Fiat is preparing a retro-styled Pandina Tributo Autobianchi special edition, with new spy shots showing a camouflaged prototype testing in Italy.
The move is part of a legal strategy by Stellantis to protect a historic Italian brand name.
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The Pandina, the oldest model in Fiat’s lineup with roots dating back to 2011, is getting another special edition.
But this time, the motive is unusual: Stellantis wants to keep the Autobianchi trademark out of Chinese hands.
Legal Battle Over Dormant Trademarks
In December 2023, the Italian parliament passed a law allowing the state to take control of classic trademarks that have been dormant for at least five consecutive years.
By July 2024, the government had escalated a dispute with Stellantis over declining local production volumes.
Reports indicate that Italy’s Industry Ministry registered independent graphical versions of the Autobianchi and Innocenti badges at the national patents office.
The rumored goal was to seize the names and reallocate them to Chinese automakers willing to build factories in Italy.
Faced with losing its intellectual property, Stellantis is using the closing months of the legal window to release a retro edition.
By launching the Tributo Autobianchi, the company resets the statutory clock, keeping the trademark under its control.
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What the Tributo Autobianchi Offers
The prototype is based on the Pandina Cross trim, featuring chunkier bumpers, relocated fog lights, and plastic cladding.
