Lancia eyes Australian return with electric makeover

Italian carmaker Lancia could make a return to Australia with premium electric models, as the brand looks to carve a place for itself within the newly-formed Stellantis group.

Lancia CEO Luca Napolitano told Reuters the company was forging ahead with a 10-year roadmap to revitalise the brand as an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, with Mercedes-Benz being used as a benchmark.

"I don't mean we want to fight against Mercedes, that would be naive, but that is an example of what we look at,” he said.

Napolitano stressed that Lancia needs to focus on its priorities and build credibility within the premium segment, initially targeting Germany and France – where buyers are adopting EVs at a faster rate – before building a presence in Belgium, Austria, Spain, and the Nordic countries.

"Our aggressive electrification strategy and our focus on market segments, which are very strong in Europe, will help us," he added.

But while the company’s long-term plan does not outline an expansion beyond Europe, Napolitano left the door open to right-hand-drive markets.

"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.

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Lancia CEO Luca Napolitano with designer Jean-Pierre Ploué.

The carmaker has a new Ypsilon model arriving in 2024, followed by a compact SUV in 2026 – with an all-electric hatchback due in 2028.

As well as a retail expansion across Europe, Napolitano says the company will offer a streamlined buying experience through its website to help reduce the time its customers spend at dealerships, with the aim to improve profitability rather than outright sales volume.

"My target is to make it possible to buy a car with just three clicks," Napolitano said.