Why Alfa is changing the name of its electric SUV

It’s been renamed before it even hits the market: Italian carmaker Alfa Romeo has an electric SUV model called the “Milano”, which is now quickly getting a new name. The reason for this is very political. Stellantis’ parent company accepts criticism from the Italian government. According to heise.de, Industry Minister Adolfo Urso said: “A car called Milano cannot be produced in Poland and that is why the car is now called “Alfa Romeo Junior”.

The car is produced entirely in Tychy

Stellantis had previously announced that the new model would be produced only at the factory in Tychy, Poland. According to heise.de, Industry Minister Urso even suggested that the name could violate Italian law. Since 2003, the law has banned “misleading consumers” and “Italian-sounding” product names that are not made in Italy. Until now, this has been the role of meat, cheese or wine.

Italy’s right-wing government under Giorgia Meloni made the decision. He also wants the French-Italian company to produce more cars in Italy. The government and the company really want to have one million cars produced in the country, but that is a long way off.