Legal proceedings have been launched by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) against Chinese automotive giant BYD.
The legal action centres around allegations that BYD’s new Ti7 SUV infringes intellectual property rights associated with the Land Rover Defender.
Court-appointed bailiffs acting on behalf of JLR seized digital records from BYD offices in Schiedam and Hoofddorp in the Netherlands in August, according to an investigation published by The Sunday Times on Sunday (November 8).
It reports that the British carmaker suspects
It reports that the British carmaker suspects that BYD may have reverse-engineered elements of the Defender’s technology during development of the Ti7.
The seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV is already sold in China under BYD’s Fangchengbao brand and should hit UK showrooms in November ahead of customer deliveries beginning in January.
According to reporting by The Telegraph, lawyers representing both manufacturers appeared before a court in The Hague in October to dispute how the seized records could be used.
BYD’s representatives reportedly challenged the extent
BYD’s representatives reportedly challenged the extent of the seizure, describing it as a “fishing expedition”, arguing that too many files had been taken.
The Dutch court is expected to rule this week on procedural questions surrounding the evidence and whether the proceedings can advance.
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Prices for the new Ti7 start at £47,995 and, thanks to a plug-in hybrid engine, it sits in the 7% benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax band.
The PHEV powertrain combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine
The PHEV powertrain combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine and two electric motors, providing all-wheel-drive. A 35.6kWh battery provides an electric range of up to 74 miles.
With a total power output of 408PS, the Ti7 can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds.
JLR previously won Chinese dispute
The latest proceedings follow JLR’s successful legal action against Chinese manufacturer Jiangling Motor Corporation over the Landwind X7, which closely resembled the first-generation Range Rover Evoque.
In 2019, a Chinese court ruled against Jiangling
In 2019, a Chinese court ruled against Jiangling following a three-year dispute, resulting in restrictions on sales of the vehicle.
JLR however maintains a longstanding manufacturing partnership with Chery and has agreed to collaborate on the revival of the Freelander nameplate for a new generation of electrified vehicles.
Both JLR and BYD declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.
