Italy is giving famous car brands to China after auto-industry collapse

Italy is giving famous car brands to China after auto-industry collapse
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#italy #china #industry #collapse #evnews
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[@chrisfox9263]

WHY is Stellantis paying their CEO 39.5 MILLION/year ??? Stellantis has 14 brands but does not know how to make an EV to compete. This guy is not worth 35.5 dollars or Euros/year!!!

[@mikedx2706]

Carlos Tavares , as the highest paid CEO in the auto industry, has driven Stellantis into the ground. Stellantis has had steadily declining vehicle sales for the last 6 consecutive years, yet its Board of Directors has overpaid Tavares for no apparent reason.

[@0rgasmdonor]

Capitalism

[@patricec.2957]

@@mikedx2706 With sales down and profits up, Tavares has always said that he prefers to make more margin than volume.

[@zes7215]

wrr

[@chillfluencer]

Just for the giggles?

[@firstlast-pt5pp]

there are also a lot of people who hate the established brands because of their bad experiences.

[@eish3291]

The Alfa brand is synonymous with unreliability, so it would still take time to change that if a Chinese company bought it.

[@AlFreeman-xy4jy]

@eish3291 No, you need to refine your fuel better, Alfa is very reliable.

[@freespeech8520]

Italy withdrew from 1B1R, so it lost its credibility. Better build in Hungary. Poland also just signed agreement with China to cooperate on EV's.

[@PelleGIT]

You do know that more than half of the BRI countries are in default right? BRI projects are terrible for the countries entering into them. Name one country that has seen significant economic growth and development because they partnered with China? Just name one.

[@PelleGIT]

You do know that more than half of the BRI countries are in default right? BRI projects are terrible for the countries entering into them. Name one country that has seen significant economic growth and development because they partnered with China?

[@sinalbertckwong6406]

...consider the fact, they signed trade agreements but turn around months later in renaged every signed agreements... so China don't accept those 'gifts', ever!!!!!

[@MrAmhara]

Hungary is landlocked and useless.

[@MMA-gb6to]

the lady is still waiting for the greenlight to visit Beijing 🤣

[@Falco42]

“Cost of manufacturing has been going up” that is surely not due to a wage increase, Italian wages have been stagnant for the past 20 years, regardless of tax increases and inflation, Italy doesn’t even have minimum wage because the government is terrified that it would do nothing but incentivize even more black market labour, for which Italy is one of the very worst countries in Europe. When you consider how horribly mismanaged the entire country is, together with its businesses, then it’s no wander giants of the industry won’t invest in anything related to the country.

[@ongsengfook]

She overestimated Italy.

[@MLF-kq8ut]

I reckon an affordable little Chinese made Fiat Panda EV inspired by its 80s and 90s body would sell insanely well.

[@ristekostadinov2820]

Didn't Fiat announced EV Panda very recently, a rebadged Citroen EC3 sub 30k $ car

[@patricec.2957]

The fiat panda will be built on a stelantis base, which it will share with the citroen Ec3 and the opel Frontera.

[@blackknight4996]

@@patricec.2957 Nobody would buy this piece of junk

[@patricec.2957]

@@blackknight4996 In your country perhaps, but in Europe it will sell very well, believe me.

[@verypleasantguy]

@@patricec.2957 If you are correct, then the Europeans are idiots for wasting money on junks

[@MartinLovasz-r7r]

Stellantis has run down their brands to the degree they are considered junk brands so I can't see any Chinese company be able to bring them back.

[@BrunoHeggli-zp3nl]

Not at all,you Just make Shit Up!

[@james_l4337]

Local brands may be useful... But who knows what will happen

[@MartinLovasz-r7r]

@@BrunoHeggli-zp3nl The quality is rock bottom and the prices they are asking for their junk is premium, so they aren't selling. Out of 14 brands, only Alfa Romeo and Fiat are doing well.

[@Davbach01]

Stellantis management maybe, following in the footsteps of British Layland. I'm sure there's plenty of design talent across the Stellantis marquees, problems with their greedy management and industrial relations.

[@remedytee]

@@MartinLovasz-r7r Alfa Romeo is doing well?

[@angryranger4552]

China will just say, no thanks. Keep your brands.

[@kickboxer8173]

sure but they will copy the hell out of it cause they have no originality and innovation. it happens all the time and this is why nobody trusts the chinese. just ask everyone except communists.

[@andrewsaint6581]

I don't think so. They're hungry for the "credibility" of an old name. Like Lotus, SAAB, MG, Rover & the rest of BL brands I think, LDV Maxus etc,.

[@PelleGIT]

Apparently china desperately want to buy real brands since all the brands they create get tainted immediately like huawei or tiktok that are considered spyware by most countries.

[@Lusius-Lee]

​@@andrewsaint6581yeah thats before those clueless tariff and sanctions on their export products... Whats the point to have their brands without their market?

[@tashiyann3262]

I don't think China is so stupid the country is giving huge tariffs on China and now their old brand is ready to sell to China.

