Chinese vehicles: they either look bizarre—or bear a striking resemblance to a European competitor. Manufacturer is taking legal action against the cloning of European models.
Many have noticed something about the Chinese vehicles entering the European market: they either look as if they were designed by a toddler, or they are near-identical copies of European models. While European manufacturers are unbothered by the “toddler-style” designs, the copying tactics employed by Chinese firms are, to put it mildly, not appreciated.
A new development in this ongoing saga—now coming to light—is a raid that took place at BYD’s European headquarters in August 2026. Acting on behalf of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), bailiffs seized data files to investigate a potential infringement of design rights. The case concerns the planned launch of the BYD Ti7, an off-road station wagon that, in terms of both design and dimensions, appears to be a copy of the Land Rover Defender.
JLR suspects that the Chinese manufacturer did not merely consult a brochure, but rather dismantled a Defender to meticulously replicate it. The seized files are intended to provide proof of this.
The British manufacturer is suffering as a result of these Chinese imitations, as the vehicles are significantly cheaper than the originals. This is not the first time the British company has taken legal action against a Chinese manufacturer; the Landwind X7, for instance, bore a striking resemblance to the Range Rover Evoque—a case that JLR won. However, they were unable to prevent the launch of the Jaecoo 7—a vehicle mockingly dubbed the “Temu Range Rover” in Great Britain. The Jaecoo is currently outselling the British original, despite reports from various media outlets that the supply of parts for the vehicle is unreliable.
