either it will produce more in Italy or it will give its two brands to Chinese groups.
The relationship between the government of Georgia Meloni and Stellantis, the country’s main carmaker (in which the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group has been integrated since 2021), is not free of tug-of-war. The Italian president has set a goal that the transnational corporation led by Carlos Tavares is increasing production in the countryThat is, it rewards more models and creates more jobs in its factories. Failure to do so, the head of the Transalpine region warned, will lead to entry into the country for Asian competitions. And he has a plan to do it: expropriate now obsolete brands such as Autobianchi and Innocenti, which belonged to the former Fiat, and give them away Chinese companies that are ready to produce electric vehicles on the Italian peninsula.
This expropriationsuggested by the newspaper Il Sole 24 Orerepresents more than a threat, and the Meloni government would have already voiced interest from giants such as BYD – which has already confirmed the opening of a plant in Hungary and is studying Turkey in search of a second hub in the eurozone – and is ready to start negotiations with Chery, Dongfeng or Great Wall Motors to revive these flagships and strengthen Italian car production.
Keys
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Protectionist order
The Italian government is pressuring Stellantis to increase production in the country, even threatening to expropriate two brands to hand them over to the Chinese.
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BYD, Chery, Dongfeng
Tariffs on electrical goods produced in China have sparked interest among Asian groups in setting up factories on European soil and thus avoiding these taxes.
Moreover, the timing is propitious. Italy, along with Spain, is the country that has been most vocal in its push for tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, which has increased the interest of Asian groups in setting up factories on European soil to avoid the taxes (up to 38%). Meloni’s boss will play for both sides here.
Can Italy Expropriate a Trademark? If Not Used, Yes
But can Italy expropriate Autobianchi and Innocenti, which disappeared in 1995 and 1997? Yes, it can. If an Italian brand were considered historical It has not been used for more than five years and products according to its nomenclature have not been sold, the state has every right to take away all rights from the owner. and then decide what to do with it. And according to Il Sole 24 OreThe ministry has already filed a request with the patent office to prevent the Innocenti and Autobianchi brands from being renewed, effectively ensuring that the two manufacturers’ versions are already registered using graphics different from those produced by the Stellantis group.
It’s the latest in a series of disagreements between Meloni’s cabinet and the automaker, which have included using the name of the city Milan for a car that is produced in Poland wave confiscation of 134 Fiats imported from Morocco, which were sold under the flag of the transalpine country.