While Fiat has already invested heavily in the Algerian market with the local production of the Fiat 500, the Doblo and, soon, the Grande Panda. Stellantis according to information from Milano Finanza, the automotive group is considering assembling a Alfa Romeo in Algeria, on the Oran industrial site.
Oran: an increasingly strategic site
The Oran site is currently ramping up. By December 2025, it will produce the Fiat Grande Panda, based on the Smart Car platformThe Opel Frontera will also be assembled here. Stellantis has confirmed its ambition to increase production from 17,000 vehicles in 2024 to 60,000 in 2025, and up to 90,000 in 2026. This increase in output has been made possible by the expansion of the site and the signing of agreements with local suppliers, such as Martur (seats), Boreem (exhaust systems) and Italy's Sigit, to strengthen the Algerian automotive industry. But the real surprise comes from the Alfa Romeo brand.
An Alfa Romeo "made in Algeria"?
According to several sources quoted by Milano Finanza, Stellantis is considering the possibility of Alfa Romeo production at the same Oran site. A surprising idea at first sight: no Alfa model is currently based on the Smart Car platform, used for the Grande Panda and the Opel Frontera.
So, which model could be involved? The most plausible lead seems to be the Alfa Romeo Junior, an entry-level model launched last year and currently produced at Tychy in Poland on the eCMP platform. Admittedly, this platform is different from the Smart Car, but it is the only realistic candidate if the Oran plant were to adapt to this architecture.
A strategy dictated by the local market
Why Alfa Romeo in Algeria? Because the country imposes very strict quotas on vehicle imports, combined with a new tariff schedule for customs taxes, making it very difficult to buy foreign-produced cars. As a result, locally assembled models enjoy a clear competitive advantage, both in terms of availability and price. A locally produced Alfa Romeo would enable the Italian brand to position itself more effectively in a demand market, while circumventing import barriers.
For Stellantis, integrating a premium brand like Alfa Romeo into its Algerian operations would send out a strong signal: that Algeria is not only a low-cost production hub, but also a development lever for higher value-added brands. However, no official decision has yet been taken. The project is still under study.
But one thing's for sure: with the Oran site booming and pressure mounting on North African markets, Stellantis could spring a surprise by setting up production of an Alfa Romeo model there. What if it were the Junior?
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After the Polish Alfa Romeo, here comes the Algerian. Mind you, they don't have to remove the little green-white-red flags this time. They can say they're the Algerian colors...
It's true that it's really becoming nonsense. Oran, Kenitra, soon we'll be able to say that Stellantis is an African band.
Meanwhile, Italian factories are idling, if not shutting down.
Africans working in an Italian factory or Africans working in an African factory - what difference does it make? At least less migration pressure on society - people should be thankful for such developments.
Yet another aberration at stellantis, but when are we going to get rid of these good-for-nothings and get back to automotive skills rather than fumist treasurers .
If this proves to be the case, it will confirm that Stellantis does not know how to manage its brand equity.
Good thing I don't have any shares in the group!!!!
There was Tunisia too! If the French car industry wants to survive in the next 2/3 years, it has to merge with Renault in any way it can! We need to look at world markets, which will be redistributed with the end of the 2 conflicts and the agreements between the 3 blocs !!! our political leaders are totally out of touch !!!
Merci Thank you
All the more astonishing since a new Mito does not seem to be on the drawing board.