Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
A row has erupted over the launch of the new LandWind X7 which motoring analysts suggest is a ‘remarkably close approximation’ of the Range Rover Evoque but sells for a lot less money than the real thing.
The X7 made its debut at the Guangzhou Motor Show and Land Rover chief executive officer Dr Ralf Speth opted to take a strong stance, issuing a resolute statement against LandWind’s new SUV.
He told Autocar magazine: “The fact that this kind of copying is ongoing in China is very disappointing. The simple principle is that it is not something that should happen; the intellectual property is owned by Jaguar Land Rover and if you break that IP then you are in breach of international regulations that apply around the world.
“As a company we have invested heavily in China with our joint venture partner Chery. That commitment is based on a clear business plan that allows us to hit our sales targets at clear prices. Anything that damages the potential profitability of our plant damages the integrity of those plans.
“I will talk to our officials and I will talk to our partners at Chery to find a way around this situation. I cannot imagine Chinese officials will be happy at any actions that undermine the credibility of the country.”
According to Autocar, LandWind is a joint venture between two of China’s larger automakers – Changan Auto and Jiangling Motors – which count Peugeot-Citroen and Ford as their JV partners, respectively. It’s unclear how, or even if, any action by Land Rover could impact the two Chinese companies’ partners.
The leading Indian-owned, British-made off-road brand’s Range Rover Evoque, which the X7 apes, sells for around $62,000 (around BD23,300) Autocar reports, while the Chinese version will retail at almost a third of the price at $22,000 (approximately BD8,300).
