Renault’s plan to launch its French sports car brand, Alpine, in the U.S. by 2027 faces a setback. The automaker has declared a likely delay in Alpine’s debut, citing uncertainties surrounding tariffs associated with President Trump’s policies, leaving the launch on hold.
Renault’s Chief Financial Officer, Duncan Minto, shared an update during a recent earnings call, as reported by Bloomberg. He remarked that, given the current situation in the U.S., now is not the ideal time to invest in expanding into the market. Minto described the decision as a routine measure in line with efforts to reduce costs amidst the broader economic uncertainty affecting the global automotive industry.
Alpine, famous for its A110 sports car, is transitioning its focus from internal combustion performance cars to electric vehicles. The shift is underway, marked by the discontinuation of the A110 and the recent introduction of the A290, an electric hot hatchback inspired by the Renault 5.
Renault has stated that it is currently in discussions with the dealership group AutoNation to manage the distribution of Alpine vehicles in the U.S.
Alpine’s expansion into the U.S. was a key element of Renault’s strategy to grow its revenue to over $9.1 billion by the late 2020s. However, even before the tariff complications, achieving the goal seemed challenging, given that the brand sold only 4,585 vehicles worldwide last year. To make matters worse, Renault has chosen to postpone some smaller projects to reduce expenses.
Alpine had initially signaled its intent to break into the U.S. market years ago to cater to the American demand for larger vehicles with two electric crossovers. While the development of these models continues, the U.S. debut may be postponed until the tariff situation stabilizes or is resolved. For now, Renault’s most exciting offerings remain out of reach for American consumers.
By 2030, Alpine plans to launch five new electric vehicles, aligning with de Meo’s vision for accelerated growth—a strategy that once held great potential but was hindered by the stringent import tariffs under Trump’s ‘America First’ policy.
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