Alpine is developing a large EV, with a view to launching it in the U.S.
Such exposure could ultimately lead to Alpine entering these markets, Luca de Meo, CEO of Alpine's parent company Renault, said at a media event on Tuesday.
Renault has previously attempted to enter the U.S. and Chinese markets, but CEO de Meo said that introducing Alpine to wealthy buyers in these markets would be a better option.
"The fact is, Renault is a volume brand, but Alpine is a different game.
Alpine is working on three different electric vehicles for launch around mid-decade. Styling was previewed at the 2022 Paris Motor Show in October with the Alpenglow hypercar concept. These vehicles include a compact crossover, a hot hatch, and the next-generation A110.
But De Meo revealed that Alpine is also developing two more large vehicles more suited to U.S. and Chinese tastes. They are SUVs similar in size to BMW's X3 and X5, with the smaller model due in 2027 and the larger model in 2028.
They could be based on a platform from the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance or from another automaker, de Meo said. One possibility is a platform from one of Geely Automobile's brands. Renault and Geely Automobile are already working on jointly developed vehicles and hybrid powertrains for Asia.
To raise funds for expansion, Alpine is considering an initial public offering, Forbes reported.
