Fiat and Italy are on the same wavelength

“If someone starts a Chinese competition, he will also be responsible for the unacceptable actions taken,” he suggested. Carlos Tavares during a visit to Turin, the historic headquarters of Fiat. By “man”, the director of Stellantis refers Italian governmentand what things damaged since a while. It all started with claims that the brand group did not invest enough in the boots, to which Tavares replied that there were not enough subsidy programs from the political world to promote electric driving. And he still thinks so today.

And muscle arm wrestling made between the two parties. The Italian government has left the door open to the establishment of a non-Italian brand (BYD known to be pulled by the sleeve, but Tesla is also one of the candidates) and when Alfa launched its Milano SUV, the Italian Minister of Trade and Made in Italy, Adolfo Ursowere taken, calling the use of this name “illegal”.

“The car called Milano cannot be built in Poland, mr. Urso said, it is prohibited by Italian law “. Which is true because a law was passed in 2003 saying that products with an Italian name can only be made in the country itself. As we reported earlier this week, the Milano name is on its way to being scrapped and replaced Junior couple.

One group of cars

The issue of the possibility of a Chinese production site on Italian soil is more sensitive for Mr. Tavares. The boss of the parent company of almost all Italian brands (Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Maserati) says that the rumors according to which his company considers. leave Italy are derived from “fake news”. Although rumors are circulating that the company will take risks 3,700 jobs within the country. According to Mr. Tavares, if a Chinese car brand arrives at Boot, competition will increase and the company will have to look to reduce its own costs. In other words, the production will be moved to countries where labor costs are low. Italian managers defend their plans by claiming that their country is the only one in the world where only one car group is active in production, although they are seriously considering moving away from their flagship Ferrari.

Previously, however, Mr. Tavares had promised to remain involved in the country. Production will take place for a million carshere on the end of the decade and, if the conditions are met, the company also wants to extend the Panda meeting in Pomigliano d’Arco to that date.

Fiat: big but less important

The auto industry’s highest-paid CEO doesn’t get much credit. A large demonstration was held last Friday to protest the fact that the production of the factory Turin fell to 78,000 units per year (perhaps only 50,000 this year after the correction of electricity production 500), while it was around 200,000 at the beginning of the century. It’s here the first time in 15 years that six trade unions took to the streets to protest together, which clearly shows the extent and scope of dissatisfaction. Turin has also lost its main role in the research and development of new cars, time Fiat (mainly thanks to strong sales in Latin America) is the most important car brand of the Stellantis portfolio, which has 14.

The last word in this conflict has not yet been spoken and, in the future, the tension between national heritage and globalized car groups will only increase.

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