Although it's obvious that Shuanghuan CEO's side and rear were based on BMW's old X5 model, the German manufacturer has just lost a court action that claimed the Chinese vehicle copied its luxury SUV. For those of you who missed the news, BMW accused Shuanghuan Automobile for copying a number of X5 features, including the side, the rear and various elements of the interior. A court in Milan rejected BMW's suit a few days ago after a Munich judge ruled in the favor of the German carmaker in July.
BMW has lost another court action and officials of the Chinese carmaker do nothing more than to praise their model and sustain the car is not even close to the X5, sporting numerous different elements visible from both the exterior and the interior.
"We are convinced the CEO wasn't a clone of the X5. We are happy to see our view supported by a court ruling," said Viviana Martinelli was quoted as saying by Autonews. Martinelli is currently spokeswoman for Martin Motors, the European distributor of Shuanghuan Automobile.
According to figures provided by the aforementioned source, the Chinese carmaker delivered approximately 300 vehicles to 87 Italian dealerships, with sales expected to grow in the first months of 2009. Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and the Czech Republic are set to bring the highest sales for Shuanghuan, representatives of the company stated, with total sales of 1,200 units forecasted for the next two months. Shuanghuan sold 300 vehicles in these markets, Carmen Covrig, general manager of the Romanian importer CEMI Group, was quoted as saying by the same source.
So, the judge says this isn't a clone of the first generation X5. Because your opinion has always been important for us, have a look at the two adjacent pictures and let us know what you think.
BMW has lost another court action and officials of the Chinese carmaker do nothing more than to praise their model and sustain the car is not even close to the X5, sporting numerous different elements visible from both the exterior and the interior.
"We are convinced the CEO wasn't a clone of the X5. We are happy to see our view supported by a court ruling," said Viviana Martinelli was quoted as saying by Autonews. Martinelli is currently spokeswoman for Martin Motors, the European distributor of Shuanghuan Automobile.
According to figures provided by the aforementioned source, the Chinese carmaker delivered approximately 300 vehicles to 87 Italian dealerships, with sales expected to grow in the first months of 2009. Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and the Czech Republic are set to bring the highest sales for Shuanghuan, representatives of the company stated, with total sales of 1,200 units forecasted for the next two months. Shuanghuan sold 300 vehicles in these markets, Carmen Covrig, general manager of the Romanian importer CEMI Group, was quoted as saying by the same source.
So, the judge says this isn't a clone of the first generation X5. Because your opinion has always been important for us, have a look at the two adjacent pictures and let us know what you think.