[@stefanhallin]

SAAB is owned by the Wallenberg group . SAAB is an acronym of Svenska Aeroplan Aktie Bolaget (Swedish Aeroplane Ltd) and is still being used for the Gripen aircraft but also the vast majority of the Swedish military equipment manufacture, that used to go under different company names such as Kockums, Bofors, Nitro Nobel, etc. When the car division was sold off to GM, GM retained the name under license but didn’t own it. Through all the dealings when the car company ended up as NEVS under ownership of the failed Chinese property company Evergrande this license was rescinded and has no likely hood of being resurrected as a car brand.

[@davidmcdonald1441]

You were able to get a little badge for the boot that said danger low flying aircraft

[@MrSnejkaj]

And if I'm not wrong, SAAB (military) also said no to use the SAAB brand on cars when china stepped in.

[@johnhg_myaus]

@@MrSnejkaj yes, true...somehow NEVS brand doesn't sound right...thats why the chinese walked away

[@remedytee]

Having driven 3 SAAB's myself in the past (and my parents many before me)... I think pride is the word you're looking for, or rather arrogance. A car brand that never was able to make profit and alway relied on the Swedish government. Rather to go under than to sell to the Chinese (like VOLVO did and it served them well).

[@amjedali5164]

You are correct with brand loyalty, by far most people are not car people they have purchased from a brand had a good experience and end up buying from the same brand and have no knowledge of who or what is behind the company. I just had an 45mins conversation with my friend's mother-in-law that Volvo was sold to Ford (American brand) then sold to Geely (Chinese brand) as she has been buying Volvo cars since the 1980s. One thing I got from it is that she thinks recent cars are a lot better than before (basically under Geely). Buy the brand get the local factory, retool and rebadge your own car that has already been proven in other markets and get the good profits from heavy mark ups to the so-called premium brands name. Italian government are not giving the brands away to Chinese companies but selling, giving away and selling are completely different. This idea that Made in Italy is good quality is complete BS I would rather, buy higher end furniture made in FOSHAN China than anywhere in Italy paying 50x more for worse quality.

[@paulheelis4798]

I can't speak for the whole of Europe but here in France we are very much aware that MG is Chinese. For Volvo it may not be so commonly known.

[@Simon-dm8zv]

Same in NL

[@AlFreeman-xy4jy]

A friend of mine just bought it with the petrol engine, it's a bad car. When I closed the door I thought the handle was going to be left in my hand, so saggy was it. and when cornering it doesn't handle well. If he finds someone who buys it he'll change it.

[@midlander8186]

If Chinese companies buy Italian car brands, I hope they contract with Italian car designers, too. The Italian carmakers make some very attractive cars.

[@Pau-hi3om]

not really, i dont like Fiat design

[@robinsonrex1280]

"I hope they contract with Italian car designers, too." That's the very reason why they are targeting Italian carmakers.

[@mikedx2706]

Sam, you fail to realize that Lancia was always a niche brand and never made any real money for its owners. Lancia's were superb engineered cars, which made them very expensive when compared to the other cars for sale in their market segment. They never had any real success in the USA.

[@mnhsty]

I’m pretty sure Sam knows all that.

[@robertimrie3710]

​@@mnhstyI would not be so sure. For a start there is a new Lancia EV in the wings it's another Junior /E 2008 under the skin but the concept looked ok for a CUV

[@ISuperTed]

@@mnhstyDoubt it, Sam does zero research just scans for articles and re-reads them.

[@peterhirt991]

Lancia is a very valuable brand name here in Europe, establish it again with a great car and you would see!

[@philiptaylor7902]

The Italian Saab

[@markusgarcia4136]

Ceo is overpaid and milking that company

[@johnmanderson2060]

I drove a Lancia Delta in the old days, it was a great car. The gearbox was so precise and effortless, smooth like silk.

[@308_Negra_Arroyo_Lane]

Maybe they shouldn't have pulled out of the BRI then.

[@genieb]

As a big Alfa Romeo fan and native of Europe, I know all these Italian brands and yes I do think that a lot of people buy brands.

[@peterhirt991]

I can concur. Never I would have bought a Japanese cars 20 years ago, never I would have bought a Corean car 10 years ago, and never I would buy a Chinese car these days!

[@joncan2348]

These car brands are way, way over hyped. Lumbo, ferro, alpha are very unreliable cars. Maintenance costs are insane. Why would a rational person think these brands are great and superior?

[@YWang-vl2zh]

Yeah, when people see an Italian brand, they think “that’s a reliable car that won’t go on fire…” 😅

[@zes7215]

wr

[@chillfluencer]

No. They associate the leisure character and sexy time with Italy. That's why Italian porn from the 70ies still works today...but - let's say - US or western European porn is just ridiculous and disgusting. Use your brain, kid!

[@kenw.4539]

@@chillfluencer I heard that too about Italian porn from other guys. I'm an upstanding adult man in the US so I've never seen it directly myself. I swear. If Trump wins and he criminalizes porn in the US (i.e. Project 2025) it won't affect me since I've never seen it directly or plan on doing so. I swear.

