The soap opera of China’s copycats of European car models is making headlines once again!
Did BYD copy Land Rover? The Hague court will decide
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has just filed litigation against BYD, accusing the Chinese automaker of copying its iconic Defender. According to The Times and The Guardian, bailiffs acting on behalf of the court in The Hague, the Netherlands, conducted raids in August at BYD’s Dutch sites in Schiedam and Hoofddorp to seize digital files. JLR suspects BYD of dismantling a Defender to obtain certain technologies intended for the Ti7, a seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV launched in China in September 2025 under the Fangchengbao badge. The British group sought to secure these data before they could be destroyed, a maneuver BYD’s lawyers characterized as a “fishing expedition” and claiming that the volume of seized files was excessive. JLR’s legal team accused the Chinese manufacturer of obstructing the proceedings. The case is now before the The Hague court, which is due to issue a preliminary ruling on November 11 regarding whether BYD should face claims of intellectual property infringement. Neither side wished to comment.
JLR continues to collaborate with Chinese manufacturers
The stakes are clearly commercial, since the BYD Ti7 is set to reach France and the rest of Europe in 2027, a few months after its UK rollout slated for January. For JLR, whose Defender remains one of the most iconic and profitable models, protecting its brand image is essential. Ironically, the British group maintains deep ties with the Chinese industry, notably through its joint venture with Chery, which has revived the Freelander name for an electric-vehicle brand. The irony deepens with Chery itself facing criticism for its Jaecoo 7, nicknamed a “Temu Range Rover,” yet this model has become the best-selling vehicle in the UK, the Defender’s home market. That success underscores the magnitude of the pressure exerted by Chinese automakers—offering increasingly sophisticated products and technologies at aggressive prices—on European manufacturers. The question remains whether BYD truly crossed the line with the Ti7. The company is prepared to defend its intellectual property to the end and is now waiting on the Hague court’s decisions.
