Toyota Will Not Sue Chinese Company That Duplicates RAV4

SHANGHAI - October 23, 2007:

Toyota Motor says it will strengthen its efforts to get design patents for its models in worldwide markets following news that Jonway Automobile's copy-cat car is going on sale, Automotive News reported last weekend.

The report said that China Automobile Deutschland started selling the UFO, which much resembles the second-generation RAV4, in Germany last month. The starting price is 15,990 euros (169,089 yuan), while Toyota RAV4 is sold at 26,600 euros (281,286 yuan) and up in Germany.

A senior auto analyst said the reasons why Toyota did not take legal action against UFO sales is that it is hard to win lawsuits over a car's design patent as long as there is even a slight change made to the alleged model's lights, windows or any part of the car, citing the report.

"We are strengthening our efforts to obtain patents and register designs for all our models in markets around the world," Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco said. “Moreover, such kinds of lawsuit will only help the accused brand increase sales more rapidly,” said the analyst.

Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co., Ltd is a sub-company of Jonway Group, an eighty year-old manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, vehicle and motor parts, and light building materials.

In a separate story, European vehicle importer Martin Motors has decided to sell the China-built Shuanghuan Noble in Europe next year despite a legal challenge from Daimler AG, which claims the model is a rip-off of its Smart ForTwo.

For more information about the burgeoning auto industry in China please visit http://www.gasgoo.com/Autobiz/list/7/China-News.html