The Government, Made in Italy and China are the protagonists of the new controversy linked to the improper naming of a car not produced in Italy. The Alfa Romeo Milano case was closed, the name of which was changed to Junior (here to find out more), this time it is Xiaomi that ends up in the dock. The Chinese consumer electronics giant has in fact called “Modena” the platform (photo above) on which he engineered his first electric car, the Xiaomi SU7 (photo below).
The mayor of the city of Modena, Gian Carlo Muzzarelli, on the sidelines of his speech at the Motor Valley Fest, expressed all his opposition to the issue, stating that the city He can not absolutely accept the idea that a Chinese car manufacturer uses the Modena name for a component of a car that it has no connection with the Italian territory. The mayor stated that he had sent to legal of the Municipality to understand what to do to prevent the Modena brand, inextricably linked to the Motor Valley, “from being exploited by someone who is not even present in Italy and does not produce here in our territory”.
Mayor Gian Carlo Muzzarelli asked for the support of the Government, which intervened directly with Alfonso Urso, Minister of Business and Made in Italy. Urso declared that he had a telephone conversation with the mayor of Modena, who was assured of the Government’s maximum support for the protection of denomination “Modena” (used for a car entirely produced in China), also on the basis of current legislation to combat false indications, or the use of Italian symbols or names in products made in other countries. Urso, in the post released on the social network Linkedin, then specified that he had illustrated to the Mayor what was introduced by the new European regulation on geographical indications for artisanal and industrial products, which can allow greater protection of productions linked to the Motor Valley model, pride of ‘car.
Minister Urso then concluded that the offices of the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy have already carried out an initial survey of over two hundred places in Italy typical for their production, which can claim the recognition of “geographical indication” provided for in the new regulation to protect EU consumers and producers.
