BMW, Daimler Could Sue Chinese Copycats

[SMART]

LONDON -

Televisions, radios and video recorders. The list of consumer items originated in the West, but copied and perfected in Asia is long. Now will cars be added to that list? Yes, according to DaimlerChrysler, which claims that a Chinese auto manufacturer is blatantly cloning one of its designs. And Daimler is mulling legal action against its Chinese counterpart in response.

Daimler's luxury car compatriot, Bayerische Motoren Werke (other-otc: BAMXF - news - people ), may reportedly also join in the attack.

The alleged counterfeiter is Shuanghuan Automobile, whose Noble car looks uncannily similar to Daimler's Smart Fortwo. Its CEO model also looks a lot like BMW's X5. An official source from DaimlerChrysler (nyse: DCX - news - people ), who wished to remain anonymous, said that the company had already contacted Shuanhuan about the Noble.

This isn't the first time China's carmakers have been berated for basically copying Western car design. Beijing has already felt the heat about it from various car companies, and last year Daimler managed to stop another Chinese car firm, CMEC from making an electric car that closely resembled its ubiquitous Smart car.

Daimler has not officially said whether it will be pursuing legal action against Shanguan. But it could take a similar route to the one taken with CMEC, and settle out of court.

"The Fortwo is a revolutionary vehicle with a cult status worldwide, so it's no surprise that others want to copy it," a DaimlerChrysler spokesman said.

[smartcar]

Not that I am a big fan of litigation but this is a blatant copy... Where did they get the plans?

[SmartAmerica]

Smart copy cats, Chinese cars simulate most popular European and Japanese models.
CLICK HERE

Try this one CLICK HERE

[lhoboy]

Originally Posted by smartcar

Not that I am a big fan of litigation but this is a blatant copy... Where did they get the plans?

Chinese toy makers had copied the stealth bomber before its mere appearance was declassified and shown to the public.

[SmartCard]

The latest on the story..... looks like the two sides will butt-heads!
Mercedes-Benz says it will take legal action if the Noble goes on sale in Europe, and 1000 units have already been assigned to a dealer for sale in Italy. BMW has already initiated legal action against the same Beijing based company to stop sales of the X5 SUV ripoff CEO.

[lhoboy]

See below!

[lhoboy]

Keepin' it real fake, part XXXV: China's CMEC duplicates Smart Car design
Posted Oct 17th 2006 11:55AM by Paul Miller
Filed under: Transportation


Yeah, cellphones, media players and logo'd clothing items are all well and good, but if you really want to stand out in China's competitive market of highly commercial disregard for intellectual property, you've gotta think big. That's why we're so impressed by CMEC, who not only managed to rip off an entire car, but are also sneaking their electric version of the Smart Car into one of Smart's own favored markets -- Great Britain. While externally the "City Smart" from CMEC is virtually identical to the Fortwo model that inspired it, CMEC modded up the interior a bit to avoid legal woes: "When we designed the car we were aware that we might be opening ourselves up to legal action," sez Jerry Chen, sales manager for CMEC. "That's why we've imitated the outside but concentrated on making the interior look different." Um, right. Their electric motor is also quite a departure from the real Smart cars, and while its 34MPH top-speed won't have it venturing far from congested city streets, it's hard to complain about the 4,200 euro ($5,270 US) pricetag. Well, other than the incredibly shady legality of the whole affair. DaimlerChrysler, parent company of Smart, is currently doing its darnedest to keep the City Smart out of the rest of Europe, while they prep their own Fortwo successor that most certainly will cost more than $5k, but is also more likely to involve certain niceties like original design and at least a teensy bit of pep.

[Via The Raw Feed]
Tags: china, city smart, CitySmart, cmec, kirf, smart car, SmartCar

[polyscient]

Legally, the Chinese automaker deserves a lawsuit. I find that unfortunate, but true and fair.

The reason I think that's too bad is that the presence of a Chinese Smart Car source would cure all the short supply woes bemoaned all over this website. Clearly China is capable of producing much larger quantities of the cars we want, for way less money.

China is also not going to withhold the best technologies from the US market the way it seems Daimler is thinking of doing with the Diesel Smart Car. China will just produce what is demanded, with no ulterior motives. I think Daimler is holding back on the 70mpg diesel car because it trumps other more expensive "green car" options that it wants to sell first. I bet we will see Daimler holding back on this option until a competitor brings a similar platform to market, and then they will open the gates and sell it as a form of damage control.

[StevenM1TX]

Originally Posted by polyscient

The reason I think that's too bad is that the presence of a Chinese Smart Car source would cure all the short supply woes bemoaned all over this website. Clearly China is capable of producing much larger quantities of the cars we want, for way less money.

Yep, if China was cranking out smart cars I know there would be at least one less person in line waiting for one as well. I would rather walk to work.

[E-SMART]

doesn't the photo depict a first-gen car (450) versus the new (451)? Not that it makes it any more legal but its curious that they would go for the older design. A 34mph top speed electric at a little over $5K US would be something those 'NEV' communities would snap-up. See link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighbo...ectric_vehicle