[@YWang-vl2zh]

@@chillfluencer If I could afford a 5-car garage, one of those 5 cars would be a petro-burning Ferrari. Italian cars are sexy and I love them, and there will always be a niche market for them even after 90% of the entire car market have gone electric. But does the world need electric Lancias owned by the Chinese?

[@HoneyBee-vp1ls]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3vIhHZoobB1m6M

[@dijikstra8]

I doubt the Swedish government would allow the SAAB brand to fall under Chinese control given how SAAB is still an active brand the in the military hardware industry, especially given that the Swedish government right now pretty much kow-tows to anything the US says.

[@ilijaandrevski2749]

They allowed Volvo cars

[@ThisRandomUsername]

In my experience, the Stellantis cars (I've owned a Fiat and Alfa Romeos) are pretty reliable, but when it comes to getting parts you're out of luck. Their after-sales service just isn't there. In South Africa, the licensed dealers keep changing.

[@Muricans1776]

😂😂😂Chinese will take over the Italian brands and make them higher quality, more reliable and lower cost. Wow!

[@patricec.2957]

in the dream of Viking maybe

[@ronaldchua3197]

Viking dreams all become true and reality

[@patricec.2957]

@@ronaldchua3197 We can see this every day indeed, besides he forgot to make a video about the fact that Musk has once again delayed the presentation of the robot taxi. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@JoeyBlogs007]

@@ronaldchua3197 In your dreams.

[@mihailprokopenko6174]

China and quality are 2 opposing words.

[@drleishaobo]

I believe the brand that Chinese wanted to buy from Stellantis is Maserati.

[@AlFreeman-xy4jy]

No, the brands are Innocenti and Autobianchi, so the Chinese can produce in Italy with these brands.

[@stefanoparlatore7141]

@@AlFreeman-xy4jyI wouldn’t suggest them, Autobianchi is mostly known for the A112 by >35 Italians and a few car enthusiasts in Europe, Innocenti is more famous for the Lambretta scooter than for the cars. It’s not a bad idea if they plan to sell electric scooters and microcars otherwise is not worth it. Btw these brands are owned by Stellantis, there is nothing the Italian government can do about it.

[@godwindracing6056]

@@AlFreeman-xy4jyboth are virtually unknown outside Italy

[@AlFreeman-xy4jy]

@stefanoparlatore7141 The Italian press was talking about these brands, Maserati goes back to Ferrari, so it is not available.

[@AlFreeman-xy4jy]

@godwindracing6056 Yes, I realise, but Maserati will be controlled by Ferrari. So says the press.

[@vartulia]

SAAB is already owned by the Chinese. They look it over from Spyker (previous owner of SAAB) when SAAB went broke. However the Chinese were not allowed to use the name SAAB so they reamed it to NEVS. They built Eleetric version of the SAAB 9-3 for China only - Now NEVS company is basically bankrupt.

[@supertouring1]

According to wikipedia...NEVS lost its license to manufacture automobiles under the Saab name (which the namesake aerospace company still owns). So the chinese company never bought the Saab brand name, but the factory and maybe some tooling.

[@vartulia]

@@supertouring1 yeah exactly. They basically purchased the technology.

[@altonmckenzie8587]

Name recognition can be increased over time say BYD enough times and the name will be instantly recognized.....🎉

[@zes7215]

wr

[@kamsunleong6648]

It's already happening here in Asean. Mentioned ev and BYD instantly pops up.

[@aoh4905]

Sure but it takes time to profit. Chinese EVs can sell a little overseas but they are barely making any profit just like their phones. Look at Xiaomi sales then look at total profits. There are small restaurant chains that make more in America

[@antwango]

@@aoh4905 just a matter of time.... china plays the long game, and again isnt profit obsessed... as previous viking video has stated tesla makes tons of profit on their cars... chinese in comparison make zero..,. a loss even... blows western minds!!! because you dont understand the long game... China excels in the long game!

[@figgbx112]

Ask South America, for example, Brazil. Most of them know BYD.

[@kalczarobert]

For you're information, there is no Alfa Romeo produced in Romania. In Romania its Dacia currently 51% sold to Renault and then there is Ford. Ford Transit versions, B-Max, EcoSport and Puma.

[@manolexing68]

It's​ maybe too​ late now for Chinese​ companies​ to invest in Europe. The idea of nationalizing is already being​ talked about within the​ EU as a punishment​ for what they view as China helping Russia​ achieve gains in the Ukraine. Meloni's idea is terrific, had there be no geo-political issues against China from the EU. Stellantis​ is not only not willing​ to invest in Italian​ production, they're​ also backwards vis-a-vis​ Chinese EV manufacturers.

[@poopkljok8342]

China did not help Russia. China just maintained normal trade between Russia and Ukraine, and China did not sell a single bullet to Russia and Ukraine. It is hypocritical for the West to force China to cut off normal trade with Russia. Imagine that the United States invaded China's neighbor Afghanistan, and China forced Europe to cut off all trade with the United States. If that happened, all Europeans would think that the Chinese were crazy. The Chinese are not crazy, because China would not make such a crazy request. But all Europeans are crazy, they don't know what they are talking about, and they don't know how stupid their request is.

