- Lancia confirms its return to the French market, at the occasion of the presentation of Lancia Pu+Ra HPE at the Italian Embassy in Paris.
- The new Lancia Ypsilon will be available in France in the second half of 2024.
- For the launch of the new car, 20 new dealers will be appointed in France, together with 80 after-sales service points.
"Lancia, with almost 117 years of history, is synonymous with Italian elegance, a brand that has inspired many car enthusiasts worldwide. Today, Lancia is relaunching itself by investing in a highly innovative and sustainability-oriented vehicle, both in terms of its power source and the materials used." Ambassador D'Alessandro stated. "The automotive sector plays a central role in the Italian-French partnership. Italy and France are committed to supporting the automotive industries and their competitiveness in the transition to decarbonized mobility: a crucial theme for the future, also emphasized by the Treaty of Quirinale, which highlights the cooperation between Italian and French industries in the dual transition, digital and energetic”, she added.
“Lancia is now back in France, a country that means a lot to the brand, because of the love for Italian style and design, and because of the importance of the B segment in the market. Our ambition is to make of Lancia a desirable, respected and credible brand, and to make of France one of Lancia's top European markets.” said Luca Napolitano, Lancia Brand CEO.
France is one of the six European countries, out of Italy, where Lancia will return in 2024, with the arrival of the new Ypsilon. The decision of entering in France is due to three major reasons: the first is the potential of the B segment, the second is the “phygital” distribution model to be implemented in 2024, in line with the brand’s new customer expectations, and finally with the appeal of Italian design and products to this country.
Lancia has always been very popular in France, and many iconic models of the brand seduced over time actors, lovers of Italian fashion and elegance, and fans of motorsport.
And still today, Lancia remains the brand that won more World Rally Championship titles than any other, with 11 victories, out of which six in a row. Lancia Stratos, 037 and Delta dominated in rallies for over 20 years with numerous French Drivers as Bernard Darniche – nicknamed “Monsieur Stratos”-, Didier Auriol, Bruno Saby, with many others contributing to the incredible results of the brand.
“The return of Lancia to France is a memorable day for the entire brand team, for enthusiasts and for our customers,” said Joël Verany, Director of the Stellantis Premium cluster in France. “We set up a dedicated Lancia team to work on and implement the brand’s ‘Renaissance’. Most of all, we’re committed to making of Lancia the brand that embodies the Italian elegance that lasts and enchants. For the launch of the new Ypsilon in 2024, we will have 20 dealers and 80 after-sales service points. This means we are ready to have Lancia back in France and our country will be one of Lancia’s main European markets."
Lancia roadmap
Lancia's arrival in France illustrates the brand’s Renaissance, and forms part of a robust, ambitious roadmap in line with the Stellantis “Dare Forward 2030” strategic plan. By the first half of 2024, the brand will have 70 new dealers in 70 major European cities, with the first 40 letters of intent already been signed. The strategy involves a new efficient and innovative distribution model, with 50% of online sales and a selected number of dealers based on a key concept of Lancia Renaissance: quality. The new showrooms will provide customers with a totally immersive experience, both online and offline, recreating a “home feeling” atmosphere, thanks to materials, colors and attention to detail, inspired by Italian architecture and design.
As part of its 10-year strategic plan, Lancia is anticipating the launch of three new models, one every two years, starting in 2024 with the introduction of the New Ypsilon. From 2026, Lancia will only be launching 100% electric models and, from 2028, it will only sell 100% electric cars. The strategic plan will pay great attention to sustainability, as demonstrated by the usage of innovative materials: 50% of the touchable surfaces will be eco-sustainable.
Lancia Pu+Ra HPE
Lancia Pu+Ra HPE is the brand's manifesto for the next 10 years, a 100% electric concept car that embodies the brand's vision in terms of design, interior ambience, sustainability, electrification and effortless technology. It is a drivable car with an unconventional sleek body for maximum efficiency, with a vision in terms of range, charging time & efficiency. It is the first car of the new Lancia era, a low roof, 4 doors, inspired by the world of Italian interior design, thanks to the collaboration with Cassina, leader in the upscale furniture industry, for a typically Italian home feeling experience. The name Lancia Pu+Ra HPE is based on Pu+Ra, the brand's new pure and radical design language, whereas HPE stands for ‘High-Performance Electric’. This concept car fully embodies the principles of the new Lancia design, where the volumes of the car are created from the intersection of elementary geometric shapes, such as the circle and triangle, combined with certain iconic details of the brand's heritage, such as the Venetian blinds seen in the Lancia Beta HPE. Lancia Pu+Ra HPE features 70% tactile surfaces made with eco-friendly materials that epitomize the Italian spirit, redesigned tradition and the “home feeling”. Lancia Pu+Ra HPE is the first car equipped with S.A.L.A. infotainment, which centralizes the audio, climate control and lighting functions, enabling the environment inside the car to be adapted at the touch of a button or by the sound of the voice.
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