Alfa Romeo cancels all-EV plan, continues with gasoline and hybrid power

There are a lot of options when it comes to picking out a car, and that makes it harder for carmakers to attract buyers.

Italian carmaker Alfa Romeo is taking a different approach and listening to buyers who say they don't want EVs.

To fans of Italian cars, notably of Alfa Romeo, there is a special kind of music provided by an engine, and not an electric motor.

Plans were once afoot to have the entire Alfa lineup be all-electric by 2027 or so, but changing regulations and pushback from car buyers in general put the brakes on that impending future.

"A lot of people are leaning away from the EV market. They are sticking true to their ICE [combustion] engines, so we have been listening diligently and ensuring that we are matching the needs of what our clients are requiring," said Randi Yassay, director of marketing for Alfa Romeo in North America.

The reversal started earlier in 2025. When the compact Tonale SUV was launched, it arrived only as a plug-in hybrid. But then, a purely gasoline-powered version joined in: more pure for the purists, no charging port, just a gas filler.

The current lineup at Alfa Romeo includes three models, all running on conventional power. There's technically a fourth model, but you can't buy it. The exotic 33 Stradale is a showcase of Italian passion with a seven-figure price tag -- and they're all sold out. Basically, it's an attention-getter for the brand.

So for now and the immediate future, Alfa Romeos will be powered, for the most part, as they always have been -- with gasoline. Nevertheless, the company says it has not completely put the brakes on alternative power.

"Over the next couple of years, you will see a multi-energy approach coming from Alfa Romeo. So, we're excited about that," Yassay said.

Look for new generations of vehicles like the Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV at some point. One hiccup in the strategy reversal is that planned EVs were almost surely in development, so those two mid-size models -- both around since the mid-2010s -- will have to carry on for a couple more years.

You'll see their replacements, most likely with hybrid power, added to the mix eventually. Enthusiast buyers will have to be patient for new metal in showrooms, but it's likely many are quite OK with the updated strategy.