Yesterday morning, the Italian police confiscated 134 Fiat cars imported from Morocco that were being sold with the colours of the Italian flag on one side, a situation that could give a false indication of the product’s origin.
This was reported by a spokesperson for Stellantis, the parent company of the Italian brand.
Specifically, 134 units of Fiat’s Topolino electric microcar were seized.
The vehicles were temporarily confiscated at the Italian port of Livorno upon their arrival from the country where they were originally manufactured.
Authorities understand that the sale of these vehicles in this manner constituted an “alleged offence in the sale of industrial products with false signs,” according to local media.
It is worth mentioning that Stellantis has never concealed the manufacturing origin of its cars.
In fact, at the global presentation of the Topolino, they announced it would be produced in Kénitra, a town near the capital, Rabat.
“The sole purpose of the sticker was to indicate the corporate origin of the product,” explained the Stellantis spokesperson.
It is important to note that this clash between Stellantis and Giorgia Meloni’s government is not the first time the Executive has faced off against a local company.
A few weeks ago, following the presentation of the Alfa Romeo Milano, Adolfo Urso, Minister of Industry and Enterprises, criticised the use of the name of the city of Milan for a car that was to be produced in another country, specifically Poland.
As a result, Stellantis changed the name of its vehicle and called it the Alfa Romeo Junior.
