A car that politicians forced to change its name two days after its launch

The recent appearance of Alfa Milano has become an occasion for happiness for the Italian brand, which until its integration into the Group Stellantis I lived the moment uncertainty this brought him dangerously close to the brink of low sales.

After joining the group FrenchStellantis quickly diagnosed his problem: impossible survival from a company whose model portfolio only has a sedan (Julia) and SUV (Stelvio). The first thing he did was launch an SUV into the market. Tonalewhich currently combines a significant part of its sales.

Use a roadmap

The second stage of the Alpha relaunch included marketing compact SUV 4.17 meters long, which will now become part of the most popular segment: the SUV segment. urban.

Everything seemed to be going well until the day after the official presentation, April 10th, Minister Italian Economy Minister Adolfo Urso used the law 2003 publicly condemn Stellantis that a model named after an Italian city could not be manufactured outside transalpine country.

Controversial law

Stellantis expected to produce the model in Poland within several years. expensesbut the reality is that the dispute between the Italian government and Stellantis has a long history, especially with summer the last time the brand confirmed construction in Spain (Zaragoza) Lancia Ypsilon, not in Italy.

As the CEO of the brand, Carlos is known in the industry Tavaresnot the best competitor in the world in competition impulsesand this time he showed it by making a decision Solomonov In a matter of hours, he renamed the car Junior. Thus, the Italian government remains completely out of the game.

Now we’ll talk about Alpha. Juniora name that erases from its DNA any remainder Italianwhat could be a declaration intentions about future mythical brand is not going through his best moment, although he probably has a product today higher quality that he ever had.

Following MG?

Although his own Tavares recently confirmed that this was not his intention sell no signature to the Chinese groups, this contradiction may lead to a review of the decision, especially because Alpha It is a brand with a very good image in Asia and Europe and with some manufacturers. Chinese could try to repeat the phenomenon created Saik with the British MG.