Counterfeiting: Chinese manufacturers are now copying themselves
This page is translated from the original post "Contrefaçon : les constructeurs chinois se copient désormais" in French.
- 04/10/2023 18:13
The automotive giant Chery is suing its rival Geely by presenting a city car with a look similar to the Mini Smart #1, the Kaiyi Shiyue. Will they sue each other?
The resemblance to the Smart #1 is undeniable: the look, roof design, round badge embedded near the rear pillar, hidden handles, black windshield pillars, etc. Once victims of Chinese counterfeiting, European cars must savor the moment: a Chinese car – Smart – was bought by Geely in 2019 and the French factory in Hambach was relocated to China – is therefore copied by another Chinese brand. Surely, the situation is quite amusing.
Geely’s reaction will be closely watched, as a fierce battle is ongoing among automakers. The crisis in China is severe due to the collapsing real estate market, and brands are compelled to drastically cut prices to sell their cars.
The new Kaiyi Shiyue is aimed at city centers with tiny dimensions: 3.3 meters long, 1.7 meters wide, and 1.6 meters high. Two levels of power – 35 and 40 kW, or 48 and 55 horsepower – will be available, along with two battery packs offering ranges from 155 to 300 km.
However, no import plans for Europe are currently in the pipeline.
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