Skip advert
Advertisement

Land Rover wins court dispute over Chinese copycat

Land Rover has announced its success in a legal battle regarding the similarity between the Evoque and the Chinese-made LandWind X7

Range Rover Evoque at Geneva2

Jaguar Land Rover has won a legal battle against the Chinese car manufacturer, Jiangling, after raising a case of copyright infringement in 2016. Until now, the Chinese firm has sold an SUV which bears a clear resemblance to the Range Rover Evoque, called the LandWind X7, which the Chinese judicial system has now deemed unsuitable for sale.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Beijing Chaoyang District Court ruled that the LandWind X7’s similarity to the Range Rover Evoque has caused widespread consumer confusion, outlining five major design aspects which the Chinese car plagiarised from the British car. These include its basic silhouette, its roofline, its headlights and the near-identical body creases down the car’s flanks.

Unbelievable Chinese copycat cars

As a result of its piracy, Jiangling must withdraw all LandWind X7s from the market and pay compensation to JLR. Keith Benjamin, JLR’s Global Legal Director, commented on the outcome, stating, “we welcome this decision of the Beijing court, which further strengthens our confidence in investing in China.

LandWind X7

“This ruling is a clear sign of the law being implemented appropriately to protect consumers and uphold their rights so that they are not confused or misled, whilst protecting business investment in design and innovation.”

Land Rover’s concerns over the Chinese copycat car were first raised in 2016. At the launch of the updated 2018 Range Rover, the firm’s design boss, Gerry McGovern, said the company was “wary of showing new concepts” because of such incidents.

McGovern was concerned that the design of a forthcoming car could be copied from the concept before Land Rover could launch the production version. Shortly after the new Range Rover’s launch, the British firm filed an updated copyright for the Evoque’s design and an unfair competition complaint against Jiangling Motors.

“The success of Jaguar Land Rover is based partly on its unique design and engineering attributes, which we believe are worth protecting across all markets,” said a further JLR spokesperson.

Land Rover isn’t the only brand to fall victim to alleged copycat designs. Chinese manufacturer Zotye has previously gained notoriety for producing models which seem to be copy-and-paste versions of the Porsche Macan, VW Tiguan and Smart ForTwo.

Now check out our round-up of some of the most blatant Chinese copycat cars...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best new cars coming in 2024
Best new cars coming in 2024 - header image
Best cars & vans

Best new cars coming in 2024

There are some big new models from the likes of BMW, Citroen, Dacia, Ford, MINI, Skoda and more on the way in 2024
12 Mar 2024
Jaguar Land Rover pays for more police at UK ports to curb exports of stolen cars
Ships at port
News

Jaguar Land Rover pays for more police at UK ports to curb exports of stolen cars

The Range Rover maker spends ‘several hundred thousand pounds’ in effort to thwart stolen car exports from the UK
7 Feb 2024
Exclusive: Jaguar Land Rover boss sets the record straight on thefts, insurance, parts supply, electrification and more
JLR interview
News

Exclusive: Jaguar Land Rover boss sets the record straight on thefts, insurance, parts supply, electrification and more

JLR’s UK managing director, Patrick McGillycuddy, talks to us about the issues facing the business and its big future plans…
3 Feb 2024
Jaguar Land Rover CEO hits back over Range Rover theft issues
Range Rover action
News

Jaguar Land Rover CEO hits back over Range Rover theft issues

Insurance companies are “not using the data” according to CEO Adrian Mardell
2 Feb 2024

Most Popular

“MG is easily outselling Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley combined”
Opinion - MG4
Opinion

“MG is easily outselling Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley combined”

The wave of Chinese cars has arrived in the UK, and Mike Rutherford thinks it’s not about to stop any time soon
17 Mar 2024
Car Deal of the Day: breathtaking Lotus Emira V6 for £45k and an I.O.U.
Lotus Emira - driving
News

Car Deal of the Day: breathtaking Lotus Emira V6 for £45k and an I.O.U.

Our Deal of the Day for 15 March is a half-now, half-later plan for the last-ever petrol-powered Lotus sports car
15 Mar 2024
New Audi A5 Sportback and Avant: prices, specs and info on sleek new compact execs
New Audi A5 Avant - exclusive image
News

New Audi A5 Sportback and Avant: prices, specs and info on sleek new compact execs

The new ICE and hybrid Audi A5 is due by year’s end in hatchback and estate forms
15 Mar 2024