Edward Butler

ADELAIDE’S Solitaire Automotive Group has become the latest dealership for Alfa Romeo and is planning a purpose-built showroom.

Solitaire Alfa Romeo started operations on April 4 from the Solitaire Maserati showroom in Parkside and will remain there until the new showroom is completed.

But a Solitaire spokesperson this week said no decision had been made on the location of the new showroom or any expected completion date.

Australian distributors for Alfa Romeo, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia, also could not confirm any details of its new showroom.

FCA Australia previously examined stand-alone dealerships for Alfa Romeo based on the expected volume of new products. But it has put a hold on that plan – at least temporarily – on the strength of objections from some FCA dealers about the cost of building specific showrooms.

Alfa Romeo Giulia

FCA’s Alfa Romeo Australia sales director, Ed Butler, said in a statement that “the appointment of Solitaire as Alfa Romeo’s retail partner in Adelaide is a huge win”.

“Solitaire’s stellar retail standards and proven commitment to customer satisfaction will power Alfa Romeo on an exciting growth phase in South Australia,” he said.

Alfa Romeo has recently launched its Giulia mid-size sedan range. Other than the ongoing Giulietta model, it’s only other new model on the Australian market is the 4C coupe and convertible.

Alfa Romeo Giulia

The range will be expanded later this year with the Stelvio SUV. That will be followed later in 2018 by a larger SUV, then a larger sedan based on the Giulia and by 2020, a hatchback replacement for the Giulietta.

The Solitaire Automotive Group, headed by managing director, David Smoker, employs more than 200 people across five sites and 10 franchises including Bentley and Aston Martin.

Its location in Adelaide claims to give substantial potential for Alfa Romeo sales. More than 1.3 million people live close to the capital, giving it the second-highest population density of all Australian capital cities after Melbourne.

By Neil Dowling

Maserati Solitaire