As we begin 2020 with renewed vigor, the sales numbers are in for 2019. And it's a mixed bag for FCA. Ram's full-size pickup trucks outsold the Chevy Silverado in 2019, to take second spot in the truck sales chart. At the same time, Dodge sold four Vipers in the last quarter, which makes five in total for 2019. The Dodge Charger and Challenger sold well with a combined 84,216 units delivered to customers.

However, it's Alfa Romeo that will have the brand's proponents concerned. The Alfa Romeo Giulia is down 10 percent for the quarter and down 24 percent year on year.

The Stelvio suffered even more by going down 13% in the fourth quarter and 22 percent for the year. The 4C sold 17 units in the fourth quarter and 144 in total for 2019. That puts the sports car down in sales for the quarter by 60%, but only 39% for the year. This comes with the news that production of the 4C Spider has ceased and Alfa Romeo is scaling back plans for new sports cars.

The 4C was never expected to be a hit, but it did pave the way for FCA to bring the Alfa Romeo brand back to the US. That was in 2013, and the Guila sedan followed in 2015 before the Stelvio SUV appeared in 2017.

Market acceptance of the Giulia and Stelvio came slowly, and many have questioned the decision to wait so long before delivering what everyone has been buying: an SUV. FCA believed Alfa Romeo would occupy a profitable niche for the auto group, but it has yet to challenge the other European premium vehicle brands such as BMW and Mercedes. 2018 saw sales almost double from 2017, but with 2019 figures in, it looks like Alfa Romeo will be eager to get its refreshed Giulia and Stelvio models as well as two new crossovers to market ASAP.