What is this? The Italians are so nationalistic?
The Italian government has been quite active in the local car industry lately. The Alfa Milano had to be renamed and the Fiat Microlino was not allowed to have an Italian flag. All this to protect the idea of ’Made in Italy’.
In this context, the Italian government is now making a special move. At least, that is what they are planning, according to an Italian newspaper. The plan is to take over two brands of Stellantis and then sell them to the Chinese.
Don’t worry: fortunately, it’s not about Fiat, Alfa, Lancia or Maserati. It’s about two brands that have been dead for a long time, namely Autobianchi and Innocenti. These brands were taken over by Fiat at some point (in 1967 and 1990 respectively) and are therefore now in the hands of Stellantis.
Autobianchi is the best known of the two, and therefore also the most valuable brand name. Autobianchi built over 1.2 million units of the compact A112 – designed by the late Gandini. The brand went out of business in 1995. Innocenti – best known for the Italian Mini – went bust two years later.
The Chinese could buy a piece of ‘heritage’ with this. The question is, what interest does the Italian government have in this…? Well, the idea is that the Chinese have the cars built in Italy. And those cars can then be promoted as real Italian cars. In contrast to the Alfa Romeo Junior and the Fiat Microlino…
Via: Automotive News Europe
Comments
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Dutchdriftking say
Haha, at MG everyone already knows it’s fake, how do you think it will go with these brands :P. No, they should have done this trick a la Volvo years ago with a brand that still existed at the time. Lancia or something….
