Mercedes may sue to stop Euro sales of Chinese Smart clone
Last fall a battery-powered clone of the first generation Smart ForTwo turned up in China before it was quickly stomped down. Another one is now expected to be displayed at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show and China Automobile Deutschland wants to begin European imports. The Shuanghuan Noble is a four seater that looks much like the Smart and is expected to cost 7,000 euros.
As expected, Mercedes is not happy about the idea and is threatening legal action to stop the little car. They have already been in touch with the manufacturer but probably won't comment publicly until the car appears in public at the show.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jose 7:05PM (8/25/2008)
All the gas car makers, big oil, the government and after market
parts makers have no interest in anything that even smells like
an EV. Expect the crooked legal system to be used in finding
a way to make short work of any one messing with these cash
cows. These companies and many in Washington are in bed with each other!
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Dave 7:47PM (8/21/2007)
A knock-off EV? Excellent...pick your poison, copies from China or oil from the Middle East. Ok, a bit irrational, but I just don't care.
Sooner or later governments will have to stop the Chinese from eroding capitalism. However, i'd vote a free pass to this one.
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Don 8:36PM (8/21/2007)
Well, Mercedes isn't giving out free passes...good for them. It's either stop the Chinese juggernaut from stampeding EVERY copyrighted property now, or pay the price later.
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Fabio 5:01AM (8/22/2007)
Why the hell couldn't they just use a different design for the car?
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Domenick 7:05AM (8/22/2007)
If the Chinese can make an electric Smart car, why can't Mercedes?
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bioburner 9:04PM (8/22/2007)
Sounds like the high priced european auto maker is afraid a little chines company will offer a lower priced alternative.These guys at Mercedes act like they are the only ones to build a small BEV.
I also vote a free pass on this one.
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Hamster 10:26PM (8/22/2007)
Personally I find the Hyundai's copy of Mercedes' features much more insulting.
Brings back memories of the 280SX and Porsche. That was the starting point of the emerging japanese market. They didn't quite look the same but the technology and design of the car was very similar.
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Phil L. 9:12AM (8/23/2007)
>> Why the hell couldn't they just use a different design for the car?
China's long-term intention has been to become the world's manufacturer. Design and engineering take time and investment, neither of which advance that goal. They see little point in creating their own design from scratch if one already exists.
>> If the Chinese can make an electric Smart car, why can't Mercedes?
China's manufacturing efforts have focused on bottom-line optimization with minimal regard for reliability/safety standards. Mercedes concentrates on high-quality manufacturing at a high-quality price.
Mercedes won't release an EV until they can build it and support it to their standards. Typical Chinese manufacturers will sell a product as soon as they can make money on it, regardless of other factors.
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