According to a Friday article, the Italian government is considering giving defunct Stellantis vehicle brands to Chinese businesses as an inducement to establish factories in Italy.

Both the Innocenti and Autobianchi brands—which were discontinued in the 1990s—would be involved in the scheme.

Before Fiat acquired the company and it became a part of Stellantis, Innocenti gained notoriety in the 1960s and 1970s for creating an Italian counterpart of the British Mini. Ex-Fiat subsidiary Autobianchi manufactured upscale city vehicles, including the A112 and Y10. Italy's industry minister reportedly registered versions of the two brands at the national patents and brands office, with different images than those registered by the Stellantis business. The ministry of industry, which is reportedly investigating the move, was not reachable for comment. Stellantis confirmed to Reuters that while it had received the media allegations, the government had not notified them of any such plans.

According to Il Sole, a law passed in December and a draft implementing order regarding brands that have not been used for at least five years—which is currently being reviewed by the Court of Auditors—will enable the government to appropriate the funds. According to the law, once they are under government control, they may be transferred to businesses, even international ones, that want to relocate their manufacturing operations overseas to Italy or make investments there. The populist administration of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been at odds with Fiat parent Stellantis for months, accusing the carmaker of ignoring its long-standing production facilities in Italy.

It has stated that it wants to draw a Chinese manufacturer to Italy in order to grow the domestic industry, but it is also in talks with the firm, the nation's only major automaker, to increase Italian manufacturing to one million cars annually. At its historic Turin headquarters in northern Italy, Fiat celebrated its 125th anniversary on Thursday by revealing its Panda model, which is built in Serbia. Industry Minister Adolfo Urso, who was present at the event, urged Stellantis to start producing its products in Italy again.