Italy shows its anger at Fiat for the use of the tricolor on cars manufactured abroad

This article was originally published in English

He agreement between the Italian Government It is the latest in a dispute with Stellantis, which last month said it cwould change the name of Alfa Romeo’s Milano SUValso produced in Poland.

The Italian Prime Minister and her ministers have accused Stellantis of misleading buyers of its cars with the use of the ‘Italian-sounding’ name. The Italian Minister of Industry, Adolfo Urso, explained: “A car called Milano cannot be manufactured in Poland. Italian law prohibits it.

“This law stipulates thatand no misleading indications can be given. to consumers, a car called Milano must be produced in Italy“. The car is now called Junior.

Stellantis has continually denied the accusations, including that relating to the use of the Italian flag, arguing that the flag symbolizes “the business origin of the product.” He agreed to remove the flag from his Fiat 600 SUVs to “avoid any misunderstanding.”

The automaker stated in a statement that it “operates with complete and utter transparency when it comes to where its products are assembled.” And he added: “Stellantis is firmly convinced that has always acted with complete correctness in this regard”.

Fiat car manufacturing has branched out

Last week the Italian Police seized more than 130 Fiat Topolino cars imported from Moroccowhere they were manufactured, because they had a sticker on the doors with the colors of the Italian flag.

Stellantis is headquartered in Holland and emerged from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the France-based PSA Group in 2021. Meloni had already criticized the merger of both companies, stating that it was an “absorption by the French.”

France has a stake in the company and a seat on Stellantis’ board of directors, but Italy’s attempts to obtain representation have been rejected by John Elkann, the largest investor in Stellantis and also the head of the Agnelli family, the family that started the company that became Italy’s largest car manufacturer.