Mercedes considers letting Chinese Smart ForTwo clone go on sale

[cawimmer430]

Mercedes considers letting Chinese Smart ForTwo clone go on sale

Posted: January 5th, 2009



Mercedes-Benz is considering ending a suit that claims a Chinese-made car, that is set to go on sale in Europe in mid-January, looks too much like its Smart ForTwo. According to Automotive News Europe, the Shuanghuan Bubble could go on sale later this month as lawyers from Mercedes-Benz and the Chinese car’s Italian importer Martin Motors come close to settling legal actions that have blocked the sale of the minicar.

The battle between Mercedes-Benz and Martin Motors began just before the launch of the IAA in Frankfurt in Sept. 2007. At the time Mercedes-Benz had obtained court orders banning the sale of the Bubble minicar in Germany claiming the car infringed its copyright for the Smart ForTwo. A month later, Martin Motors launched a counter-suit against Mercedes-Benz seeking damages of more than €100 million ($135 million USD) as compensation for lost Bubble sales.

But now, Mercedes-Benz fears that it could lose the case in Court and could be forced to pay damages. Just last month, a court in Milan rejected BMW’s claim that the Shuanghuan CEO, which is also distributed by Martin Motors, is a clone of the BMW X5. Sources say that the ruling against BMW has pushed Mercedes-Benz lawyers to be a little more careful.

Currently, German customs is holding one unit of the Bubble that was confiscated before its Frankfurt Motor Show debut in 2007. Italian authorities are holding up six Bubbles, one of which was supposed to be shown at the Bologna Motor Show.


Link: Mercedes considers letting Chinese Smart ForTwo clone go on sale

 

[Tarek]

Noooooooooooooo!

It'll be really sad and injust if MB lost this case

 

[cawimmer430]

Noooooooooooooo!

It'll be really sad and injust if MB lost this case

Sometimes I wish I had connections to the mafia. They could do me some favors by blowing up these specific courthouses.

 

[Tarek]

^Lol,i support that

BTW that Smart clone is selling well here,much cheaper than Smart with the same size,i hate it

 

[cawimmer430]

^Lol,i support that

BTW that Smart clone is selling well here,much cheaper than Smart with the same size,i hate it

Oh damn, they're already on sale in Egypt / North Africa!?

 

[ZicZachZo]

I should hope the public at large would be wise enough to consider that the Smart is probably ten times safer than that untested death trap Bubble car.

 

[Tarek]

Oh damn, they're already on sale in Egypt / North Africa!?

Yep and it's been a while now since it first hit the streets.

I should hope the public at large would be wise enough to consider that the Smart is probably ten times safer than that untested death trap Bubble car.

Well the public only cares about ow much they are gonna pay and in that area the chinese cars got all cars beaten by a mile.

 

[Gullwing]

Mercedes needs to get a few of these bubble cars and crash test them and use that as a commercial for the Smart.
Drive a Smart and crash...walk away
Drive a Bubble and crash...pop

 

[Tarek]

That's actually a good idea

 

[ateekt]

No offenses, but what I've concluded so far about Chinese auto industry is one word, shameless..!

 

[Merc1]

What a BS situation. The crash/commercial idea would really highlight what a piece of junk this little Chinese rattle-trap is.


M

 

[ateekt]

Guys, take some time & pass by!

Chinese cars crash tests (videos) - AutoMotoPortal.com