[@marcionphilologos5367]

Realize two relevant and important facts: 1. Chinese entrepeneurs have revitalized the FASHION INDUSTRY in NORTHERN ITALY 2. EV factories will become totally automated and robotized in the future, making the cost of workers irrelevant. 3. the historical big profits of the car- industry will shift towards the providers of parts and materials.

[@peterhirt991]

fashion industry in Italy? Go once to Lucca and look for yourself

[@VolkerHett]

Back in the early 1980s I had a brand new Inocenti De Thomaso. British drivetrain with italien bodywork and it turned out just as you might guess. Rust problems from day one, electrical problems from day one and when the local automobile club picked me and my car up from where I was stranded on the autobahn, the technician noticed a broken bolt on a front wheel :) Lancia and, to some extent, Alfa Romeo where killed by Fiat and then finished off by Fiat Chrysler. A Chrysler Van with Lancia badges? Realy? On the other hand, when Opel was taken over by PSA they turned a profit within the second year. Something which hadn't happened undder GM for decades.

[@franklekwan5860]

@2:15 Lotus is owned by the Geely and Geely is a private enterprises, not state-owned. Geely acquired Lotus from the Malaysian Proton Holdings. Proton was once a Malaysian state-owned car brand, sold 49.9% to Geely in 2017. Geely once wanted to take 50+% but as a good-will, the brand is now still under Mayasian's control.

[@KurniaLim]

I think Geely owned Volvo too..

[@sunshinesun121]

From Malaysia. Proton who BOUGHT the Lotus Brand....... DID NOTHING to BUILD LOTUS reputation. They "Just wanted Lotus Engineers" for tuning the Proton Car. Lotus Bleeded Billions before SOLD to Geely whilst the other 49% is OWNED ... Privately by Malaysia Elites. Geely was invited to BID (Included VW, etc ) for Proton as Proton was NOT Profitable nor able to introduce NEW Models. And BLEEDING BILLIONS in Govnment BAILOUT ( Using Public Money) . Geely was AWARDED the "Partnership" as GEELY gave assurance of Manufacturing in Malaysia and KEEPING Workers JOBS. Previous Proton Management is a LOAD of #$@#$@$#@#$ due to Politics , etc.

[@diogotxx]

Stellantis announced five billion dollars investiment in Brazil recently, I guess partially because of Fiat, still one of the major players here; but also because of the Chinese tsunami of great products with great prices. It's also hitting hard in the south!

[@alexanderridolfi6000]

I don't think that the Chinese would be so callable that they would buy a billycart company that went bankrupt for making for making unreliable tin boxes that only poor people would buy. There is no value in that

[@Hermit-Crab]

Do you mean gullible? And what is billycart?

[@DonnellChester-xd7yg]

I can't see China agreeing to this, for one, they already own legacy brands of western origin, two they have recent precedent of purchasing companies establishing them on a good foundation now they need to be repossessed, and three they have to understand this simply to keep the workers employed, keeping the factory's open allowing many to continue to pay their bills, without the host countries having to foot the bill with more debt.Why would they do that when they're own brands are being discriminated against

[@seanlander9321]

@@DonnellChester-xd7yg Branding is critical and a Chinese brand will always be seen as less worthy. The main reason though is to assemble EVs in Europe which gets around any tariffs, which is why Hungary is allowing the Chinese to open an assembly factory there. Meloni needs to balance Italy’s budget and subsidising a dying auto industry doesn’t help her do that, so it’s logical and practical to save money by letting the Chinese subsidise their auto industry for European consumers instead.

[@antwango]

@@seanlander9321 naaah not always.... Japanese and SKorean brands whether cars or electronics were all smeared and discriminated against same as Chinese brands look at where they are now look at Skoda, China are geniuses at business and trade and understand business hence where they are currently and where the west is BYD is already making a name for itself... China isnt here to play favourites or argue to try to convince the West through talk... China has their house and accounts in order And its all a matter of time, whether western brands become extinct or they sell to someone that is offering more

[@bubuneowoo6161]

Ignorant much. So why did the US attack Huawei, just to save Apple?

[@Helghast73]

​@@seanlander9321I don't think the branding is critical at all, just look at today, old people or those with a racist connotation may think that way still, but sooner or later they'll be pushing the daisy up with those famous old brands that rested on past glories and fail to keep up with the times.

[@seanlander9321]

@@Helghast73 Not at all, Volvo and MG are stand out examples of continuous brands that mean something, it’s called heritage, something the Chinese can’t muster. Additionally the established brands can draw on the heritage of their famous designs, like the Fiat 500, Defender, or the Combi wagon for instance. Nothing to do with ageism of racism, that’s just mental.

[@AndrewGrove-in1oh]

Saab is a non starter. Saab aerospace and defense, which split from the car company years ago, is still in business and owns the rights to the name. The Chinese would only be able to lease the brand if Saab was willing, which is highly unlikely.

