Lancia eyeing SA return

LANCIA will pursue profitability over volume to secure a long-term home in the 14 brand Stellantis stable and try to emulate German carmaker Mercedes to do so, its boss Luca Napolitano said recently. Lancia had retreated from a past littered with world rally titles and iconic cars such as the Delta to a single model, the Ypsilon, in just one market, Italy.

Napolitano has presented a 10-year plan to Stellantis Chief Executive Carlos Tavares to relaunch Lancia, based on three new models: the new Ypsilon in 2024, both hybrid and battery electric, and a compact crossover expected in 2026 followed by a compact hatchback in 2028, both fully electric. Lancia’s 10-year plan does not include going back to motor races and expanding outside Europe, as it needs to focus on priorities, Napolitano said.

“However, in the coming year, if things go well, why not try to bring (Lancia models with) right-hand drive also in Japan, South Africa or Australia?” he said.

Lancia needed to continue on this high-end path, he added. “We still need to work and need to look at a benchmark... which for us is Mercedes,” Napolitano said. “I don't mean we want to fight against Mercedes, that would be naive, but that is an example of what we look at”.