MILAN — Lancia will pursue profitability over quantity to safe a long-term house within the 14 model Stellantis steady and attempt to Mercedes-Benz to take action, its boss Luca Napolitano stated.

Lancia has lately retreated from a previous affected by world rally titles and iconic automobiles such because the Delta to a single mannequin, the Ypsilon, in only one market, Italy.

Some analysts have regarded Lancia as one of many least strategic manufacturers inside Stellantis, which was shaped this 12 months by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group.

Nonetheless, Napolitano has offered a 10-year plan to Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares to relaunch Lancia, primarily based on three new fashions: the brand new Ypsilon in 2024, each hybrid and battery electrical, and a compact crossover anticipated in 2026 adopted by a compact hatchback in 2028, each totally electrical.

“Clearly volumes are essential, however our targets are about profitability,” Napolitano stated in an interview on Friday.

Lancia, which alongside Alfa Romeo and DS was grouped within the pool of Stellantis manufacturers cooperating within the premium market, wanted to proceed on this high-end path, he added.

“We nonetheless have to work and want to take a look at a benchmark … which for us is Mercedes,” Napolitano stated. “I do not imply we need to combat towards Mercedes, that may be naive, however that’s an instance of what we take a look at.”

Whereas Alfa Romeo and DS are international manufacturers, Lancia’s goal is to maneuver to Europe, initially concentrating on Germany and France, the place electrification is transferring quicker, then including international locations together with Spain, Belgium, Austria and the Nordics, he stated.

“We initially goal to make 25 p.c to 30 p.c of our gross sales overseas, to succeed in 50-50,” he stated. “Our aggressive electrification technique and our concentrate on market segments that are very robust in Europe will assist us.”

Napolitano stated that Lancia aimed to be the model inside Stellantis with the very best share of recycled supplies. “We wish to construct automobiles with a good portion of recycled supplies,” he stated.

Lancia’s 10-year plan doesn’t embody going again to motor races and increasing outdoors Europe, because it wants credibility within the premium phase and to concentrate on priorities, Napolitano stated.

“Nonetheless, within the coming 12 months, if issues go nicely, why not making an attempt to deliver (Lancia fashions with) right-hand drive additionally in Japan, South Africa or Australia?” he stated.

Lancia’s enlargement plan in Europe can be primarily based on a light-weight community of sellers, solely within the largest city areas, serving to it to maintain prices down and increase profitability.

Napolitano stated the goal was to have round 100 Lancia promoting factors in Europe in round 60 cities, which might be shared with different Stellantis manufacturers, whereas pushing on-line to cut back the period of time potential consumers spend at sellers.

“My goal is to make it doable to purchase a automobile with simply three clicks,” Napolitano stated.