Jaguar Land Rover has secured a Dutch court order to seize digital records from BYD offices amid suspicions over the development of the Chinese automaker’s Ti7 SUV.
THE HAGUE: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has obtained a court order in the Netherlands to seize digital records from Chinese automaker BYD’s offices as part of an intellectual property dispute involving the development of its new Ti7 SUV.
The action took place during the summer at BYD offices in Schiedam and Hoofddorp. According to a report by The Times, JLR suspects that BYD dismantled a Land Rover Defender to examine its engineering and technology while developing the Ti7.
The Chinese SUV has attracted comparisons with the iconic Defender because of its boxy design and off-road styling. However, the allegations concerning the use of the British automaker’s technology remain disputed and have not been established as fact.
The legal dispute comes as BYD prepares to expand the Ti7’s presence in international markets. The vehicle is reportedly scheduled for a UK launch in January, with a starting price of £47,995.
That price would make the BYD Ti7 more than £20,000 cheaper than the Land Rover Defender, potentially intensifying competition in the premium off-road SUV segment.
The case also highlights growing tensions between established automotive manufacturers and Chinese electric vehicle companies as competition increases in international markets, particularly in segments traditionally dominated by premium brands.
BYD’s legal representatives have criticised the seizure of digital records, describing the action as a fishing expedition. They argued that the court-authorised operation resulted in the collection of too many digital files.
The disagreement centres partly on the scope of the information seized from BYD’s offices and its relevance to JLR’s intellectual property concerns.
Both automakers have limited their public comments while awaiting a preliminary court ruling in The Hague. The outcome could provide further clarity on the dispute and the handling of the seized digital material.
For now, the allegations remain part of an ongoing legal disagreement rather than a confirmed finding of intellectual property infringement.
The dispute places the BYD Ti7 under additional scrutiny ahead of its reported UK launch, where its comparatively lower starting price could make it a significant competitor to established off-road SUVs, including the Land Rover Defender.
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