[@tolgaetci9539]

If topic is italian brand wherever it is produced I don't know, but interior and exterior design must be italian, even chinese cars are designed by italian designers...that will be amazing, italian design and chinese ev technology

[@p.p.f.2843]

My guess is that Chinese are more interested to brands like Maserati, Lancia and Alfa Romeo…..😢😂😂😂 Italian Ministers have no clue that level Chinese have nowadays achieved..😮😅😅😅

[@loktom4068]

Your missed the biggest one. It's called the Ferrari. It's the real cross road brand of Marco Polo.

[@michelangeloc.4265]

Our entire parliament is just made of usa/nato puppets.

[@PelleGIT]

Its not that Europeans think MG is an English / European brand and dont know its Chinese. If that was the case, Volvo and Polestar would be selling much more too but they dont. Polestar is on the brink of bankruptcy. Its simply because of MG's low subsidized prices.

[@peterhirt991]

I learned to drive on an Alfa Romeo Giulia. At that time already with 5 speed gear boxes while all other brands had 4 at most. Then they had the Alfasud and sadly, thenafter the decline started and never ended. What has an SUV like the Stelvio to do with the Alfa feeling of the sixties? NOw,as correctly said by the Electric Viking, this brand is almost dead as well as the Lancia, even Fiat itself. Fiat is basically a one product company with the Fiat 500, once this car is over, they may also simply disappear. But selling to China is a no no. Look at MG. Each time I see one here in Europe, I am willing to ask the owner what a car he has. BYD at least has the pride to show that they are Chinese! Well well, Europe's car industry is in dire straits lack of innovation and absence of long term vision (EV's will take over close to 100% in my humble opinion)

[@hongsienkwee537]

My aunt had an Autobianchi Abarth in 1972......fun car!

[@concertautist4474]

I love olden days Jags. The newer ones are generic rubbish. I'd love to see some nostalgia styling.

[@BrunoHeggli-zp3nl]

Nah the Jaguar Ftype is amazing!

[@alexandermelbaus2351]

This is very depressing.

[@Truthstelling]

I used to have a Lancia Beta coupe back in the 80s. It was a very good car. I drove down the Michigan highway at 190km for the first time in my life. It was a bit scary when the car started to 'float' in the air. It was quite fun😂

[@linuxxr]

mg seems to be the winner

[@giuseppelanzafame2701]

Those brands are private. They are not public companies. Meloni cannot talk on what she cannot have.

[@AlFreeman-xy4jy]

The brands in question are Autobianchi and Innocenti, and are not owned by Fiat.

[@jgarbo3541]

Of course brand matters - reputation from past success. Would you buy the unkown XYZ or famous Volvo?

[@peterhirt991]

famous Volvo. It has the brand value of a tank on wheels, yes, safe, but so dull

[@ArsenalFCRules]

Meloni pulls out of the Belt and Road....she can't be trusted

[@philliptemple9841]

Surely that means she can be more trusted? Phillip.

[@alexyo5402]

She said no to debt trap Tofu projects, what a shocker!! Good for her! She has "big balls".

[@ArsenalFCRules]

@@alexyo5402 🤣 Joke of the decade. Debt trap. By who? World Bank..IMF..?

[@zaidbaig2943]

She didn't, but was pretty much forced by Nato (USA) to pull out. Let's make it clear European countries don't make there own decisions. But US makes it for them.

[@philliptemple9841]

@@zaidbaig2943 That's blatantly not true. Countries like France and Italy only follow the EU rules when it suits them. You obviously have no experience of Europe. Phillip.

[@gwoodlogger4068]

We are not living in a distropian land but in a museum 😊

[@ozozi49]

Yeah I used to love Lancias. My brother still has a Lancia 1.6 HF Turbo.... from 1987!!!!!

[@undisclosedthai]

I believe Stellantis would never accept this, even if Stellantis no longer uses that brands. Because it gives opportunities to competitor(s).

[@JohanRoos78]

I would love a come back of the Lancia Delta, I used to own one and learned to drive in my dad's. But since Stellantis recently reintroduced the electric Lancia Ypsilon it shows they have little interest in selling the brand and want to evolve it into a more luxury and design version of the Fiat and forego the rally pedrigree it once held... I'm afraid this is not the way forward for the brand, but hopefully they will turn around on this.

[@itekani]

I hope the Junior sells well, it seems quite good. Lancia also has a new EV coming based on one of the Stellantis platforms.

[@altonmckenzie8587]

Damn I just said this would happen to VW boy

[@genekelly8467]

Italy (and Europe) have a big auto problem-too many brands and too many manufacturers.Many of these brands are not breaking even, because sales have droipped to the point where the sales are covering cost. The Chinese do not want to own Italian factories-they want to manufacture in China. What we are seeing is what happened in the USA in the 1950s (over 5 car brands went out of business). There simply is no reason to have 12 firms making the same products.

