Alfa's slide worsens in Europe

Alfa Romeo is in trouble. The Fiat Chrysler Automobiles premium brand was outsold by the Tesla Model 3 in Europe during the first half 37,476 to 29,059. A positive way to spin this is by saying it's an indication that car buyers in Europe are warming to electric cars.

Another glance at the sales chart, which shows Alfa's six-month sales are down 42 percent compared with the same period last year, provides even more bad news. Alfa was also outsold by its one-model, one-market sister brand, Lancia, which managed to deliver 34,693 Ypsilons through June in Italy.

In addition, Alfa was overtaken during the first half by Jaguar and Porsche while even Toyota premium brand Lexus, which sold 27,267 vehicles in the half, is a threat to pass the Italian marque.

The decline at Alfa has been rapid as it sold more than 120,000 vehicles globally last year largely because of strong demand in the U.S. and China. Unfortunately, Alfa U.S. sales were down 26 percent during the half and the overall China market’s decline is not helping.

July's European sales figures were even less encouraging, with Alfa's deliveries dropping by 56 percent in Italy, 66 percent in France and 70 percent in Spain.