Local politicians have fired up at the name of a new car, forcing the maker into an expensive, last-minute backdown.
Italian authorities claimed the “Alfa Romeo Milano” could not be marketed as such because the car will be manufactured in Poland.issued a statement “We decided to change the name, even though we know that we are not required to do so, because we want to preserve the positive emotion that our products have always generated and avoid any type of controversy.”It cuts to the core of whether Alfa Romeo can retain its Italian heritage while competing with electric rivals.The first Italian-made electric car from Fiat, Alfa Romeo’s sister brand, costs about $57,500 drive-away in Australia.Fiat’s 500e can’t compete with value-focused Chinese rivals.