[@chris27gea58]

Yes, brands are important but nothing beats study of what you are buying. What do I want from an EV that I would buy? A bunch of practical things and technical things as well as a certain expectation of quality and very importantly the assurance that the manufacturer will be around for many years after purchasing the car. The latter is the main reason that brands matter (although it is reasonably assumed - although not always rightly - that brands that remain around do offer the practical and technical things that matter to us and the product quality that we expect). Here's the thing. People with an interest in EVs and/or considering a more or less mainstream EV purchase (forget Rimac) are indeed studying EVs that appear in the market quite closely. Which are the really innovative companies? BYD, CATL (which only makes and supplies batteries and other EV components to other vehicle manufacturers), Geely, GAC, SAIC, Tesla, Lucid and Huawei (which only makes and supplies powertrain components and works with companies like Changan, Seres, Chery and JAC to make cars). If you want assurance of the continued existence of an EV company I would buy from companies mentioned above. Hyundai and several European brands - Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Renault - will probably make it in the end, too, after they end their bumbling ways. Anything associated with Stellantis will most likely die.

[@alias19]

A government has no right to steal intellectual property of a private business.

[@josephguo6256]

when I was young, I had gotten a FIAT coupe, twin weber, very nice high performance one.

[@user-vp6vf8wm2s]

Italy is not offering an auto brand to China. 10 20 or 50 years ago yes, it does have some value. Not anymore

[@linuxxr]

i bet china can make a better fiat window regulator than fiat can

[@Davbach01]

If say Alfa Romeo kept its design team, keeping the beauty, style, driving characteristics and charisma with Chinese build and production abilities it would be a a winner. Same could apply to the many European marquees that suffered, so much innovation inhibited by poor management, corner cutting, industrial disputes and general poor quality.

[@patmcdaniel2016]

I love the Lancia I had when stationed in Germany in the 80's.

[@user-ed9so2rb4k]

It looks like this Italian lady is more strategic than all her counterparts in the rest of EU!

[@seanlander9321]

Italy has already surrendered its textile industry to China, so why not its car industry too?

[@blackknight4996]

What textile industry of Italy to begin with????

[@seanlander9321]

@@blackknight4996 Huh? Italy was a major manufacturer of textiles, particularly wool, until China took almost all of the trade 20 years ago.

[@Thunderrolls87]

America lost basically its entire textiles industry to. Sad

[@ralphzoombeenie2330]

From whom did the west "steal" the textile industry?

[@aoh4905]

Once a country gets rich they won't do certain jobs. Wake up. Look at per capita in each countries and all you have to do is think after that. Europe is falling slowly though,.

[@afzaalkhan.m]

Italian design compnies are excemply, unmatched by any country

[@johnhindson5316]

As ever, there are so many errors with this content. Firstly, Jaguar, Saab, and Volvo have nothing to do with it. They aren't Italian companies and the Italian Government can't "sell" them to anyone. Secondly, the key point is that the issue relates to brand names that are not being used. Brands that are "defunct". So the Italian Government is not proposing that Stellantis sell Fiat, Alfa and Lancia to the Chinese. The issue is about Autobianchi and Innocenti. Those 2 brands do have some value but much more in Italy than Europe or the rest of the world. I cant see China thinking that they are "must have" brands for their push into Europe. My guess is that this is just part of a powerplay between the Italian Government and Stellantis. "Build more Fiats invItaly or we will invite the Chinese to build Autobianchis here" "We arent bothered-- do it if you want"

[@nevco8774]

Italy could give Cisitalia, Bandini, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Autobianchi, Maserati, Diatto, De Tomaso, Isetta, Martin, Moretti, Siata, Itala, Innocenti...

[@dougsheldon5560]

So Yugo is poised for a triumphant return?

[@loktom4068]

Italian Brand meaning of recognition in brands name labels. Nothing to do with the actual engineering of the original old brands. They may design the styles of the most recognition for that brand.

[@autoselectricos-americalat9276]

This is not a trick question. But I am just curious how do ultra-nationalist consumers make their decisions to buy a car? Will they pay $60,000 for an Alfa Romeo 100% made in Italy? Or can they settle to buy an Alfa Romeo for $45,000 made in China?

[@rtmanyemba]

Ultra nationalists in the states buy iPhones...

[@jonassamme1889]

The SAAB brand is own by GM who allready refused to sell it to China several times. However the Plymouth brand one of the worlds most iconic and sought after brands (Think Hemi Cuda, Roadrunner, Superbird, Fury, multiple NASCAR winner) is owned by Stellatris. Now that would be something for the Chinese to get their hands on! Innocenti and Autobianci doesn't have enough brand recognition left outside Italy. It will end like when the Chinese tried to rewive Borgward.

