Could Lancia return to the UK with all-electric models?

Lancia could return to the UK as parent company Stellantis plans to make the brand fully electric by 2028. The Italian brand, famed in later years for its rally-derived Delta Integrale models, withdrew from the UK market when it stopped making right-hand drive cars in 1994. With the brand now part of the Stellantis Group, which includes Peugeot, Citroen, Vauxhall and Fiat, a Lancia-badged car based on the Group’s universal electric car platforms could offer a cost-effective way for it to return to the UK.

Last year Stellantis confirmed plans to electrify the Lancia range by 2026 but gave no details on how many models would be pure electric or plug-in hybrid. The Group has now added more details to the plan and has revealed that Lancia’s first all-electric car will debut in 2024.

The first model will be a new, all-electric version of Lancia Ypsilon supermini. This will be based on the same underpinnings as the Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208 and is likely to have the same 50kWh battery pack and motors as its two supermini rivals. A number of Italian media reports suggest the Ypsilon will feature a new, more efficient motor built by Japanese firm Nidec, while the battery will an updated version of the pack currently supplied by Chinese brand CATL.

According to Stellantis, the new Yspilon will be followed by a new larger model, expected to be called Thema, and a reborn, all-electric Delta in 2028. The Delta will be a mid-size hatch offering built on the same underpinnings as the Citroen eC4 and forthcoming Peugeot 308 electric and Vauxhall Astra electric.

While Stellantis bosses have remained tight-lipped about any potential return to the UK market, the brand has structured an expansion programme for Europe, announcing country heads for Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands.

These countries mark the first step in what Stellantis describes as Lancia’s “internationalisation process”. A network of around 100 authorised dealers will be established in 60 major European cities. Around 50 per cent of all purchases are to be made online, reducing the need to build out new dealership networks.