Jaguar Land Rover has lost its first legal battle in the Netherlands against BYD. A Dutch judge ordered the British carmaker to destroy or return documents seized from BYD’s European offices during an August raid over alleged design copying.
Court Orders Evidence Destruction
Judge Hugo van Heemstra issued the preliminary ruling at the District Court of The Hague on November 11. The court directed Jaguar Land Rover to destroy the files seized from BYD’s Dutch offices or return them within 24 hours. Failure to comply triggers fines of €50,000 per hour, capped at a maximum of €500,000, according to Electrifying.com.
The presiding judge agreed with BYD that the August raid constituted a “fishing expedition” that went beyond the scope of the design copying allegations. CarNewsChina.com reported that the seized records included Ti 7 launch plans, technical data, financial information, and documents concerning the Land Rover Defender.
Court rejects Jaguar Land Rover's penalty demands
The court rejected Jaguar Land Rover’s demand for €500,000 in penalty payments from BYD. The judge ruled provisionally that the Chinese manufacturer complied with the original seizure order, as noted by CarNewsChina.com.
Jaguar Land Rover was also ordered to pay BYD €25,376.57 in legal costs, according to Electrifying.com. The court found that Jaguar Land Rover could not prove it suffered harm from the BYD Ti7 because the SUV is not yet on sale in the European Union.
BYD Ti7 mimics Land Rover Defender design
The legal dispute centers on allegations that the BYD Ti7 mimics the Land Rover Defender 4×4 design. Electrifying.com reported that the hearing was the first step in deciding whether BYD copied the Defender ahead of the Ti7’s planned UK market launch in January 2027.
The five-meter SUV matches the size of the Land Rover Defender 110. Auto Express said that the expected price tag of around £50,000 will undercut the cheapest 110 by roughly £20,000.
Broader Intellectual Property Disputes
Jaguar Land Rover is no stranger to design disputes with Chinese manufacturers. Auto Express reported that the company previously won a legal action against Jiangling Motor Corporation over the LandWind X7, which closely resembled the Range Rover Evoque.
CarNewsChina.com said that Jaguar Land Rover has also faced setbacks in registering three-dimensional shape trademarks for the Evoque in the EU and the classic Defender silhouette in the UK. Meanwhile, Jaguar Land Rover has entered a joint venture with Chery to sell the upcoming Freelander 8 SUV in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions About the JLR and BYD Case
Why did the Dutch court order JLR to destroy evidence?
The District Court of The Hague ruled that the documents seized during an August raid on BYD’s European offices were irrelevant to the copying claims. Judge van Heemstra found that the search exceeded the scope of the dispute and constituted a fishing expedition.
When is the BYD Ti7 scheduled to go on sale?
The BYD Ti7 is scheduled to go on sale in the UK in January 2027. The vehicle carries an expected price tag of around £50,000, positioning it below comparable Land Rover models.
How much are the potential non-compliance penalties?
Failure to instruct court-appointed custodians to destroy or return the files within 24 hours carries a penalty of €50,000 per hour, up to a total cap of €500,000.
What specific information was seized in the August raid?
Bailiffs made physical and electronic copies of Ti7 launch plans, technical data, sensitive financial information, and computer records related to the Land Rover Defender from BYD’s offices in Schiedam and Hoofddorp.
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