Alfa Romeo boss Jean-Philippe Imparato has urged European politicians to concentrate on defending jobs within the automobile trade, moderately than the names of vehicles, following a spat that prompted the rebranding of the model’s new crossover.
The automobile was rebranded from Milano to Junior simply 5 days after it was revealed, after claims by Italian trade minister Adolfo Urso that it violated an Italian regulation that geographical names can be utilized solely on merchandise which are produced in Italy.
The crossover will likely be produced at a Stellantis plant in Tychy, Poland. The regulation is usually utilized to merchandise equivalent to Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Urso’s claims adopted feedback by Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares on the unveiling of the Milano warning the Italian authorities in opposition to providing incentives to Chinese and different international companies to determine battery and automobile manufacturing services within the nation.
Speaking to Autocar, Imparato stated the choice to alter the title of the Milano was made regardless of authorized recommendation that the title did not violate the regulation and to keep away from being drawn right into a political row.
“When they informed me it was forbidden by regulation – it’s not – I stated: ‘Calm down: I’m not right here to play politics; I’m simply right here to make an Alfa Romeo that’s sustainable for the longer term.’”
Noting that the title change “created a buzz I might by no means have dreamed of”, Imparato said the Milano name was revealed in December and it had been known for years that the car would be produced in Poland alongside the Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600e, with which it shares the Stellantis e-CMP platform.
“If I wanted to answer the question of Giuletta and Mito owners who have wanted a B-segment car since 2021, I didn’t have any other solution than to follow the platform,” he added. “I couldn’t invent a local solution.”
Imparato additionally famous that when Stellantis was fashioned in January 2021, Alfa was shedding “hundreds of millions of euros” however is now worthwhile and that the next-generation Stelvio SUV and Giulia saloon, due in 2025 and 2026, could be in-built Italy.