Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
JLR’s legal case over BYD SUV follows raid on Dutch offices
A court in The Hague is due to consider this week whether BYD has a case to answer over claims that its Ti7 SUV infringes Jaguar Land Rover’s intellectual property.
In August, bailiffs acting for JLR seized digital records from BYD offices in the Netherlands.
JLR suspects BYD reverse-engineered technology that could be used in the Ti7, but both companies declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings.
The seven-seat plug-in hybrid has been sold in China since September last year, and BYD plans to launch it in the UK in January.
At £47,995, the Ti7 would cost more than £20,000 less than a Defender 110, putting the dispute in the context of competition between the carmakers.
JLR has previously won a case against a Chinese company over a vehicle it said copied its design, stopping Jiangling Motor Corporation from selling it in 2019.
The Hague court’s decision this week will determine whether the claims against BYD proceed.
Court-ordered bailiffs acting for Jaguar Land Rover raided BYD offices in the Netherlands in August, reportedly seizing digital records.
The raid came before a court case in The Hague over allegations that BYD’s Ti7 SUV infringes intellectual property rights associated with the Land Rover Defender.
JLR suspects BYD reverse-engineered some technology that could be used in the Ti7, according to the Sunday Times.
BYD is scheduled to launch the seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV in the UK in January for £47,995.
JLR and BYD declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.
- Who
- Jaguar Land Rover and Chinese carmaker BYD.
- What
- JLR alleges BYD’s Ti7 SUV infringes intellectual property rights associated with the Land Rover Defender.
- When
- Bailiffs raided BYD’s offices in August; a court case was due to take place this week.
- Where
- BYD offices in Schiedam and Hoofddorp, the Netherlands; the case is in The Hague.
- Why
- JLR suspects BYD reverse-engineered some technology that could be used in the Ti7.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Ti7 went on sale in China.
Court-ordered bailiffs acting for JLR raided BYD offices in Schiedam and Hoofddorp and reportedly seized digital records.
A court case in The Hague was scheduled to consider whether the Ti7 infringes JLR’s intellectual property.
BYD was scheduled to launch the Ti7 in the UK.
- Locations raided
- BYD offices in Schiedam and Hoofddorp, Netherlands
- SUV at issue
- BYD Ti7, a seven-seat plug-in hybrid
- UK launch price
- £47,995
- Defender 110 starting price
- £68,465
- Court location
- The Hague
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