Stellantis might be shedding two of its defunct auto brands, but not by choice. The Italian government is mulling plans to take over Autobianchi and Innocenti and sell them to Chinese companies in an effort to have them build factories in the country.
Both brands are former Fiat divisions, but neither has operated in any official capacity since the 1990s. The Italian government can take control of brands that have been idle for at least five years, though it’s unclear how the process would work or how long it might take.
Stellantis has been at odds with the Italian government for a while now, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused the automaker of ignoring its Italian heritage. The country’s leaders want Stellantis to increase production to one million units per year, but it’s also eying ways to bring Chinese automakers into the fold.
A revival of those brands under a Chinese parent company is unlikely to yield new vehicles for American buyers. Neither company’s previous small vehicles would be a first choice to sell here, and then there’s the issue of the country that could be buying them.
The U.S. government’s reluctance to allow Chinese-built vehicles into the country probably won’t soften, even if the models are built in Italy. That said, Chinese automakers sell a range of cars in Europe, including several electric models that Americans will probably never see.
[Images: Alexey Pevnev and Francesco Messuri via Shutterstock]
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