Land Rover is Suing a Chinese Automaker for Copycat Evoque
It was only a matter of time before an established automaker sued a Chinese automaker for creating a copycat.
Jaguar Land Rover has filed a lawsuit against Chinese automaker Jiangling Motor, alleging that the Chinese company’s Landwind X7 SUV copies the Range Rover Evoque’s design. The lawsuit was filed in a court in Beijing’s eastern Chaoyang district and will likely play a major role in determining how lightly Chinese automakers tread moving forward when it comes to copying existing vehicles.
Global automakers have been hesitant to take legal action in China for copyright as they feel the odds of winning are low. In addition, a lawsuit could mar the reputation of an automaker attempting to sell vehicles in China, as it can be seen as a foreign company trying to bully local competitors.
SEE ALSO: Copycat Cars that Debuted at This Year’s Beijing Motor Show
The Jiangling Landwind X7 debuted after the Range Rover Evoque went on sale in China, featuring a similar shape, design and nearly identical tail lights. To make matters worse, customers in China can purchase a Range Rover grille, logo and Land Rover badges to put on their Landwind X7s for less than $20 on Alibaba’s Taobao shopping website.
It is being reported that the British automaker and Jiangling have agreed that the Landwind X7 would not sell in Brazil and the two automakers are discussing what the Chinese company can and can’t do in any X7 design update.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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