Alfa Romeo should raise overall output to 300,000 cars a year within five years said CEO Karl-Heinz Kalbfell during the official launch of the new Alfa Romeo 159 sedan in Bavaria.

The former BMW executive, who now heads the newly formed Alfa Romeo-Maserati grouping within Fiat Auto and has just appointed the highly respected James G Selwa to organise and implement the forthcoming US re-launch, was very cautious over offering any date for the much North American heralded return. 53-year-old Selwa, who officially takes over as the CEO of Maserati North America, comes directly from Rolls-Royce where he spearheaded the BMW-owned, English luxury car brand's US re-launch three years ago.

While much work is already going on behind the scenes with a roadshow now getting underway for prospective dealers, and a pair of Alfa 159 and Breras heading across the pond, Kalbfell told reporters in Bavaria that "We want to go in there with our eyes open, not in a dream world."

Cautiously stating that cracking the US market would be 'tough' he however is pressing ahead with returning the Alfa Romeo brand after a absence of more than a decade and a half.
 

The recent fall in the value of the Euro has been a positive event for Italian exporters who have struggled in recent years with the strength of the dollar.  A continuing downward trend for the multi-country European currency will further help Alfa Romeo's US prospects.

Kalbfell is targeting raising Alfa Romeo's sales globally to around 300,000 units per year by the end of the decade. This is a substantial rise from the current figure of around 200,000 units per annum, but the tough-talking German is confident that it can be achieved. "We now have to consolidate our presence in Italy and we want to grow in Europe, particularly in Britain and Germany, where we are not happy with the situation," said Kalbfell at the Alfa 159's launch.

As well as restoring the sales situation in the UK and Germany, Kalbfell is looking to strengthen exposure in Eastern Europe and Russia, the Middle East and in Asia, with Japan, China and India all being major targets.