The Tonale will have a key role in reviving the flagging fortunes of Alfa Romeo because it will compete in the booming compact SUV segment.

Italy remains under partial lockdown, with most of the northern regions under strict travel limitations, but dealerships are open for business, as they are classified as an essential activity.

Monthly sales were still 30 percent below March 2019. The strength of any recovery this year depends on a revival of tourism and renewed consumer confidence,  with both tied to how quickly vaccinations progress, an industry group said.

The Born will increase Cupra's profitability and give the brand access to northern European markets with high sales of EVs such as Norway and the Netherlands, CEO Wayne Griffiths said.

BMW's first full-electric SUV has an 80 kilowatt-hour battery that provides a 460 km range, a 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) time of 6.8 second and a top speed of 180 kph.

The automaker is redoubling its efforts to launch small battery-powered cars in Europe, where the segment is expected to boom.

Stellantis, whose brands include Opel, Jeep, Ram and Maserati, plans to have full-electric or hybrid versions of all of its vehicles in Europe, as well as its light-duty vehicles in the U.S., by 2025.

Demand was hit by the end of Spain's scrapping program, a rise in registration tax and the continuing effects of the coronavirus pandemic measures.

Government subsidies helped to boost private sales, but demand from rental fleets is still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, which has restricted mobility.

The Bayon will compete against models such as the Renault Captur, VW T-Roc and Ford Puma.

The SUV to be built in Poland will be the first Fiat Chrysler model on a PSA Group platform as part of the Stellantis merger. It will be followed by small models from Alfa Romeo and Fiat.

The midsize crossover has a wide range of competitors in the still-developing EV market, Hyundai Europe's CEO said, but VW remains the benchmark.

A full, carefully managed order book helped Ferrari become one of just a few brands to increase sales in a European market that fell by 24 percent overall.

The automaker's 2021 product offensive includes four new models in the region's hottest segment -- three of which will be electrified.

Kia will be "more realistic" if the pandemic does not ease, the company's chief operating officer for Europe said.