Jaguar Land Rover initiated legal proceedings against BYD, alleging that the Chinese manufacturer's Ti7 SUV design infringes on the Land Rover Defender. Court-appointed bailiffs conducted a raid on BYD's offices in the Netherlands in August to secure documentation regarding the vehicle's development.
The legal dispute centers on visual similarities between the two models, specifically the body-color panel behind the C-pillar. The BYD Ti7 is priced significantly lower than the Land Rover Defender 110, with a price difference exceeding £16 000.
The BYD Ti7 features a Super Hybrid powertrain, combining a 1.5-liter engine with four electric motors to produce 402 hp. The vehicle is equipped with a 35.6 kWh battery, providing a range of 74 miles, and accelerates from zero to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds.
This is not the first time Jaguar Land Rover has pursued legal action against design similarities. In 2016, the company successfully sued Jiangling Motor Corporation over the Landwind X7, which the court ruled copied five design elements of the Range Rover Evoque, leading to a production halt.