[@flxdz7103]

Are the Italians going nuts by giving these car companies to the Chinese 🤔🙄🤔🙄 Why don't they just build assembly plants in India, Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia with cheap labor and sell them to the local markets and Europe with lower price. Another alternative is NATIONALIZE them like what the French government did to Renault and when it became profitable again, it privatized it 🤔🙄🤔🙄 I really feel sorry for Italy because first, they did nothing to reverse its demographic decline and now turning over its leading companies to unscrupulous country which is China 🤔🙄🤔🙄 If that is the case, I would rather see Italy be taken over by France much more than China. After all, it owes its existence as a united country to France and if that did not take place, France would have annexed Sardinia and the rest of Petty Italian States 👍👍👍👍 How could Italy be so wimp when it is one of the leading European countries and all of a sudden, it let these things happen to itself? It only means that Catalonia is much more DYNAMIC even though it is just a part of Spain and yet, it tries so hard to maintain its identity and does not allow outsiders to take over their big companies such as SEAT which is far less profitable than any of the leading Italian car companies. I really have strong suspicion that a very powerful secret entity is all behind these and if the negative trend cannot be stooped or reversed, then Italy needs to put under French mandate for a certain period of time until its rulers and citizens learn to become truly patriotic and cares about their country so much with love 🤞🤞🤞🤞

[@alexpan8138]

No thanks, we don’t need an Italian name to sell cars. BYD or Nio or Xiaomi are selling very well.

[@Lost_Johnny]

I think people do know MG is owned by a Chinese company, but they have the perception it is the same company. In fact, only the marque remains. MG doesn't do much in China (there are plenty of SAIC cars anyway) but in Thailand I saw people who had actually bothered to write "Morris Garages" on their MG EV. I think these brands could do well for Chinese companies.

[@andrzej21111]

The BYD brand is becoming more and more famous. BYD factories are being built in Turkey and Hungary. Each of these factories is expected to produce 150,000 cars a year.

[@Starpopper800]

Yup, Chinese brands are better off buying up these foreign brand names to ease their way into Europe and more importantly the US. I can say for sure I wouldn’t want a “YangWang” regardless of how good it is!

[@eish3291]

They can always change the name for foreign markets.Remember the Honda fit and jazz are the same car.

[@AyeAye-o8t]

I agree. What was BYD thinking using a name thats hard to pronunce, and the "build your dreams" on back of cars. They really need to get some new marketing people in.

[@AyeAye-o8t]

@@eish3291 But “YangWang” is the new luxury car Brand name, not a model name.

[@NiejakiDD]

Whole auto industry in Europe falls apart, the golden era is nearing its end, and this is irreversible - as many people predicted. Unfortunately, the selling historic brands to China looks like the only sensible option available. Fortunately though, much depends of specific details - there is much to negotiate and the Chinese seem to be serious to respect the Europeans customers and its legacy brands (I like MG i Lotus of Chinese-owned cars design, although not much the Volvo).

[@kogigi2887]

Selling, not giving. Just to make it clear.

[@eziozomparelli2079]

Let's say that Elkan and the French own stellantis.and not this government fault but the previous one. Get your facts right.

[@sayaandyangsaya2756]

Win-win coorperation.

[@mnhsty]

Hands off my Alfa Romeo!

[@kamsunleong6648]

Alfas ate almost mjn existent here in Asean. Can't recall when I last saw one on the road.

[@jackreacher8858]

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

[@AyeAye-o8t]

Fine, nobody's helping you push it 😂

[@borax92]

Peugeot is doing excellent

[@SH3V3K_14]

That seems like a great idea to me. Stellantis could let go of at least one of their italian brands.

[@dontaskmewhy266]

Alfa Romeo? Failed brand? They literally are registering quadrupling of sales.

[@mnhsty]

NEVS was an attempt to sell an electric car based on the Saab 9-3 back in 2016.

[@hervebabey9603]

I fully agree with you. For Tesla, I would never invest in Germany but in Poland. Germany is too expensive, too regulated, too peaky. Same as France. Italian former brands carry a lot of design , imagination, nice colors and Chinese are attracted by the Italian touch. They perfectly understand what marketing means (see MG or Volvo). On the opposite Tavares removes the value from their brands. A great example is the Citroen Ami : an ugly duck. It became an attractive swan with a simple redesign from Italian Fiat. I love Alfa Romeo (I owned 2), but it’s a pity to see the former beauty fading. I’ve always being convinced that Ford should have done a simple copycat of the legendary original Mustang rather than this bulky Mach-E. What about a full electric Chevy Camaro? See the immediate success of the Fiat 500 or the Mini. I agree that a Lancia Stratos would be a hit. All these cars won a popular success thanks to their design, changing what under the bonnet for a modern EV in revisiting the former car design is a recipe for success. The legendary cars and brands are numerous. Westerners are not interested ! Give them to China , they love this positive side of the West

[@gioriddi2982]

Fiat/Stellantis is no longer italian brand form Marchionne policy

[@alex.velasco]

Will Stellantis successfully manage the transition to EV?

[@cb250nighthawk3]

IMO, only a certain segment of the population are brand conscious and buy brand names, especially those in the top 30%. Another 20% buy pre-owned branded names just to look good. The rest don't care about brands. IMO.

[@kitatit]

Convincing clueless buyers that MG is a UK manufacturer is the greatest trick the devil ever pulled. Saying that, they seem to be delivering good value for money, service and support here in Australia, so fair play to them. Most people do more research on which shampoo to bye than they do assessing if a car brand or model is a good choice to outlay thousands on.

