The Alfa Romeo Milano isn’t any extra, and instead lies the Alfa Romeo Junior. This tiny Alfa crossover – that gained’t be bought within the U.S. – was solely revealed simply final week, however Alfa has already been compelled to vary the title on the request of the Italian authorities.
Why’s Italy telling its beloved Alfa Romeo model it may well’t use the “Milano” title? It comes right down to the place the automobile is being constructed, and the Milano/Junior will likely be constructed at Alfa’s plant in Tychy, Poland. In line with Italy’s Trade Minister, Adolfo Urso, “A automobile referred to as Milano can’t be produced in Poland. That is towards the regulation.” Stated regulation goals to cease the sale of merchandise which have Italian-sounding names however are usually not really produced in Italy.
“This regulation stipulates that you just can not give indications that mislead shoppers,” Urso continued. “So a automobile referred to as Milano have to be produced in Italy. In any other case, it offers a deceptive indication which isn’t allowed below Italian regulation.”
Alfa Romeo despatched out a press launch immediately in response to the federal government criticism, agreeing to vary the Milano’s title to Junior. That stated, Alfa had a lot to say and nonetheless believes the Milano title to be a lawful one.
“Regardless of Alfa Romeo believing that the title met all authorized necessities and that there are points far more essential than the title of a brand new automobile, Alfa Romeo has determined to vary it from “Milano” to “Alfa Romeo Junior” within the spirit of selling mutual understanding,” the corporate’s assertion reads.
“The Alfa Romeo workforce want to thank the general public for the optimistic suggestions, the Italian vendor community for his or her assist, journalists for the big media consideration given to the brand new automobile, and the federal government for the free publicity introduced on by this debate.”
The title Milano was really chosen via suggestions from the general public, as Alfa polled Italy’s residents on what it believed the little SUV needs to be referred to as. “Milano” was the profitable title, and it makes an entire lot of sense contemplating Alfa’s historical past started in Milan, Italy. In fact, “Junior” speaks to Alfa’s historical past, as properly, harkening again to 1966 with the Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior.
Course, none of this has a lot of an influence for what we’ll see on Alfa Romeo tons within the U.S., because the Junior gained’t be bought right here. It’s an entertaining flip of occasions, although, and should you’re curious to learn Alfa’s response in its entirety, you’ll find it right here.
