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Land Rover Thinks BYD Copied The Defender. Now There's A Court Battle: Report

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Land Rover Thinks BYD Copied The Defender. Now There's A Court Battle: Report

BYD keeps making headlines, but this time, the subject is far more delicate. Rather than celebrating speed records or extravagant luxury with its Yangwang sub-brand, the Chinese automaker now faces legal trouble after Jaguar Land Rover accused it of copying the Defender.

Predictably, JLR isn't taking kindly to Chinese automakers borrowing inspiration from its lineup. The dispute has escalated to the point where court-ordered bailiffs seized digital records from BYD's offices in the Netherlands.

According to reports from The Times and The Guardian, the raid took place in August at BYD premises in Schiedam and Hoofddorp. JLR reportedly suspected its Chinese rival had dismantled a Defender to reverse-engineer some of its technology for use in the Ti7, a seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV that has drawn comparisons with the British off-roader.

The British company wanted to secure digital records before they could potentially be destroyed. However, BYD's legal team wasn't impressed, describing it as a "fishing expedition" and arguing that too many files had been seized. JLR's legal advisers, meanwhile, accused the Chinese automaker of obstructing the process.

The dispute is heading to court in The Hague, where a preliminary ruling is expected on November 11. The decision should establish whether BYD has a case to answer over the alleged intellectual property infringement. Neither company has commented on the ongoing proceedings.

The vehicle at the center of the dispute is the BYD Ti7, a chunky, boxy SUV that has been on sale in China since September 2025 as the Fangchengbao Ti7.


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