The Paris Motor Show kicks off tomorrow, October 12, with its press day, presenting a rather interesting picture of the state of the European automotive industry this year. While traditional manufacturers such as BMW, Mini, and Jaguar Land Rover are staying away, twenty Chinese brands are appearing at the exhibition—twice as many as two years ago. Stellantis, meanwhile, is bringing eight brands, more than sixty vehicles, and the largest stand at the show. One of the most interesting new arrivals is the new Lancia Gamma; its debut offers a good opportunity to revisit a long-standing debate in car manufacturing: is the use of shared platforms merely a case of badge engineering, or is this the very strategy that can help keep historic European brands alive?