Italy eyes Chinese buyout of Autobianchi, Innocenti iconic car brands

Recent actions by the Italian government resemble those of a headless chicken. After provoking the Stellantis corporation and forcing a name change for the Milano/Junior model, the Italian authorities are now considering handing over the Autobianchi and Innocenti brands to the Chinese.

The Italian government aims to raise car production to one million units annually but seems to be doing everything to discourage large corporations. The decline in production is partly due to Stellantis's policies, exemplified by Fiat's misjudgment of the demand for the electric "500" model, plans to produce the new Panda in Serbia, and the still-delayed resurgence of Alfa Romeo.

The government also exacerbated the situation by forcing Stellantis to change the name of its new model from Milano to Junior. The reason? The car is not produced in Milan and could potentially mislead customers who value Italian culture.

According to the newspaper "Il Sole 24 Ore," thanks to a law introduced in December 2023, the Italian government can take over brands that have not been used for at least five years. The newspaper reports that two historic brands with entirely different logos have already been registered, namely Autobianchi and Innocenti.

Innocenti produced the Italian version of the British Mini in the 1960s and 1970s before being absorbed by Fiat. Autobianchi, a Fiat division, produced small models such as the A112 and Y10.

Transferring these brands to the Chinese would spur investments and increase production in Italy. Stellantis representatives have acknowledged the media reports but have not yet received an official statement from the Italian government.