Maserati Looking for Dealers to Sell Alfa Romeo in U.S.

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Washington DC May 30, 2007; The AIADA newsletter reported that Maserati is preparing to choose a handful of dealers to sell the first Alfa Romeos available in the U.S. since 1995.

Automotive News reports that those dealers likely will get permanent franchises when the brand re-launches here. Alfa Romeo and Maserati have a technical alliance and will share platforms and parts on future models. Fiat has said Maserati dealers will re-launch Alfa Romeo here in 2010.

The dealers will sell the final 99 units of the 500-unit limited-edition, $200,000-plus Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, says James Selwa, CEO of Maserati North America. The exotic sports car -- a rear-drive, carbon-fiber coupe with a 450-hp engine -- must be adapted to meet U.S. standards and undergo crash testing.

Maserati is still more than a year away from offering Alfa Romeo franchises to Maserati and other dealers, says Selwa. Not all Maserati dealers will get Alfa Romeo franchises.

Larger, multi franchise dealerships such as The Collection in Florida or the Suburban Collection in suburban Detroit would be likely candidates, he says.