Clone wars: Jaguar Land Rover raids BYD offices over accusations of Chinese 'copycat Defender'

Britain's biggest car maker, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), has orchestrated a raid on the European offices of Chinese automotive giant BYD over accusations that its latest model is a copycat of its best-selling Defender SUV.Bailiffs seized digital documents from BYD's Schiedam and Hoofddorp offices in the Netherlands in August, according to the Sunday Times, as JLR looks to build its case against the Chinese brand's Ti7, which is due to hit UK showrooms early next year.JLR, which is owned by India's Tata Motors, is challenging BYD over suggestions that its new SUV's boxy shape infringes its intellectual property rights.It hopes to have commandeered evidence showing that BYD intentionally copied the latest generation Defender's design, rather than simply penned a similarly styled vehicle.This week, a court will decide which of the confiscated records, if any, can be used as part of the copycat case against a brand that is now the world's biggest EV producer.It is not the first time JLR has launched legal action over alleged cloning.The luxury SUV maker in 2020 failed in its attempt to trademark the shape of the original Defender to block Sir Jim Ratcliffe from launching his 'spiritual successor' 4x4, the Ineos Grenadier, amid claims that the new model was too similar to the iconic off-roader.However, a year earlier it had won a landmark case in China against Jiangling Motor Corporation after a court in Beijing ruled that its Landwind X7 had copied five unique features of the Range Rover Evoque. Jaguar Land Rover has launched a legal case against Chinese EV giant BYD, claiming its Ti7 SUV (left) is a copycat of the British carmaker's Defender (right) JLR and BYD have already come face to face in a Hague courtroom as the dispute over the seized documents intensifies, with both sides at odds over how they could be used to build a cloning case against the Chinese firm.BYD is said to have described the move as a 'fishing expedition' as it seeks to rebut the allegations.A spokesman for JLR said the company 'does not comment on ongoing legal proceedings', while a BYD representative has also refused to comment on the matter.JLR is likely to seek to have the Ti7 blocked from sale in European showrooms, though the case is unlikely to be resolved before the model is due to arrive in Britain in January. BYD's describes its Ti7 as having a 'unapologetically boxy profile' that 'delivers the imposing, chunky design that finds favour among SUV buyers'. Here is is side-by-side with a Defender Join the discussionShould British carmakers be protected from cheaper lookalike imports, or is competition good for drivers?What's your view?The Chinese seven-seat SUV uses a plug-in hybrid powertrain, pairing a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors, one on each axle, and a sizeable 35.6kWh lithium iron phosphate battery.In electric-only mode, BYD says the new Ti7 can cover 102 miles. It's no slouch either, accelerating from 0 to 62mph in just 4.8 seconds.At 5,146mm long, 1,995mm wide and 1,865mm tall, its dimensions place it between the five-seat Defender 110 and seven-seat Defender 130.BYD's website says its 'unapologetically boxy profile delivers the imposing, chunky design that finds favour among SUV buyers, yet delivers a contemporary look'. With prices starting from £47,995, it's significantly less expensive than Defender; it's some £21,000 cheaper than the lowest-priced Land Rover 110 equipped with seven seats as an option taking up boot space, and some £35,000 cheaper than the extended 130 with seven seats and a decent luggage compartment.The Defender is JLR's best-selling product, with over 115,000 orders last year representing around three in ten of its global deliveries. JLR, which is owned by India's Tata Motors, is challenging BYD over suggestions that its new SUV's boxy shape infringes its intellectual property rights BYD's Ti7 seven seater SUV will arrive in early 2027 with a starting price of just under £50,000. That's some £35k less than the equivalent DefenderJLR's grievance with BYD comes as Chinese brands are rapidly growing into major overseas markets, particularly the UK's.In the last two years, Britons have been snapping up cheaper Chinese alternatives to European and Japanese legacy carmakers, attracted by familiar designs, generous equipment lists and competitive pricing.Across the wider market, more than one in five (21.6 per cent) new cars registered in October were Chinese models. UK motorists have already ordered almost 338,000 vehicles from Chinese brands since the beginning of the year, accounting for 18 per cent of all registrations so far in 2026.BYD alone has sold almost 75,000 cars to Britons this year. That means it has accounted for almost one in 25 of the 1.892million new vehicles delivered in the first ten months of the calendar.One of the best-selling models is the Jaecoo 7, now widely dubbed the 'Temu Range Rover' due to its resemblance to the Range Rover Velar while carrying a starting price around half that of the British luxury SUV.The 7 was the most popular new car during the market's biggest new-plate months of March and September and also topped the model rankings last month.With almost 43,000 sold this year, only the Ford Puma has been delivered in greater volumes.But JLR has not built a case against Jaecoo. Though likely only because it can't.JLR has been in a strategic partnership with Jaecoo's parent company, Chery Group, for more than a decade.The companies struck a deal in 2012 to build a research and development centre and engine production facility in China as part of a licensing agreement to manufacture JLR vehicles and develop new models.However, the most recent deal between the pair, announced in June 2024, saw JLR agree to license its Freelander brand to Chery for a new range of electric vehicles based on the Chinese group's platform.Its new Freelander 8, unveiled earlier this year, will be sold in Chery Group UK dealerships from next year despite carrying the iconic JLR nameplate.Just last month, the Chinese firm's chairman, Yin Tongyue, revealed the company's ambitions to 'become a British brand'.Speaking at a roundtable interview with journalists, he said: 'In the future, I really want to have products designed in the UK, engineered in the UK and produced in the UK, to sell worldwide.'His comments come at a time when Prime Minister Andy Burnham is said to be considering following the EU's lead by introducing tariffs on Chinese imports to curb the impact of their rapid expansion on European car makers.However, Chery has already built a sizeable infrastructure in the UK in recent months.It will imminently open a new R&D centre at the Millbrook proving grounds in Bedfordshire, allowing it to tune vehicles specifically for British roads and drivers.The company too has launched a nationwide Super Parts Hub network comprising eight regional distribution centres supplying genuine Jaecoo and Omoda components, following complaints from owners about lengthy repair delays.It is also exploring a number of routes to begin producing vehicles in Britain.As well as its long-established manufacturing partnership with JLR, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nissan earlier this year to potentially build cars for UK customers at the Sunderland plant.Should an agreement be reached to use Nissan's second assembly line, Chery could build around 300,000 cars a year in Britain, based on the site's maximum annual capacity of 600,000 vehicles.JLR's copycat case is being pursued against BYD at the same time that the Chinese firm's luxury subsidiary, Yangwang, unveiled a flagship limousine that bears more than a passing resemblance to the Rolls-Royce Phantom, yet is expected to cost around half as much. CARS & MOTORING: ON TEST