Stellantis Is Using A 15-Year-Old Fiat To Stop Italy From Handing Autobianchi To China

Дата публикации: 07-07-2026 10:48:00

A camouflaged Fiat Pandina spied testing is a special edition built to keep the historic Autobianchi name out of government hands

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The Pandina is the oldest model in Fiat’s current lineup, tracing its roots back to 2011. Even so, a fresh camouflaged prototype of the urban runabout has turned up testing in Italy. You might assume this points to one more facelift before the fully electric successor lands later this decade, but Stellantis has a stranger motive. It is using the aging Fiat to hang onto the trademark of an Italian automaker that has been dead for more than 30 years.

The latest sources say the camouflage hides the upcoming Fiat Pandina Tributo Autobianchi special edition. It looks to be built on the Cross trim of the Pandina, marked out by the chunkier bumpers, the relocated fog lights, and the added plastic cladding along the flanks.

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Earlier sightings of the prototype revealed a prominent Autobianchi emblem on the side moldings. We also expect mild visual tweaks nodding to classic models like the Autobianchi A112 and Y10, though these will likely stay limited to trim pieces rather than redesigned components. The camouflage on the wheels hints at a unique design, potentially paired with a vintage beige-brown hue for the bodywork.

Nostalgia On Top, Same Three-Cylinder Below

Walter Vayr / SH Proshots

The interior is expected to get a matching retro treatment with special seat materials and nostalgic badging. Beneath the skin, the Tributo Autobianchi will most likely retain the carry-over mild-hybrid 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine producing 69 hp (52 kW / 70 PS), sending power to the front axle through a six-speed manual.

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For anyone unfamiliar with Autobianchi’s history, the brand was founded in 1955 as a joint venture between Fiat, Pirelli, and Bianchi. It built its name on small hatchbacks like the A112, which rode on Fiat 128 underpinnings and sold more than 1.2 million units between 1969 and 1986. The historic marque was phased out in 1995, with the Autobianchi Y10 giving way to the Lancia Ypsilon.

The Real Mission Of The Tributo Autobianchi

Walter Vayr / SH Proshots

Besides being a send-off with a nostalgic twist, the upcoming model doubles as a legal chess move by Stellantis against the Italian government. This unusual corporate standoff traces back to December 2023, when the Italian parliament passed a new law permitting the state to take control of classic trademarks that have sat entirely dormant for at least five consecutive years.

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By July 2024, the government had escalated the dispute with Stellantis over sliding local production volumes. Reports surfaced that Italy’s Industry Ministry had gone so far as to register independent graphical versions of both the Autobianchi and Innocenti badges at the national patents and brands office. The rumored aim was to seize the names and reallocate them to expanding Chinese automakers willing to build factories on Italian soil.

Resetting The Clock, One Special Edition At A Time

Walter Vayr / SH Proshots

Faced with the immediate threat of losing its intellectual property, Stellantis is using the closing months of this legal window to kick off a retro rollout. By releasing a Tributo Autobianchi version of the evergreen Fiat Pandina, the company effectively resets the rolling statutory clock, keeping a vital piece of its industrial heritage under its exclusive control.

Judging from the recent prototype sightings, we expect Stellantis to unveil the Fiat Pandina Tributo Autobianchi sometime in the coming months.

Autobianchi A112

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