Italy Seizes Fiat Topolino EVs Over Use Of Tiny Italian Flag Emblem
Italy is cracking down on “fake” branding in the automobile industry, with the latest target being the Fiat Topolino. Despite being Italy’s largest automaker, the tiny EV is not made in Italy, causing controversy over its badge resembling the Italian flag.
For over two decades, Italy has enforced strict laws to protect its made-in-Italy branding, prohibiting the sale of goods that may mislead consumers about their origin. This led to the temporary seizure of 134 Topolino units due to the flag emblem.
A 2003 law prohibits products from sporting branding that implies they are made in Italy when they are not. Fiat confirmed that the emblem was merely to indicate the product’s origin and agreed to remove the stickers to comply with authorities.
Stellantis, Fiat’s parent company, faced a similar issue when Alfa Romeo named a vehicle “Milano” despite being built in Poland. After pressure from the Italian government, the SUV was renamed “Junior.” The fate of the Topolino’s badge globally remains uncertain as Italy remains firm on combatting imitation.