Fiat Agrees to Remove Italian Flag from Polish-Made Cars
A dispute between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Stellantis, the owner of Fiat, has led to Fiat agreeing to remove the Italian flag from the bumper of its Fiat 600 cars produced in Poland. This decision marks the latest development in a conflict with Stellantis, which last month announced it would rename the Alfa Romeo Milano SUV, also made in Poland, to avoid misleading consumers.
Government Accuses Stellantis of Misleading Consumers
Italian officials, including Prime Minister Meloni and her ministers, have accused Stellantis of using Italian names and symbols to mislead buyers. Industry Minister Adolfo Urso emphasized that a car named Milano cannot be produced in Poland under Italian law, which prohibits misleading indications about the origin of products. As a result, the car formerly known as Milano will now be called Junior.
Stellantis Defends Its Practices
Stellantis has denied accusations of misleading consumers, stating that the Italian flag represents the entrepreneurial origin of their products. However, to prevent misunderstandings, the company agreed to remove the flag from its Fiat 600 SUVs. Stellantis maintains that it operates with full transparency regarding the assembly locations of its vehicles and insists it has always acted appropriately.
Seizure of Foreign-Made Cars with Italian Branding
Italian authorities recently seized over 130 Fiat Topolino cars imported from Morocco because they displayed stickers with the colors of the Italian flag. This incident underscores the Italian government’s strict stance on the use of national symbols on vehicles manufactured abroad. Stellantis, headquartered in the Netherlands, emerged from the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and France-based PSA Group.
Italy Seeks Representation on Stellantis Board
Prime Minister Meloni has criticized the merger, describing it as a de facto French takeover. While France holds a stake in Stellantis and a seat on its board, Italy’s attempts to secure representation have been rebuffed by John Elkann, Stellantis’ largest investor and head of the Agnelli family, which founded Fiat. The Italian government continues to push for national representation within the company.
SOURCE: Ref Image from Jalopnik
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