China cancels patents for JLR and Jiangling in Evoque dispute
Chinese authorities have revoked both Jaguar Land Rover's and Jiangling's design patents after the dispute over the Range Rover Evoque and the Landwind X7 copy escalated in 2016.
Chinese officials have cancelled both Jaguar Land Rover’s and Jiangling Motor’s design patents at the centre of the dispute over the Range Rover Evoque and its Chinese lookalike, the Landwind X7. The decision was reported in June 2016 as the legal row between the two manufacturers intensified.
Jaguar Land Rover had filed suit against Jiangling earlier that year, arguing that the Landwind X7 was a direct copy of the Evoque. The X7, revealed at the 2014 Guangzhou Auto Show, drew immediate attention for its close resemblance to the British SUV, at a fraction of the price. The following year, Jiangling displayed the X7 again at the Shanghai Auto Show, keeping the controversy alive.
China’s intellectual property authorities responded by revoking the design patents held by both parties. This means neither Jaguar Land Rover nor Jiangling can claim exclusive rights to the disputed design in China. Both companies retain the right to appeal, but Jaguar Land Rover said it would continue to pursue legal action against Jiangling for unfair competition, despite the patent decision.
Implications for foreign automakers in China
The revocation of both patents highlights the challenges foreign manufacturers face protecting design rights in China. The case drew attention to the limits of China’s intellectual property regime, particularly for overseas brands. Even with global recognition of the Evoque’s styling, Jaguar Land Rover found little protection under Chinese laws.
The Landwind X7 remained on sale in China at a much lower price than the Evoque, leaving Jaguar Land Rover with limited legal recourse beyond claims of unfair competition. The company’s determination to press on with its case underlines the ongoing difficulties for Western brands seeking to defend their intellectual property in the Chinese market.
