Why Giorgia Meloni is taking on Alfa Romeo

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s crusade to defend Italian excellence from the destructive side of globalisation has won a small but symbolic victory.

Global car colossus Stellantis, which owns Alfa Romeo, has bowed to pressure from Italy’s right-wing government and changed the name of its new SUV, less than a week after its launch.

Given the potentially huge expense involved in changing the name of a car – plus damage to the manufacturer’s image – such a volte face is said to be unprecedented.

‘Never before’ has a car manufacturer changed the name of a car in response to a political storm claimed Il Sole 24 Ore, Italy’s business daily.

That the car in question is Alfa Romeo’s first fully electric vehicle (EV), and thus of pivotal strategic importance, makes such a name change even more dramatic.

The car was launched last week in Milan amidst much fanfare, as the ‘Alfa Romeo Milano’. Just five days later Stellantis renamed the new 4×4 the ‘Alfa Romeo Junior’.