Fiat delays Alfa’s U.S. return

The broadening global financial crisis has forced Fiat Group Automobiles to postpone two targets it had set two years ago for 2010: returning the Alfa Romeo brand to the United States, and selling 300,000 units a year in China.

Alfa's return to the United States will be delayed by a year to 2011, Fiat Group and Fiat Group Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne said Thursday. The new 2010 goal for Fiat sales in China is now 50,000.

2011 is when the IRL will roll out their new engines, so if Alfa is interested in IndyCar, this timing could work out well.