Last year Smart was able to stop another Chinese manufacturer from bringing another Smart clone on to the European market, and now BMW has issued a warning to Shuanghuan against the sale of the CEO in Italy, reports Automotive News.
As we’ve always said, it’s good to see Chinese carmakers are trying to develop cars for the world market. They just need to get to the stage where they can be accepted as original Chinese cars and not just a cheaper alternative to other more expensive brands.
Reader Comments
Mon Aug 27 2007 5:46 PM
James says
Some day the rest of the world will wake up and stop doing business with the Chinese. This is a country that simply doesn't respect other people's intellectual property and only plays nice because it wants to crib from your notes, then it'll kick you out while it copies your homework. We've all seen how unimaginably ugly "original" Chinese car designs are, however, so it comes as no surprise that they would copy Western designs. I wonder when the Chinese will realize that copying is no way to advance/improve their capabilities.
Wed Jan 16 2008 11:38 PM
Alex says
ugh...the chinese been copying alot of european cars...WHEN WILL THEY LEARN THEIR CARS WILL ALWAYS BE RUBBISH THEY WILL NEVER MAKE A GOOD CAR....
Sun Feb 17 2008 6:24 AM
Charlie says
I really feel sorry for the racist people who regularly put comments up about things which they are totally ignorant. The design patents on the X3 expired some years ago. Once the patents expire the rights to the intellectual property disappear. That is why it is legal to make a copy of a car 50 years old. What the Chinese company did was perfectly legal. This is why BMW no longer manufactures the X3. Sam is absolutely right: copying has been common from the beginning of the car industry. Remember before cars - wooden carts. Would we say that somebody who built a wooden cart that looked like somebody else's would be guilty of intellectual property theft? This car is rather well engineered and quality crafted. It is a little underpowered and doesn't have the quality suspension that BMW has, but then again it is much cheaper than a BMW. Alex, you are really pitiful. The funny thing is your dad probably said the same thing about the Japanese 30 years ago. Get ready for an exciting show: the Chinese will be the worlds largest manufacturer of cars in another ... say 8 years tops. And they will have plenty of quality brands by then.
Sun Feb 17 2008 10:52 AM
admin says
Charlie - BMW still manufactures the X3. No design patents have expired since the car itself is still in production and the current model will remain until 2010.
Tue Apr 7 2009 9:25 PM
JOHN29 says
Don't forget that's how the Jap's started by coping.from cars to motor bikes.
also ford and other big companies do this.
China will soon be a big player!
These people that speak out about Chinese people, Have you ever been to China?
I am English and have been living in China for 5 years teaching, The Chinese people have more respect for each then other people I know.
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