Confirming the news, Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne said that styling of both new models had been well received in recent customer clinics. Jeep will take around 150,000 units of the 280,000 annual production, with Alfa taking a minimum of 100,000 units. Half the models will be exported to the US – the Alfa SUV is crucial to the firm’s US relaunch – and the other half will remain in Europe.

Mirafiori has seen its annual output decline by around 100,000 units in four years to 120,000 units in 2010. The plant currently builds the Alfa Mito, Fiat Idea and Lancia Musa.