Alfa Romeo announces agreement with BMW(Mini)

The long-awaited return of Alfa Romeo to U.S. sales is finally beginning to make some tangible progress - today Fiat and BMW announced a possible partnership with BMW’s Mini dealerships that will allow the German company to sell Alfas in its stores. The news means that Alfa could have at least a foothold from which to launch its return.

Though the joint announcement was careful to preserve the tentative nature of the agreement - it’s more of an agreement to consider cooperation that would include parts and platform sharing in addition to sales and distribution - the fact that the companies made the details public goes a long way to indicate the likelihood that a long-term deal will materialize.

The report comes by way of Automotive News, which quotes a Fiat spokesman as saying, “Mini U.S. dealers would have the possibility to also sell Alfa Romeo cars.” Nothing will be set in stone until Alfa actually makes its comeback to American shores in 2010, but with just over 18 months to get the groundwork laid, the announcement today looks like a promising start. The company also recently confirmed it was in talks with Chrysler, though the specifics of that deal are yet unknown.

Alfa’s first offering in the U.S. is expected to the big brother to the Mi.To, which will replace the upper end of the 147 range. The Mi.To is expected to come to America as well, several months after the more premium-targeted hatch makes the scene.