Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has reportedly initiated legal action against Chinese carmaker BYD, with bailiffs raiding BYD’s Dutch offices in August. The action was taken on behalf of JLR, which suspects BYD’s Ti7 SUV infringes on the intellectual property rights of the Land Rover Defender.
The raid, which reportedly secured digital records, precedes a court case in The Hague. Motoring experts and BBC’s Top Gear magazine have noted similarities between BYD’s Ti7 and the Defender, with the BYD model set to launch in the UK market at a significantly lower price point.
JLR, owned by India’s Tata Motors, has pursued similar legal action against Chinese manufacturers in the past, including a successful case against Jiangling Motor Corporation. The company has also engaged in joint ventures and licensing agreements with other Chinese carmakers.
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Source: theguardian.com
