Taipei: Italian carmaker Alfa Romeo unveiled several new models at a launch event in Taipei as it officially returned to the Taiwanese market on Monday after an 18-year absence. The launch marked a significant moment for the brand, which first entered the Taiwanese market in 1974 but withdrew in 2007 following several distributor changes.

According to Focus Taiwan, Alfa Romeo's general distributor, PG Union Corp., which also represents the French brand Peugeot in Taiwan, was present at Monday's event showcasing models slated to arrive in Taiwan, including the Giulia, a compact executive car, and the Stelvio, a sport utility vehicle (SUV). The subcompact crossover SUV, the Junior, was also on display and is scheduled to launch in Taiwan in the first half of 2026.

Annie Kao, chairwoman of Suntek Motor (Taiwan) Co., expressed her excitement about the brand's return after an 18-year hiatus. Suntek Motor acquired operating rights for Alfa Romeo from PG Union Corp. in December 2024. Founded 115 years ago, the Italian carmaker is a subsidiary of Stellantis, a multinational firm that owns several other car brands, including Peugeot, Jeep, Citroen, Fiat, and Chrysler. "I believe many car enthusiasts have been waiting a long time [for Alfa Romeo]," she said. "I even ordered one for myself."

Despite the current focus on electric vehicles, the Alfa Romeo models being introduced to the Taiwanese market are high-performance, gasoline-powered cars that embody the brand's classic heritage. Kao remains optimistic about Taiwan's car market and hopes to see it improve over the next year.

According to data released by the Ministry of Finance in July, the value of sedan imports totaled US$3.34 billion in the period January to June, down 22.2 percent from a year earlier, marking the steepest decline in 16 years. The Monday event was also attended by Kao's father, Henry Kao, chairman of I-Mei Foods.