I would like to know the motorist who, in front of a Xiaomi car, thinks that it is all made in Italy just because its name is Modena. Yet, after the fantozzian story of changing the name of Milano to Junior – because according to the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy “it misled consumers” (it is not made in Italy) – the controversy over the names continues. And in fact Xiaomi itself has communicated to the ministry that it will not launch its Su7 with the name “Modena”.
The Su7 is in fact entirely produced in China but during the presentation to the media last December in Beijing, the Chinese car manufacturer announced that it would be launched under the Modena name.
Aside from the fact that a car with that name already exists (the Ferrari 360), it is ridiculous that the ministry underlines the victory obtained: “The company has assured that it intends to respect the Italian rules on false indications, including the regulation on false indications geographical. Communication and marketing campaigns that could mislead consumers will not be promoted.” Everything is fine therefore, no one will buy a Xiaomi and then perhaps, after days, discover that it is not built in Italy. We are safe. We defended our jobs. Most of it is done.
The real comedians, as we know, are the involuntary ones. But then, if the rule of the name applies, the mayor of Junior (a municipality in the United States of America, located in the state of West Virginia, in the county of Barbour) should soon rise up and therefore ask Alfa to change its name. And then it would be the turn of Ford Capri, Opel Monza, Nissan Murano, KGM Tivoli, Kia Sorento, Chevrolet Malibu, Kia Rio, Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson. The list is very long, infinite.
It is clear that to avoid problems from now on cars should only be called with acronyms or imaginary names. But not of animals because, it is obvious, that some beasts are clearly identified with precise geographical areas. And Xiaomi at this point could take a nice revenge, contesting the fact that their Panda gives its name to a machine that is not made in China but in Pomigliano d’Arco, in Campania. Chinese consumers must also defend their rights.
