The brewing tensions between Italy and Alfa Romeo’s parent company Stellantis came to a head recently when the Italian government informed the automaker that naming its upcoming Alfa Romeo EV “Milano” was against the law, as the car will be manufactured in Poland. As a result, Alfa Romeo has decided to rename the vehicle to a more neutral and less evocative name, “Junior.”
The decision to change the name came after a confrontation with officials from the Industry and Made in Italy Ministry, according to Automotive News Europe. Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato explained that while the company tried to justify keeping the name Milano, the potential complications and political sensitivities led them to opt for a safer choice.
See also: Italy Criticizes Alfa Romeo’s Decision to Produce Milano Crossover in Poland
“When you move into political discussions, you immediately lose half of your buyers and we wanted to prevent this,” Imparato said.
The controversy began when Italy’s industry minister, Adolfo Urso, criticized Stellantis for producing the EV in Poland and using an Italian-sounding name. Urso stated that according to Italian law, a car called Milano cannot be produced outside of Italy.
In response to the criticism, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares defended the decision to manufacture the vehicle in Poland, citing financial reasons. He explained that producing the Milano in Italy would have significantly increased its price, limiting its competitiveness in the market.
See also: Alfa Romeo Launches First Fully Electric Vehicle, Milano EV
Despite the name change, this won’t be the first time Alfa Romeo uses the name Junior, as it has been used in the past for a version of the 105 series coupe and a limited-run sports coupe from the 1970s.
The tensions between Italy and Stellantis highlight broader issues related to EV adoption and manufacturing. Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has been critical of Stellantis for moving production to lower-cost countries, while Stellantis has expressed frustration over what it perceives as a lack of support from Italy in promoting EV adoption and supporting home-grown brands like Fiat and Alfa Romeo.
