Update: 10:44AM A Chinese SUV that looks like the Range Rover Evoque has angry Land Rover officials claiming intellectual property theft.
Changan Auto and Jiangling Motors Corporation, pulled the covers of their joint-venture Landwind X7 SUV at the Guangzhou motor show in China during the weekend.
It hasn’t taken long for Land Rover to cry foul.
While there is a striking resemblance to the Range Rover Evoque, the similarities disappear in the price, with the Evoque retailing in China for about GBP40,000 (F$122,809) while the Landwind X7, powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, will boast a price tag of just GBP14,000 (F$42,983).
Land Rover chief executive Dr Ralf Speth told Autocar they intend to complain to Chinese officials.
“The fact that this kind of copying is ongoing in China is very disappointing,” Speth said.
“The simple principle is that it is not something that should happen. The intellectual property is owned by Jaguar Land Rover and if you break that IP then you are in breach of international regulations.
“As a company we have invested heavily in China with our joint-venture partner Chery. That commitment is based on a clear business plan, that allows us to hit our sales targets at clear prices. Anything that damages the potential profitability of our plant damages the integrity of those plans.
“I will talk to our officials and I will talk to our partners at Chery to find a way around this situation.
“I cannot imagine Chinese officials will be happy at any actions that undermine the credibility of the country. What we have seen today is not correct.”
