/editorial/articleLeadwide-the-mercedes-benz-eq-electric-car-concept-was-revegrq1o8.jpg)
Copyright infringement is nothing new in the Chinese automotive world. But a new court case has emerged with an interesting twist.
While Chinese car makers often take 'inspiration' from European rivals when it comes to design in a strange turn of events, a Chinese car maker has claimed Mercedes-Benz has impinged on its trademark.
German giant Mercedes-Benz recently unveiled plans for its line of electric cars to be called 'EQ' and announced plans for manufacturing in Germany and China - the latter already the world's largest EV (electric vehicle market).
But according to newsagency Reuters there is a significant road-block in the form of Chinese brand Chery which has told trademark regulators it has been selling its 'eQ' two-door electric car for two years.
While Mercedes has filed its own EQ trademark application, Chery has lodged a formal complaint.
"If it (Mercedes-Benz) entered the Chinese market, it would impact our trademark rights," a Chery spokesperson confirmed. "Mercedes Benz EQ and our (eQ) are extremely similar. Their product is also an electric car."
Apart from confirming it has lodged trademark applications for EQ, a statement from Mercedes-Benz said it had no further information.
2 Comments
EQ: Emotional Quotient. Oh I get the pun an EV you can get emotional about (hopefully not when it fails to proceed).
China law should not care about it becuase when European people complain about chinese copying their cars the law doesnt care so they should not care about chinese complaining about mercedes