their own right. Alfa Romeo had tried to justify this unusual choice by safety imperatives.... an argument that left more than one Alfist dubious. The future Stelvio, too, has recently shown itself with a central plateconfirming that this orientation was no accident.
And yet! Since June 24, 2025, theAlfa Romeo Junior is officially available in Japan and, big surprise, there, the license plate is back on its side! The photos shared by @chiracarlife show one of the very first Japanese-registered Juniors, with the side plate that some people have been missing for so long. Concrete proof that, technically, there's nothing to prevent this assembly.
In short, if like many you prefer the offset plate, it might be worth talking to your dealer about it. Show him the photo of the Japanese Junior: it proves that it's possible, and that it's all a matter of willpower!
Finally, remember: we had already revealed that the future Giulia would also feature a side plate.rather than central. This information has just been confirmed a second time by a source who has seen the car up close. In our opinion, the return of the central plate on the Junior and Stelvio is the result of a decision by someone who mistakenly believed that this detail did not matter. The reaction of enthusiasts, however, shows that it's far from insignificant.
アルファロメオ ジュニアの価格・グレード構成
- チラ@チラカーライフ フランス車系YouTuber (@chiracarlife) June 24, 2025
Ibrida（Hybrid）
Core：420万
Premium：468万円
Speciale：533万円（初回特別仕様）
Elettrica（BEV）
Premium：556万円（受注生産）
超戦略価格です。
HybridのCoreでもほぼ装備全部盛りなのでかなりお買い得。
詳しくはチラカーライフの動画で！ pic.twitter.com/jOP2f2Qn27
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I think it's the European regulation that recently forbids the off-center plate. I think I read that somewhere. Which would explain why in Japan it's not in the center. In any case, it's beautiful the way it is!
I seem to have read that the plate can be shifted to the left, but not to the right of the vehicle's axis of symmetry, and that this is mainly so that it can be read by speed cameras anywhere in Europe.
The side plate is a very important aesthetic detail. The central plate is something we leave to other brands; Alfa Romeos must have a side plate. As for European regulations prohibiting it, that's just an interpretation.
Among the details that might dampen the enthusiasm of potential buyers are the electric gear controls, common to almost all stellantis, and as banal as they are ugly and impractical, with a bevy of buttons placed exactly where you'd want storage and aesthetics. Almost the ultimate model of bad design.
Das seitliche Nummernschild gehört zu Alfa Romeo wie das Scudetto