Stellantis owns numerous Italian brands that still operate with mixed success: Fiat, of course, but also Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Maserati (Ferrari is now completely separate from the Stellantis division, even if it retains a very close shareholding).
Even though Autobianchi officially disappeared in 1995, Stellantis (through the old FCA structure) still owns the rights to the brand. Just last year, the Italian government reminded that the law provides for the possibility for companies to buy back the rights to a brand that has disappeared for more than five years if its owner no longer does anything to promote it or if it is revived. As such, the Italian government has warned that it reserves the right to resell Autobianchi (and Innocenti) if Stellantis does nothing, especially since Chinese companies have said they are interested in these brands. The group then responded by clarifying that it would do everything to “protect its interests.”
Autobianki Panda!
From what act? As Italian journalists Quattroruote report, Stellantis is not sitting idly by in the face of this “danger.” Fiat is working on a special trim for the current Panda, the Tributo Autobianchi. Target? Reviving the Autobianchi name on the new car just to prevent other companies from trying to buy it from the Italian administration.
This Tributo Autobianchi will be based on a cross body and may be limited to the Italian market only.
The real Autobianchi is probably not now.
Can we hope for a real new Autobianchi, and not just a Fiat-based special edition at the very end of its career? Unfortunately, the Stellantis group currently has many other priorities: for example, the development of the Fiat line, as well as the return to form of Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Lancia, which are all in more or less difficult situations.
But the group formed by the merger of PSA and FCA remains determined not to let the Autobianchi name slip away from one of its rivals.