[@taldje7672]

"it's free market" the western motto which only them has the right to use you have the right to buy their companies, but they don't

[@adaiuto]

Innocenti... Autobianchi... they made good and nice cars that in their own way made the automotive history of Italy, my mom had an Autobianchi A112... but they were always secondary brands. Among other things, Innocenti made his fortune by producing the Mini under license (among other things of excellent quality) and more generally British Leyland cars. then when De Tomaso took it... let's forget about it. Today there aren't many who remember them, but giving them to the Chinese is a bit of a joke.

[@AlFreeman-xy4jy]

If they buy these brands they can build in Europe, in Italy. And there is talk of producing 300,000 cars a year.

[@rodrigomohr1277]

Why would they build cars in Italy?

[@medman36]

I'm for once not sure that selling Stellantis brands to China will make much difference. MG in my view may be the exception, but their styling and software design are too Chinese taste oriented and not catered to the Eurooean market and quality expectations, to which there is a huge learning curve for the Chunese Market. Also to date, with a few exceptions, most Chinese EV brands, in my view, don't sell competitively. At face value, I think most Chinese EVs are too expensive, and I just don't feel the value to invest for many of the current goings rates. No, they're not cheap to buy. Stellantis, I think, have set their prices competitively at firstbgkanc3, but looking at specs and details, I quickly get the impression that the cookie-cutter platform designs do not have an electrification well rounded package. Also, with some designs, I don't recognize a spirit of the former brand in the EV anymore. For me, this would be, for example, the eC3, the upcoming fiat panda, and the Alfa Romeo Junior. All three to me have a flair of merely a small shadow of their former selves and with the eC3 I really have to look hard to see anything Citroën in the Souk of its design, let alone having to think quite abstractly to remotely associate the design with a derivative of the Olly concept. I do not think that in design terms, the eC3 has an accomplished design. As a contrast, the new Renault 5 has. But in all, I find the electrification and support featires with electric safety featires lacklustre. Also in terms of practicality and design I think certain elements are surprising and somewhat comical, such as the interchangeable color bands on the eC3 and the integrated spiral frail looking charging cable in the new Fiat Panda EV. In all designs for the compact market, I think practicality becomes more important too. The front seat area of many look quite good, but from the second row to the boot, it seems all inspiration seems lost to cookie cutter back seats and boot without much considerations to finding balance between good passenger space or boot space. Then, a new player comes around the corner, the Hyundai Inster. When this was first shown, everything clicked, seemed to tick all the right boxes somehow, and addressed many pinpoints I am seeing with competitor compact Evs in the Eurooean market space. The Inster makes so much sense on many levels, where any Stallantis brand or even other compact EV competitors in my view just instantly drop off the wish list, and to me, it sounds like a no competition market. Stellantis do have nice EVs for nostalgic reasons, but I don't think they offer a compelling EV. This to me was clear earlybon with the fiat 500e. An amazing EV, good range. But the glaring issue of a higher compromise over design over function was disappointing. They do seem to do it right now with the other brands, but I think they could also have done better with the electric mobility experience. It's still a work in progress. I'm on the fence at this point of sellingbStellantis brands could truly help boost EV improvements and perhaps a renaissance in brand appeal with quality Chinese electric engineering. If it was done earlier in thinking, it might have worked, like MG and Hyundai, with their first ioniq. If sold to Chinese conglomerates, I feel the soul of the brand will be lost to Chunese engineermanship dictating the new sound rather than the meaning of the brand. It is not perse bad I think, but I do thinknit means we might have to close the chapter of brands being a shell of their former selves and the brands getting a new identity, and follow the cookie cutter design, and the branding merely being a small topping on the cake, rather than the soul of the cake. I doubt, however, we will see competitive pricing in Eurooe as to date, I haven't seen cheap affordable pricing for an EV in terms of value for money. Most to me come on Euroean marketb20-30% higher than their EV value position on the market. Hearing news on how cheap they sell in Chuna makes the sticker price in Eurooe even tougher to think about sound investment, rather than taking about a compromise investment rather than an affordable value.

[@notlessgrossman163]

A vintage BYD Seal is good for me.. see what I did there?

[@philipsigglekow7828]

If I buy a bettery car i wont care about the brand ... the whole concept of classic cars imho will be out the door ... just how far can i get on one charge

[@johnsmedley8843]

Absolutely every one knows mgs are made in china, but they are designed in London. No problem with that, we have been sailing to china for hundreds of years for trade.

[@mihailprokopenko6174]

But they are not owned by Brits.

[@tertiusthiart8417]

What about SIMCA ? Sell that to the Chinese.

[@Marcellogo]

China actually assemble their auto in Italy Under the DR brand, so that it would be possible to just change the name. IMHO it could be better to use the motorcycle brands like Guzzi, Ducati, MV Augusta: let's add auto to the name and the trick is done.

[@TheCostofAutism]

I'd love to see Pontiac brought back❤

[@dohminkonoha3200]

Thanks Italy, Alfa Romeo will be finally reliable be car brand! made in Italy 🇮🇹

[@linoiovenitti7207]

Well, I thought of this ages ago, and it's almost automatic China should buy half of the FIAT PANDA